The gospel reading at church yesterday was my favorite parable -- the Five Talents. This is the story from Matthew chapter 25, where Jesus is describing what the time of judgment will be similar to.
The parable of the Talents is the one where the landowner is going out of town and gives some money to 3 of his servants, "each according to his ability." One servant got 5 talents (a talent was about $15,000 in our money), one got 3 talents, and one got 1 talent.
When the master finally returns the servant with the 5 talents gives his master the original 5 plus 5 more. The servant with the 3 talents gives his master the original 3 talents, plus 3 more. Both of them are praised and the master says "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
The servant who was given 1 talent says to the master "And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent into the ground." He gave the master the 1 talent back.
Of course the master is angry at this and takes the talent away and gives it to the servant with 10 talents (with the often misinterpretted line) "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."
Like you, I've heard and read that parable many times in my life. And yet, on Sunday, I tuned into something that I've never thought of...The "unprofitable" servant (who's sometimes called the Lazy Servant) telling his master that he was afraid and THAT'S why he hid the talent and only had the one to return.
If we believe that each of us has been given specific gifts -- skills...abilities...strengths...(talents!) -- and that God gave those gifts to us for a reason, then as stewards of those gifts we're to grow them so we have abundance.
Studies have shown that when we focus on those skills that come easiest to us they will grow and become even stronger.
The same can be said of our faith. Just going to church is sort of just maintaining the status quo of faith, but when we get involved, study, reflect, and actually invest effort to grow our faith we grow our faith in abundance too. So our faith is there for us in large amounts to get us through the challenges of life.
But when we're afraid to use our gifts they remain small. They may even shrink. And that relates to our faith as well.
Ask yourself if you're using all your strengths and gifts at work. Are you striving to grow those strengths and gifts? Have you been asked to take on more responsibility or work in a different capacity but you've been afraid to? Are you afraid to voice your opinion or manage in a way that's true to your Christian beliefs? How does your fear impact your personal, professional, and spiritual growth?
I can tell you that I've felt called to use my gifts in a different way for the past few years and I've been resisting it for a few reasons. The root of it though is I've been afraid. But after hearing that parable again I've decided it's time to renew my commitment to God and to follow where He's calling me. After all, if I REALLY believe then I have to believe He'll give me the strength to do what He's asking me, right?
I know I want to hear "Well done good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your lord." Don't you?
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