The Talents - Part 2

The Parable of the Talents provides us with several great life lessons. Last week we covered the fact that we are all accountable for how we use our talents. While the “talents” referred to in the parable represents money, I believe that it really covers all of the resources that God gives us – time, talent and treasure. There are four other key lessons that I want to point out. 

1.     We are not all created equal in skills, abilities and opportunities. The parable clearly communicates this as one was given 5 talents, another 2 and another only one. The key point is what we do with what we have been given. 

2.     Bearing fruit with our talents comes only when we take action. We are all called to work.

Proverbs 12:11. He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.

God was only displeased with the man who buried the one talent that he had been given and therefore produced no fruit from it.

3.     Our efforts are intended to bring glory to God, not glory for ourselves. We might sometimes be recognized for our Kingdom work and there is nothing wrong with that but it shouldn’t be our aim. 

4.     God gives us everything that we need to equip us for what He has called us to do. However, we all battle fears and doubts to enter in and that stunts our faithfulness and fruitfulness. Fear is our enemy, not our friend.

Ephesians 2:10 We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

We certainly don’t earn our way to heaven by using our talents effectively. We are saved only by grace through faith. Our good deeds are not a requirement of our salvation, they are the evidence of it.

Our ultimate goal in life is to hear these words one day from the end of this parable:

‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

Stay Hungry,

Big E