I don't mind saying that this year has been a season of an unprecedented (and sometimes challenging) time of growth for me. Have you ever wondered whether or not you will ever reach an age when you will have matured enough and you can just coast? (Spiritual retirement?) That thought is obviously foolish. In fact, I think this mortal adventure we're having is really Pre-School in the light of eternity, even for the most spiritually developed. It almost seems like every year takes my spiritual schooling for a new level - sometimes involving a proverbial "tool shed" experience.
There are several passages of Scripture that have been the focus of my reflection, repentance and reformation this year. One of the most important is the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. I know! Everyone is very familiar with that passage! What can be so challenging? After all, haven't I taught, written and preached on that passage any number of times? Well, yes. But I find a new perspective on that ancient story is literally changing the focus of my life.
In a word: I find I have been identifying myself with the One-Bag Servant.
This servant is known for one thing: digging a hole in the ground and burying the Master's bag of gold. Later, when called to account, this servant confesses that he was afraid of losing any of his Master's gold. He thought he would be in hot water if, when the Master returned, he was able to return less than what had been given to him. And he succeeded. He didn't lose anything that had been entrusted to him. The Master's investment in his life was in tact.
Maybe we should pause to describe how much a "talent" was worth in those days. A "talent" (Greek talanton) was equivalent to 20 years of wages. That's why some translations render this word a "bag of gold." A One-Bag Servant was a very wealthy man! (The Five-Bag Servant was given 100 years of wages.) In other words, every servant in God's Kingdom has been given great wealth to invest. The Master had "entrusted his wealth" to his servants.
So what was the Master expecting of his servants? I would think not losing any of his wealth would have been a good thing. What strikes me is the difference between the attitudes of the Five-Bag and the Two-Bag Servants and the One-Bag Servant. Jesus remarked that Mr. Five and Mr. Two "went at once and put his money to work." These two servants were known for (1) the urgency and immediacy of their response, and (2) their diligence in finding ways to make their bags of gold "work." And as a a result, they doubled the Master's investment. A 100% ROI! These servants were diligent, creative, faithful masters of enterprise. They were successful entrepreneurs, dedicated to the productive use of all the Master had entrusted to them.
And what was the Master's response to their productivity? "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." The Master (Jesus) characterized these two investors as "good and faithful." They had dedicated themselves to the good productivity of the Master's investment, and they had been faithful in carrying it out. As a result, they were to share in the Master's deep joy, a joy being experienced in the context of the servants' good faithfulness. I'm amazed that the Master remarked on the fact that he had put them in charge of a few things; even the great wealth being entrusted to them did not compare to the wealth to be entrusted to them (to manage) as a result of their faithfulness.
So it was more than just the need to not lose the Master's investment. When Mr. One presented the Master's investment in tact, he made a fairly harsh statement. "I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed." The word "hard" (Greek skleros) literally means grasping, harsh, cruel, merciless, exploiting the labor of others. One commentator noted, "“He
is virtually calling his master a vicious tyrant, a capitalist who takes for
himself the harvest that others worked so hard on. In other words, he takes
what he wants without caring who gets hurt in the process" (Grand Osborne, Matthew). He didn't think his Master needed his help increasing his wealth. After all, wasn't he wealthy enough already? He should be happy just getting his entire investment back!
But no! The master characterizes this servant as "wicked and lazy," the exact opposite of "good and faithful." He used his fear of the Master as an excuse, but in reality, he was just lazy. He reasoning was dishonest and irresponsible. At the very least, his commitment to being a faithful servant-investor would have led him to deposit his bag in the bank to earn interest. Instead, he was satisfied with just not losing anything. As a result, his one bag was taken away from him and given to Mr. Five - who was now Mr. Ten.
The lesson rings loudly and clearly in my mind! The Master is looking for more than a level of faithful stewardship that protects his investment in our lives from loss. The Master is looking for - is committed to - a high level of productivity from our lives. He has given us all a very wealthy deposit - not just to enjoy or feel good about, but to multiply for the Master's use. That requires us to be honest about and appreciate the valuable gifts and resources he has put into our hands. Our response is then to begin immediately to explore effective ways to put that treasure to work so that it will achieve it's productive potential.
I'm reflecting on what that might mean for me. What does that mean for you?
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