Only One Talent (Matthew 25:14-30; 20:26-28)

TALENTS

I can remember hearing the parable of the talents (Matt.25:14-30) and feeling sorry for the guy who only got the one talent, and didn't use what he had, and then what he did have, was taken and given to the guy who had doubled the 5 talents into 10.

YOU'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES

The parable clearly states that the master gave what belonged to him, to his servants, "to every one according to his ability" (25:15), so the 1 talent servant had the capability to cause increase, and double what was given to him, he just chose not to. You've got what it takes.

USE IT OR LOSE IT

As most people know, any ability that you have, you have to practice and maintain your skill level to sustain your level of proficiency. It doesn't matter whether you're talking about the business world; physical fitness; or musical talent. If you let any of those areas slide; you slip into non-relevance. If, in business, you quit providing quality service; meeting the clients needs; or lower the standard of your product, failure starts knocking at your door. Try not going to the gym for a year, or not practicing your instrument for a year, and the shortfall will be evident, not only to yourself, but to everyone you're associated with.

PROVERBS 22:29 says:

"My son, observe, and pay close attention: the ones that keep their sword sharp, [staying on the 'cutting edge'], in what they do, will gain position before those in authority, they will not fade into obscurity with those who have not kept their sword sharp" (paraphrase).

The Septuagint (LXX) translates it most accurately:

"...one sharp in his works must stand beside kings, and should not stand beside dull men" (Apostolic Bible)

QUALITY TAKES TIME

The scripture clearly states that, "...after a long time" (25:19), the lord of the servants, returned. We live in an instant gratification society, from microwaves, to easy credit, to live streaming on demand, we can get what we want now. However, in life, whether business; relationships; fitness; music, or any other skill, quality takes time. It doesn't happen over night, but consistent, targeted effort, produces positive results. It won't be tomorrow, but quality effort produces quality results.

To quote the famous Zig Ziglar, "Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly...until you can get good enough to do it well"

GALATIANS 6:9

"Let's consistently continue to put in the quality effort of doing good, because at the time of harvest, we are guaranteed to reap the results, if we don't give up" (Paraphrase).

THE WAY UP IS DOWN

The scripture says, the lord "...delivered to them HIS GOODS...". The majority of people don't want to do anything of value, unless it directly benefits them. In most societies, there is a system of reward for service, but the concept presented deals more with a corrupt attitude, that fosters discontent; thievery; violence; disrespect for authority, and for other persons in general. Many people will work for a pay cheque, doing only enough to keep from getting fired, but not enough to be of any long term value to an employer.

ZIG ZIGLAR said, "You can get everything in life you want...if you just help enough other people get what they want".

SERVICE IS THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS

It doesn't matter if the company belongs to somebody else. If you render quality service, "...doing it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men" (Col.3:23), you are going to position yourself for promotion, moving up the ranks, and maybe, one day owning the company.

The story is told of laborers working on a railway line, and the company train came by, carrying the president of the company. The president of the company got the train to stop, and carried on an animated conversation with one of the older workers, whom the president knew by name. After the presidents departure, the other workers were all amazed that this older worker actually knew the president of the railway personally. The older worker said that, many years ago, both he and the president started working the same job, at the same time. The other workers were dumbfounded and asked how it was that the one was now the president of the company and he was still a laborer. The worker said, "...because I went to work for a wage... he went to work for the company"

SERVICE

Jesus said it this way, "...whoever wants to be great among you, will be your servant, and whoever wants to be the head of everyone, will be your slave, even as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for many" (Matt. 20:26-28, paraphrase).

ENORMOUS VALUE

The average work week for a Jewish person was 6 days, the sabbath being a day of rest. There are 52 weeks in a year, meaning, to the Jewish person, to whom this parable was addressed, there were 312 working days in a year [ 52 x 6 ].

DO THE MATH

A denarius was the equivalent of a days wage, or 1 work day. One talent was worth 6000 denarius. Doing the math, the "...wicked and slothful servant..." (Matt.25:26) went out and buried, the equivalent of over 19 years of wages, in the ground, rather than make his lord more money!

ALL EQUIPPED

We all have been equipped with tremendous skills; value; and ability, and as the saying goes, "What we have is God's gift to us...what we do with it is our gift to God"

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours