Jesus taught his disciples parable about a man going on a journey and while he was to be gone, he entrusted his possessions to three slaves. To one he gave five talents, to another, two and to another, one, each according to his own ability. Immediately the one who had received five talents went and traded and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground and hid his masters money.

When the master returned he settled the accounts with them. The man who had received five talents reported that he had gained five more. The man who had received two talents reported that he had gained two more. The master’s response to these two was “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.”

When the one who had received the one talent came to report, he made excuses that charged the master as a hard man and that he was afraid so he had buried the talent which he returned to the master. The master’s response was “You wicked, lazy slave. Cast out the worthless slave into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

This parable pictures for us Christ Jesus, Christians and the judgment. Some conclusions that I would draw from this parable are:

• Christians are to be workers in the kingdom.
• The talents represent spiritual gifts given to us.
• All Christians are given gifts, each according to the individual abilities to be used in service of our Lord.
• The more gifts you use, the better you become at using them. It’s either use or lose it.
• Failure to put the gifts into practice causes us to lose what we’ve been given,
• When we work at using what Christ has given to us, we are good and faithful servants, who have done well. The reward is great.
• While we may have faith in Christ Jesus, failing to put to use what has been given to you and me causes us to be viewed by Christ as wicked and lazy with eternal punishment for us.
• We will individually give account to Christ of how we have served Him. That day is coming for each one of us.
• To know what the Lord expects of us and then chose not to serve Him is rebellion against God. The consequences of such in actions is disastrous!
• The parable should cause us to give our best effort in serving God out of love.