“For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:28-30)

This parable about the talents is another in a series of teachings Jesus gave as warnings to His listeners. Soon He would be crucified ushering in the Kingdom of God. The people of God had to be about the business of building that Kingdom, not complacent or idle resting on their status as God’s chosen. They had to be using their talents and resources to expand His Kingdom and not be afraid to do so. Servants who truly know their Master will have faith as they go about Kingdom business because they will know that the Lord will work in and through them to accomplish His goals.

The Lord has given to each of His chosen certain gifts and talents. In fact He has given every human being various talents and gifts. Some, like the wicked servant in the parable have chosen to misuse, squander or dismiss them altogether in the pursuit of worldly pleasures. Others have opted to use their God-given talents and resources to build their own personal kingdoms, to enhance their wealth, power, prestige and self-image, which, in terms of the Kingdom of God, is the same thing as wasting them. We, the servants of Jesus Christ however, his servants are called to use all That is given us to build His Kingdom not our own so that no one may suffer the eternal punishments so graphically depicted for us by the Lord.