Come and share your master’s happiness!

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 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. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.’ 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!’ 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.’ 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!’ 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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 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? 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. ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:14-30)

This is the second of three parables of judgment in Matthew 25, where the Lord speaks of a master who entrusted varying amounts of wealth to his servants—5, 2, and 1 talent, each representing an immeasurable amount of wealth. He uses this parable to illustrate profound truth about God’s invaluable blessings given to us by grace. I would like to offer three possible applications to our life of faith about these invaluable gifts given to us.

First, God, our eternal Master, has blessed each of us with invaluable talents, abilities, and gifts. Each person, unique in their abilities, personalities, and background, possesses something special. It's essential to recognize that our worth isn't defined by societal or economic measures. In the Kingdom of God, value isn't determined by hierarchical positions but by the grace of God bestowed upon us. Rather, what is important as application in our lives is how we put our unique talents to work. In a Kingdom sense, putting to work is serving. Just as the servants in the parable put their talents to work, we too must put our faith into action, serving with the gifts God has graciously bestowed upon us.

Second, time is another invaluable resource that God has entrusted to us. Young or old, every moment we have is irreplaceable. Time is a finite treasure, continuously ticking away, urging us to seize the time we have before us. The parable’s servants who diligently used their time to increase their master's wealth were commended for their faithfulness. Similarly, when we use our time in service to God and others, we find true joy and purpose. Yet, there's a stark warning for those who squander this gift. Jesus doesn't mince words when He speaks of the servant who wasted his talent, calling him "wicked" and "lazy." The Bible offers an even more stringent definition of laziness than society.

The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. (Proverbs 21:25-26)

Proverbs explains to us that sluggards have unceasing craving for the things of the world, which will fade into the dust. These verses explain to us that one can be hardworking in the eyes of the world, pursuing the sinful desires of the world, but still be considered lazy in God's eyes if we aren’t working for eternal value.

Finally, let's turn our attention to the invaluable resource of opportunity. Just as with talents and time, opportunities are unique to each individual, shaped by circumstances, abilities, and the era we live in. The parable teaches a crucial lesson on seizing these moments: if you don't use the opportunities granted, you lose them. Yet, with the countless blessings and resources at our disposal, we have the chance to achieve so much more than we think. The key lies in maximizing these opportunities for the Kingdom of God.

Let us all reflect on the invaluable resources—talents, time, and opportunities—that God has given us. Are we maximizing them for His glory? With purpose and diligence, we can truly partake in the Master's eternal happiness.