In the epistle to Timothy, Paul urges, “keep that which is committed to thy trust…” I Timothy 6:20. This simple command reminds us of the sacred duty entrusted to each believer.
It resonates with the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30, an earthly story that vividly illustrates a heavenly truth, which points to the importance of faithfully using what God has given us.
Paul’s words to Timothy are a call to safeguard not just Biblical truths but also the talents and opportunities God entrusts to us. This is portrayed in the Parable of the Talents, where a man, going on a journey, entrusts his property to his servants.
To one servant he gives five talents, to another two, and to another one, “to every man according to his several ability” Matthew 25:15
The first two servants understand the weight of this trust. They engage actively with what they’ve received, doubling their master’s money.
Their actions mirror believers who utilize the doctrine they have learned and their God-given gifts and blessings in service to Him, reflecting the principle that “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” Luke 12:48
In stark contrast, the third servant, crippled by fear, buries his talent. His inaction represents a failure to recognize and utilize what God’s taught him, along with his gifts and blessing.
The master’s rebuke upon his return, “Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury” Matthew 25:27, underscores the missed opportunity for growth and contribution to God.
The parable concludes with a profound reckoning. The faithful servants are rewarded, invited to enter into the joy of their lord, symbolizing the eternal joy and reward that await those who faithfully steward God’s gifts.
Conversely, the unfaithful servant faces a harsh rebuke, a harsh reminder of the consequences of squandering what God has entrusted to us. We each have been given doctrine, talents, abilities, and opportunities, unique to our calling and capacity.
The question that this parable poses is stark: How are we using what God has entrusted to us? Are we multiplying and nurturing these gifts and blessing for His glory, or are we like the fearful servant, hiding away our potential?
Paul’s exhortation and Jesus’ parable together challenge us to live as faithful stewards. It’s a call to embrace our responsibilities with courage, always mindful that our actions here have implications that reach into eternity.
Let us recommit ourselves to using our talents and blessings, not burying them, ensuring that when the time comes for our own reckoning, we can stand confidently, having invested well what was entrusted to us.
