Central Truth

God has entrusted each of us with gifts that we can use—or squander—for His kingdom.

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Reflections

There is, or at least was, and I believe might now be again, a band named Sixpence None the Richer. They are plagued with the typical rock band tendency to break up and reunite and with a typically odd band name. The name does have a point, though.

As the lead singer once explained, "Sixpence None the Richer" references a story about a father (apparently, a British one), who gave his young son a half-shilling coin, or sixpence. The son used the coin to buy a gift, which he then gave to his father. Though pleased that his son would want to give him a gift, the father realized that he was only getting back the sixpence that had belonged to him anyway; he was "none the richer." Similarly, everything—everything—we have comes from God. Every moment of our lives, every resource, and every ability (or talent) exist only because of God's creation.

In a way, that is what Jesus' parable in this passage is about. I've often heard it referred to as "the parable of the talents," but my Bible has a different heading for the section: "the parable of the loaned money." See, the talents, which are literally large sums of money, were not the servants' salaries or personal 401(k) plans. They belonged to the master and remained his possessions, even though they were entrusted to the servants until the master's return (verse 14). The servants were given only what they could handle, "each according to his own ability" (verse 15), but they were expected to use those talents to produce a return—and not just sit on the talent, unused.

Likewise, each of us has been given talents that we can use—or leave unused—for the Master's kingdom. They might be something that we traditionally think of as talents, such as artistic ability; or it might literally be sums of money and the ability to give. But it also includes such seemingly ordinary miracles as talking, listening, or some other God-given ability. And remember, every ability is a God-given ability. We are all "talent"-ed.

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Discussion Questions

1. Considering that we can never give more back to God than what He has already given us, what does that say about any efforts to earn our way into God's favor?

2. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) states that ". . . we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." What abilities, experiences, and interests has God crafted in you? Based on those things, what do you think God has prepared you to do?

3. Where are you currently investing your talents? Are you investing them at all?

4. What should you be doing to earn the title of "good and faithful servant"?

FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Just like the man who gave his servants money, God has given us talents and abilities. What talents and abilities has God given you? 

2. How are you using them to serve Him?

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