“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents. In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. Matt. 25:14-18
The value of a single talent in the Bible was a huge sum of money. A talent was approximately equal to 6,000 denarii and a single denarii was a day’s wages for workers at the time.
The talent in Jesus’ parable is metaphorically something of tremendous value.
When I was very young I would hear this story being read or would read it myself in the Bible and in the back of my mind my common sense would want to excuse the guy because at least he didn’t lose or throw away the talent his master gave to him. But reading it now I realize he did something much worse than throw it away–he buried it.
“Now the one who had received the one talent also came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’ Matt. 25:24-25
The previous servants had made good use with the talents given to them by their master. They had increased, built upon what had been given them. But not the “one talent guy”. He dug a hole in the ground and buried the talent. All he had to do was take a trip to his local bank and deposit it. Just make a little interest on the money. But instead he hid it away.
“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed? Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ Matt. 25:26-28
Looking at this parable as a metaphor we could come at it from a few angles, but from my perspective I see the talent in the parable as Jesus Himself. Jesus is the priceless gift God has given to us and what we do with Jesus will determine whether we hear “good and well done faithful servant” or are rebuked and cast out for squandering the greatest gift ever given to mankind.
When the Lord is presented to us our reception and actions afterward matter. Those faithful servants took the great gift and did something with it. They varied in their outcomes but they at least had an outcome. They had something to show for a life lived after receiving the greatest gift. But not the foolish man. Taking Jesus as metaphorically being the talent this foolish man not only failed to appreciate the gift, not only failed to be seen with the gift at his local bank, he quickly buried it out of sight. He did nothing with Jesus but hide Him as if He had never been in the man’s life. He not only failed to increase what had been given to him, he left Jesus in the ground. The risen Lord was never manifested in the life of the man!
What we do with Jesus means everything. There are great ones like Billy Graham who go on to lead incredible numbers of people to Christ. There are others who work quietly but make a difference in the lives of those around them because Jesus shines through them. When you belong to the Lord you can’t help but do some good, have some increase in the blessing you have received. But never be like the fool who was presented the gift of Jesus, and instead of receiving Him and being changed, he buried and hid the most important thing in this world in the ground for no one to see. What will you do with Jesus? Are you letting others see the risen Lord in your life?
Prayer: Dear Lord, we may not always be the best servants, but help us never to be fools. Help us to let the world see You, the greatest most priceless Gift we have ever received, and transform the world around us through Your presence. Amen.
