“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.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “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. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’”
Matthew 25:14-25
Each one of us has certain abilities and levels of skill and talent. That is not in question in the parable we read above. What is in question, is how those abilities were used by his servants when a certain man entrusted his wealth to them. The first two servants doubled what they had received while the third servant, motivated by fear (vs. 25), realized no increase in what had been entrusted to him. There is no good that can come to you if you are motivated by fear. However, when you motivation is to use the talents that God has given you to see the Kingdom of God advanced then the increase is great. Some have clearly recognized the talents, abilities and gifts God has given them, but they are so paralyzed with fear that they do not sow, let alone reap a harvest for the King. Jesus came to set the captives free. Yes, you say you know that. Well, then today receive the freedom from fear that he wants you to have so that you, like the first wise servant, go out at once and put the talents entrusted to you to work for His Kingdom. After all, we are told in II Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (KJV)
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