“For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his own servants 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 servants 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 servant; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
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 servant; 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 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 servant. 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 an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.’
‘Throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The parable dives deep into the themes of loyalty and preparedness through the interactions between the master and his servants. The first two servants demonstrate loyalty to their master through their proactive approach to the talents given to them. They don’t merely hold onto what they were given; instead, they invest it, showcasing their understanding of stewardship and responsibility. This proactive behavior signals their readiness to serve and fulfill their master’s expectations, which ultimately leads to their reward.
Contrast this with the third servant, whose fear and misjudgment paralyze him into inaction. He views his master as harsh, leading him to act out of a sense of dread rather than loyalty. This attitude reflects a lack of preparedness, not just in his actions but also in his capacity to understand what was expected of him. His failure to engage with the resources he was given leads to his condemnation, illustrating a harsh reality: when one is unprepared and unfaithful, the consequences can be dire.
The distinction between the servants encapsulates how loyalty and readiness can lead to abundance, while fear and inactivity result in loss. The narrative invites reflection on personal responsibility and the importance of actively engaging in the tasks set before us. By aligning oneself with a spirit of readiness and loyalty, one can thrive and enjoy the blessings of entrusted responsibilities.