A man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. (Matthew 25:14-15 NRSV Bible)
Once there was a wealthy landowner, or "master" as he is called, who was about to go away on a long trip. Since he was going away for such a long time he decided to put his loyal staff in charge of everything he owned. Before he left he presented one of the servants with the unbelievable sum of five talents. To another servant he gave two talents and to the third servant he gave one talent. The servants weren't given any instructions on what to do with the talents or when exactly the landowner would return.

A talent was a tremendous sum of money. It represented the earnings of twenty or more years. The servant who was given five talents held in his possession lifetime earnings of five people. The servant who was given two talents had the earnings of two people. Even the servant who was given only one talent had an enormous sum of money.

Immediately after the master left on his trip the first two servants went to work. The one with the five talents and the one with two talents soon had doubled the money of their master. The third servant who was given one talent, however, "went off at once and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money." At an unexpected time the master returned and called in his three servants to give an account of how each used the talents entrusted to him.

What kind of account will we give to our master on how we have used our talents?

Dear Jesus, forgive me for not using my talents wisely. Help me to give freely of what you have given to me. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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