Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them…..
[after those who been given 5 and 2 bags of gold had been commended, the master’s focus turns to the one who had been given one bag..]
‘Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. “Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” ‘His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
Matthew 25:14-19, 26-27 [NIV]
I remember hearing this parable as a child, maybe aged 9, and feeling quite indignant. I had money in my money box, just like the man who buried it in the ground, and my parents encouraged me to save it. I couldn’t see what was wrong. Although the meaning of the story was lost on me at that age, I think my reaction was the same as the one Jesus was trying to create in his adult hearers - to challenge normal behaviour with a shocking story.
Of course the story is not mainly about how we invest our money, but rather how we invest ourselves. Do we react out of fear or laziness, trying to preserve our lifestyle? Is life a damage limitation exercise?
The implication of the story is that investing yourself is a difficult business, as the servant comments that his master “harvests where he hasn’t sown”. It could all go wrong, but Jesus says it is imperative that we take the risk and go and do something with what we are given.
Have you taken stock of your talents recently? How are you spending them?
“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it”. Matthew 16:25 [NIV]
Jon Seaton
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