24
PENTECOST - PROPER XXVIII - A - 17 MATTHEW
25. 14-30
In
today’s gospel, Jesus continues to teach about the kingdom while he has a
captive audience. His days are numbered. The cross is looming in the near
distance. He has been challenged by the religious leaders of the day both
politically and according to the religious traditions of his own people and has
withstood their attempts to trap him. The kingdom of God remains the focus of
his teaching.
Last
week’s parable of the bridesmaids was one in which Christ stressed our need to
be prepared for His coming again at an unexpected hour. In today’s parable of
the talents, Jesus is reminding us of our eventual accountability for the use
of the gifts God has entrusted to us. It
is a parable of stewardship in light of the unexpected return of the owner.
I
have often heard it said, “I have no gifts.” This, however, is not true. God
has created each of us with certain gifts and talents for the sole purpose of
using them for the benefit of others and as Christians, for the building up of
the Body of Christ - the Church.
Look
at the story again. One steward was entrusted with five talents, one with two,
and the other with one, each according to his ability. What did they do? Two of
the stewards “invested” what was entrusted to them in ways that garnered a
return. The steward who was given only one talent was afraid to risk losing it,
so he buried it. On the day of accountability, the owner returned and the
stewards were asked one by one what they did with what was given to them.
The
two who invested what was entrusted to them were able to report to the owner
that they had doubled the gift and were rewarded with a well-done and increased
responsibility. However, the one steward who was afraid to use what was given
to him handed it back to the owner with the excuse that he was afraid to risk
losing it, so he buried it.
Instead
of receiving the same reward as the others, the talent was taken from him and
given to the one who had ten. If that was not enough, he who was afraid to
invest found himself cast out from the presence of the owner.
“For all those who have, more will be given,
and they will have abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they
have will be taken away.
I
dare say we have all envied other people because of the perceived gifts/talents
they appear to possess. It is only natural for us to look at such people,
compare ourselves to them, and see ourselves in a lesser light, thus convincing
ourselves that we do not possess any gifts or talents at all. That is a “cop
out.” There is not one of us who are void of gifts.
True
some people have more than others do. Jesus’ illustration points to that fact.
It does not matter how many or how few talents we possess, even if it is only
one, it is to be used for the “greater good” and not “hidden” for whatever
reason. Our gifts are gifts of grace.
God
has consecrated the gifts he has entrusted to us. Through we vary in our
several capacities, the spirit of faithfulness and dependability in the use of
our trust is equally required by all.
A
steward is one who is in possession of resources/gifts/talents that belong to
another, in this case, God. That is a hard pill for some to swallow. From an
earthly point of view, what we have we deem as ours. It’s mine. I earned it. It
is only when we think of it in terms of our relationship to God that we begin
to see that what we have has been entrusted to us for a purpose.
As
a steward, we have the responsibility to use it wisely for the benefit of
others less fortunate. In addition as Christians, we have the awesome responsibility
as “stewards of the mysteries of God.” That is, we are to share the faith that
is within us, once delivered to the saints; to make disciples, baptize and
teach, and to welcome others into the kingdom in the name of Him who died and
rose again.
All
of which is a part of our accountability in response to the generosity and love
of God. The emphasis in today’s story is on the third steward. He was afraid
because of his misconception of the owner (God), the feeling that he was hard
and demanding. His misconception of the owner caused him to begrudge the labor
and the sacrifice, which was asked of him.
When
these two things exist, there is always fear and the “burying” of the talent.
In contrast, the “good and faithful” servant is well disposed toward his master
and so finds faithfulness easy. His labor is a labor of love in thanksgiving
for all that has been given to him.
The
gospel message is clear: each of us is of great worth in the eyes of God and is
of value in God’s purpose. Each of us
has been entrusted with certain gifts and talents to be used for the good of
the whole. Our gifts are gifts of grace.
It
doesn’t matter what our particular talent maybe. What matters is how we use
them. God never demands from us more than our abilities allow. You are not
going to be asked to sing in the choir if you cannot carry a note!
What
God does demand of us is that one uses to the fullest what one possesses. As
servants of the Servant of God, we are expected to return, with interest, the
talents that have been entrusted to us. It is not our purpose to compare our
gifts with others enviously and to limit ourselves to meager tasks. We are to
use what God has endowed us with for His glory.
Devotion
and faith require risk. It is better to venture forth with what one has and
fail than to try nothing and live an empty life. The one-talented man in the
story could not see that his talent was of value to God. The other two dared to
invest their gifts. The good and faithful servants received surprising rewards
and with the rewards came greater risks.
Such is the reward in the new covenant in
Jesus Christ. The reward of the “joy of the lord” is fellowship with Christ, to
stand before His face forever in the glory of the kingdom. God does not show
partiality in the ultimate reward, for all are invited to share the same joy.
It is faithfulness that matters.
In the final analysis, God will call each of
us to give an account of ourselves. Not just in the use of the gifts, He has
entrusted to us, but in the sharing of our knowledge and faith in him. Did we
share it? Or did we hide it? On the other hand, were we afraid to use it?
Any
gift of grace provides an opportunity for divine investment. There is not an
individual, or congregation that has not been blessed with the necessary gifts,
that when used individually or collectively, can accomplish much for the glory
of God. AMEN+
