In the Parable of the Talents it is obvious that the master is Christ and the servants are his disciples and all Christians.
While the talents in the story were literally money, they represent the potential of each of us who are Christians in our service to Christ (our resources, including money, time, spiritual gifts (cf. Romans 12) and opportunities). Jesus is teaching us that we will each be judged by how well we use what we have been given. God does not give each of us as Christians the same gifts. Just as the master gave each of his servants differing amounts of money, so God gives us different gifts as well. Why?
To build up the body of Christ and thus increase the assets of His kingdom.
If we use these gifts, and how we use them is entirely up to us, but the choosing of which gift we receive is up to our Master.
You and I are stewards of what Peter calls “the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). Because of this he encourages each of us to use the gifts which God has given us in “serving one another.”
Don’t leave undone what you have the opportunity to do, because all it takes to be lost is to do nothing. Do not say, I can’t do anything — all of us have something we can do.
“If your gift is sewing, then find a way to reach the lost through sewing.
“If your gift is music, then use your songs to touch the hearts of the lost and draw them to the Master.
“If your gift is parenting, then parent your children in such a way that they will become an asset to the kingdom.
“If your gift is making money, then learn to use the money you obtain for the spreading of the Good News.” 2
Long ago, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, “For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been.’”
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