Parable of the Talents

For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, “Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.” His master said to him, well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, “Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.”
His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, “Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.”
But his master answered and said to him, “you wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.” “Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.”
For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

There is no more poignant verse that hits home today than this one. The Lord has given us all many gifts and talents; he expects us to use them to bear much fruit. He does not want us to bury our heads in the sand and to waste what he has given us; he instead wants us to multiply them to produce more with the gifts he has given us. If we waste our gifts than they will be taken away, but if we use them to bear fruit than we shall prosper ten fold. Also, the Lord approves of his people working hard and being prosperous. Laziness and expecting something for nothing is sinful. But he does expect those who have been successful to lend a helping hand to those in need. As Jesus has said, “the poor you will always have with you.” It is up to us always to help those who are less fortunate. There is not only a reward waiting for those who follow will of God in the Kingdom; there is also a reward waiting for those who work hard and use the gifts that God has blessed us with in this world today. There is no shame in being successful; only shame in not being successful in furthering the Kingdom here on earth with the gifts we have been blessed with.