i was reading the book of Matthew, chapters 24 and 25 just now and i thought i got an understanding of the parables. Particularly, the parable of the talents struck me...

(in my own words and understanding)
This parable was about a man who went out on a journey and entrusted his possessions to 3 of his servants. He gave the 1st servant $5000. He gave the 2nd servant, $2000 and the third servant, $1000. He gave them these money according to the servants' abilities. When the man was gone, the 1st servant put the money to use (probably investing them!) and gained $5000 more. The 2nd servant also put the money to use and gained $2000 more. The 3rd servant dug a hole and buried the $1000.

When the man returned from the journey, the 1st and 2nd servants showed him what they had done with his money. The man said to both "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come share your master's happiness!"

When the 3rd servant came and showed the man the $1000, the man was very angry. The 3rd servant explained, "Master, I knew 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 talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you." He replied "You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I had 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."

He was angry that he did not put the money he had given to him to good use. The servant was scared of losing the money!

and the $1000 that the 3rd servant had was given to the 1st servant and the 3rd servant was thrown "..into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."(possibly hell)


the parable was told to explain how it would be like when Christ returns (judgement day). In my own understanding (it may not be right, pls correct me if it is not), the man refers to God. The servants refers to Christians. God has given us things and people (tangibles), each according to our own capabilities. Some more, some less.

and what have we done with the tangibles God has given us?

Have we like the 1st and 2nd servants, gained much more for their master?

or have we like the 3rd servant, kept them and gained nothing?

in actual fact i think, the master did not expect his servants to do a lot with his money, he did not give them a lot of things to look after.("..You have been faithful with a FEW things; I will put you in charge of MANY things..25:21, emphasis mine) He ENTRUSTED his money to them. ONE tangible, that was VALUABLE to him. in fact, i dont blame the 3rd servant for keeping the money, afterall, guess he was afraid he would lose the money, so he thought he was doing his master a favour by keeping the money. Or looking it another way, was it more likely that the servant was wicked and lazy? Bcos by keeping the money, he gained nothing for his master. He could have put the money to better use. at the very least, putting the money in the bank wasn't that difficult right? Yet the servant dug a hole and hid the money and waited for his master to come back.

What are the tangibles that God has given us that we have not put to good use? Money we did not spend wisely?People we did not take the time to treasure?

having said that, i am convinced, i am like the 3rd servant or worse.

a friend of mine told me that he shouted at his mum and felt so bad about it. He later apologised to his mum.

after listening to him, i felt so guilty. cos i know i will not do it, even if i am in the worng. Yet i know my friend is doing it right.
just doing that requires some humility, some courage and much love. Frankly speaking, it doesn't take a lot of us.
but sadly, for people like me where ego matters more, i choose not to. It is actually something simple. and doesn't our mums' love for us outweigh all that ego and pride?

and doesn't our God's love for us outweigh all that we have to face? all that he has given us?

this parable made me realise, God does not expect a lot out of me. He knows what i can and cannot do. He just wants me to treasure the things he has given me. He wants me to put them to good use. things just as simple as saying sorry to my loved ones when i am in the wrong. things like putting my time to better use, so that it may yield something good.

Actually i guess God doesn't expect us to do MANY things, He only wants us to be faithful in the FEW things we are given. For if we are faithful in the FEW things, can He assign us many things and bigger things. For even the FEW things we do, MATTERS to God.

and also, the things we do, does it profit God? do they bring God glory?

posted by ser @ 1:54 PM