"For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who
does not have, even what he has will be taken away." Matthew 25:29
In Matthew 25 Jesus tells a story of a master who divided his money (unequally) into the care
of three servants while he went on a trip. "Then he who had received the five talents went and
traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained
two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s
money." (Matthew 25:16-18). When the master returned, he praised and rewarded the two
servants who had multiplied his money. Jesus continues the story:
"Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man,
reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I
was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. But
his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I
have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my
money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who
has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even
what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (vs. 24-30)
I was surprised when I first read this parable that the master called that servant "wicked and
lazy." After all, it doesn't say he was an axe murderer or a freeloader, right? It seems he just
played it extra safe with his portion of money. Does that really make him "wicked and lazy?"
Maybe I could understand the "lazy" label because he just buried it and left it there. That doesn't
take much effort compared to opening a savings account or investing in stocks, mutual funds or
real estate. Plus, if you invest it, you need to manage it to minimize your losses should there be
a stock market crash, or mortgage loan crisis. Yes, it is easier to stash money under a mattress
than try to navigate the financial world of investments.
However, what really threw me was the label "wicked" applied to him. I don't know much about
investing, and I've made some financial mistakes before, but does that make me wicked in
God's eyes? Since I trust whatever Jesus says is true, I asked Him to show me why this man
was deemed wicked.
I realized the overall topic of this parable is personal responsibility for use of our assets.
By "assets," I refer to the things God has entrusted to us like our money, time, talents, mind,
body, family, etc. The clear message is that God wants us to manage these things with
excellence, and if we do, we will be rewarded. If we fail to, we may be penalized.
The master, who represents God in this parable, was chastising this servant because his "asset
management style" required little effort, and even less faith. What made him "wicked" was
believing the whispers of the Wicked One telling him that his master was too fickle to please
and would surely punish him if he tries and fails. What displeased the master was the servant's
failure to bother to try when given the assignment.
Taking responsibility for, and seeking to be productive with our assets feels risky –much like
navigating the world of finance can – but that should not cause us to bury our heads in the sand.
I now see that this servant let Satan back him into a corner, with fear of failure and skewed
notions of God, and immobilized what could've been used to glorify God and increase His
Kingdom.
So today, I purpose to use my all in service of God when He gives me an assignment, no matter
how risky it feels. Otherwise, I am denying the amazing grace of God available to me, and
rendering useless the gifts my Master has given me. So let's learn from this servant by refusing
to remain immobilized when we're afraid to fail.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me manage my time, talent, money, body and relationships in ways that please
You, and grow Your Kingdom. Deliver me from fearing of failure. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
does not have, even what he has will be taken away." Matthew 25:29
In Matthew 25 Jesus tells a story of a master who divided his money (unequally) into the care
of three servants while he went on a trip. "Then he who had received the five talents went and
traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained
two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s
money." (Matthew 25:16-18). When the master returned, he praised and rewarded the two
servants who had multiplied his money. Jesus continues the story:
"Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man,
reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I
was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. But
his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I
have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my
money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who
has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even
what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (vs. 24-30)
I was surprised when I first read this parable that the master called that servant "wicked and
lazy." After all, it doesn't say he was an axe murderer or a freeloader, right? It seems he just
played it extra safe with his portion of money. Does that really make him "wicked and lazy?"
Maybe I could understand the "lazy" label because he just buried it and left it there. That doesn't
take much effort compared to opening a savings account or investing in stocks, mutual funds or
real estate. Plus, if you invest it, you need to manage it to minimize your losses should there be
a stock market crash, or mortgage loan crisis. Yes, it is easier to stash money under a mattress
than try to navigate the financial world of investments.
However, what really threw me was the label "wicked" applied to him. I don't know much about
investing, and I've made some financial mistakes before, but does that make me wicked in
God's eyes? Since I trust whatever Jesus says is true, I asked Him to show me why this man
was deemed wicked.
I realized the overall topic of this parable is personal responsibility for use of our assets.
By "assets," I refer to the things God has entrusted to us like our money, time, talents, mind,
body, family, etc. The clear message is that God wants us to manage these things with
excellence, and if we do, we will be rewarded. If we fail to, we may be penalized.
The master, who represents God in this parable, was chastising this servant because his "asset
management style" required little effort, and even less faith. What made him "wicked" was
believing the whispers of the Wicked One telling him that his master was too fickle to please
and would surely punish him if he tries and fails. What displeased the master was the servant's
failure to bother to try when given the assignment.
Taking responsibility for, and seeking to be productive with our assets feels risky –much like
navigating the world of finance can – but that should not cause us to bury our heads in the sand.
I now see that this servant let Satan back him into a corner, with fear of failure and skewed
notions of God, and immobilized what could've been used to glorify God and increase His
Kingdom.
So today, I purpose to use my all in service of God when He gives me an assignment, no matter
how risky it feels. Otherwise, I am denying the amazing grace of God available to me, and
rendering useless the gifts my Master has given me. So let's learn from this servant by refusing
to remain immobilized when we're afraid to fail.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me manage my time, talent, money, body and relationships in ways that please
You, and grow Your Kingdom. Deliver me from fearing of failure. In Jesus' Name, Amen.