seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Matthew 25:14 “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, 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.’
I've often considered this as the "Banker's Story". Bankers love to teach this one... and it's generally about how trusting your savings to someone and getting a return gets you into Heaven. After all, they would say, "We have to show off our good fortune. After all, would a real leader drive a Cadillac or a busted-up piece of junk?"I don't think this has anything to do with money or Cadillacs. I don't think this has anything to do with showing off God's riches.
Now, let's look at the rich guys blasting off into space with their money. The banker in their local church is probably pulling his hair out! How dare that man squander all that money on shooting himself into space when there are so many hungry and homeless who could use it so much more? If that banker had the money to shoot himself into space, instead of counting other people's money, don't you think he would? Is this just "sour grapes" on the part of the banker? If everyone entrusted their money to the banker, he could be like that guy. This is not a banker's story.
I make dolls and stuffed toys. Each one has some little thing that makes it endearing to that child who will eventually play with it. Or each one has something that makes it endearing to an elder who just needs comforting in to hold on to. In a child's doll, I might add an embroidered puppy on the doll dress, to add to the little child's smile. Or, for the adult's doll, I add rice or beans, to give the doll some weight and add a hint of comfort. I'm making a crocheted Scottish terrier. It's just lap size and it feels warm, soft, and safe [and it doesn't require walking or feeding]. Each doll or stuffed toy has something that makes it unique. Each doll or stuffed toy has a unique talent. Each doll makes a child or an elder smile.... but if I keep them locked up in a toy box... they don't do anyone any good.... they just take up more space.
So... I think the true measure of use of talent is what it brings to the table.
Is your talent like a shiny Cadillac or is it like an embroidered puppy?
