Parable of the Talents

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 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.’

26 “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? 27 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.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25: 14-30

Do I want to be like the servant who takes what the master has given me and hides it in the ground to do nothing with it? God has given each of us specific gifts and abilities to use for his purpose. Don't hid them in fear of God's character. That's what this third servant in the story did. He said to the master, "I knew you are a hard man... and I was afraid". Afraid of what? Disappointing God? Fear of what man will think? In the message it says the servant thought the master "demanded the best and made no allowance for errors". Which really does not accurately reflect the heart of God. You won't make mistakes when you don't try. But God doesn't call us to live so cautiously. But to take risks, knowing that even if we aren't safe in the physical, we are safe in Him. Safe in our salvation. So use the talents God has given you. Glorify God with them. Because if you are faithful to God in little, you will be faithful to Him in abundance. You start off small. Start with what God has placed right in front of you, in the abilities you do have. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have... now.