The Parable of the Talents
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Matthew 25:14-15
The servant the man gave five talents, which is money, invested what he was given and doubled it. The servant that the man gave two talents also doubled it. However, the servant he gave one talent hid it, trying to be careful not to lose what the master had given him. The two who increased their money were told, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” While the one who did nothing with what he was given was cast into utter darkness, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus is the master, and the servants are Christ-followers. He gave each of us gifts, with the main gift being our salvation, but he also gave us spiritual gifts; some of us were given many gifts, while others were given few. Those gifts were givento us to help increase the kingdom of God, and if we don’t use them, we will lose them. Just like the parable of being given a light and hiding it, it’s of no use. You didn’t have to do anything to receive your salvation or your spiritual gifts, but if you don’t use them, you could lose them like the servant who was given one talent and ended up being cast into utter darkness.
Jesus was the one telling us this story, so you tell me, how can we reconcile this with the idea that once saved, always saved? If that is true, fine, you can sit there and do nothing, but if it’s not true, you had better get it together and do something for God’s kingdom. Otherwise, you could end up like the servant with his only talent taken away.
Truth be told, if you were actually saved to begin with, nothing can stop you from doing all you can to increase the kingdom of God. However, Jesus did call the man with only one talent a servant, likening him to a person with salvation.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:20
