The Parable of the Talents (Thanksgiving)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 25: 14 - 30 (NIV)
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Message: The Parable of the Talents
What I have, I have been given
John Calvin, one of the fathers of the reformation - the faith tradition Presbyterians are part of - explained that this parable is about the calling and God-given abilities
In the parable, Jesus is using bags of gold as currency being handed out by a master
Let’s not make the mistake of thinking this parable is just about possessions
Now this is important - there is a master and there is servants… and the master is handing out gold
He is entrusting his own gold into the hands of his servants for them to work with while he is away for a certain time
This parable is about what God entrusts me with
Now is powerful on this Sunday of thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time of giving thanks for all we have
This parable reminds me that what I have, I have been given
What I have, the master has handed out to me
Thanksgiving is about being grateful for what I have received from God
Perhaps I should give that some thought when I celebrate thanksgiving this year
My finances this past year was given to me by the Master
My health this past yeas was given to me by the Master
My ability to do things was given to me by the Master
My calling to serve was given to me by the Master
My inspiration to make a difference was given to me by the Master
Before I celebrate thanksgiving, I would do good to understand that everything I have, I have been given by the Master
May this thought shape the way I give thanks this year
What do I do with what I have been given?
Thanksgiving has its origins in honouring God for the yield of the harvest
This brings us to the next level of this parable
When the Master hands out gifts, He does so with an expectation
The Master wants to see returns on what He gives
The parable says that the Master went on a journey… He left the servants to make the most of what they receive while He is away
The seriousness of the expectation of the Master is evident in the reckoning upon his return
Hearing this parable on this weekend of thanksgiving, perhaps I should reflect on what I have done this past year with what I have been given?
Did I make the most of my finances?
Did I take care of my health in the choices I have made?
Did I utilize the talents and abilities that I have been given to the fullest?
Did I respond when I received the calling to step up and serve?
Did I make a difference when I felt the inspiration deep down inside?
What did I do with what I have been given?
The action of thanksgiving
You see, this comes back to the core of true thanksgiving
Being grateful or giving thanks (a per the word ‘thanksgiving’) is not about the grateful feeling you have in your heart
It is about more than remembering the things you could be grateful for the past year
True thanksgiving is about action and not about feeling
The best way to give thanks to God is to take what He has given me and make the most of it
Whether it is my possessions, my finances, my health, my talents and abilities, my response to a calling or making something of the inspiration I feel
Jesus told this beautiful parable to ignite action into his listeners
When I give thanks, may I remember that everything I have was given to me
May I never forget that I have been given what I have to make the most of it
May I give thanks this thanksgiving through what I do with what I have been given
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