by Rev. Dr John Evans
Five reflections on a parable, delivered 16 Nov. 2008
Today in our service we will be hearing the story of Jesus’ known as the Parable of the Talents. We will use this story in the various aspects of our time together – for our prayers and for thinking about our life as this congregation.
We each have been given a penny, some have been given several pennies. In the story the master is going away for a long time and he “entrusts his property with his servants”. So he gives five, two and one talent respectively – each according to their ability. As we know, a talent is a huge sum of money – 15 years of an average person’s salary. What could the talents represent?
The gospel? Understanding about the kingdom of heaven? The fullness of life?
Those who were given the most – the five and two talents – interestingly “traded with them”. Used them – and they grew – doubled. These servants were complimented on their return, “Well done, good and faithful servant”. They were in turn invited to share in their master’s joy.
The gospel bore fruit. When it was “traded” it grew – there was much thanksgiving, joy and praise.
This year, like all other years, we have had the good news of Christ to share, and it has borne fruit. In groups of two or three, share with each other, stories of where the gospel has been shared and borne fruit. What are the things we can be thankful for? It might be within the life of this congregation. It might be in our own life . . . and don’t forget to involve the children.
II
The real focus of the story however, is not on those who ‘traded’ their talents, but the one who buried theirs. Much could be said about this aspect of the story, however it is clear that this servant has not shared the good news of the Christ, the love of God and the hope of the kingdom. The great potential of the gospel has not been fulfilled.
Where has been the potential not been realized in our lives, or the life of this community? Where has the talent laid buried? Take hold of your one penny and reflect on how it has been buried.
III
There are several aspects of this story which are troubling. The poor person who received the one talent was thrown into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth – which sounds all very gruesome, and not much like a loving God. However, there is another aspect. Usually when we have these stories where the landowner goes away, and there are quite of few of them in the stories of Jesus, we think that the landowner represents God. And this usually holds true. However, here the landowner is described as being very negative and harsh. The person who received the one talent says:
“Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow; and gathering where you did not scatter seed . . .”
In fact, the returning master confirms that assessment. He admonishes the servant when they produce the same one talent:
“You wicked and lazy servant. You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter?”
Is this God? Again, it does not sound like God.
I doubt it. In fact the master is the difficult, almost extreme times, the early church faced. Here the master is not so much a person, but a period of opposition and difficulty for the infant church.
This is the middle of three stories of Jesus in Matthew 25 about the life of the church prior to his return and the end of the age. Last week we heard the story of the five wise and five foolish bridesmaids. That was about being ready, actively serving Christ and not just resting on one’s laurels. Next week we will have the story about how we are to live in that time prior to judgment: by visiting the prison, clothing the naked etc.
Today’s story is also about how the church is to live out its life in a context in which could be regarded as hostile, harsh – and where, as we would say, we need to make every post a winner: to reap where we did not sow, and gather where we did not scatter.
It is story about not being cautious; being bold – as we say edgy, new, different . . . because the times and the circumstances demanded it. To just place the talent in the ground would be viewed as being obscene. Indeed so concerned is the returning master about the situation, he even chides the person who has done nothing as to why did not he place this money with bankers and earn interest. Earn interest – natural enough for us today – but it was in breach of the Law of Moses. Usury was forbidden. Deuteronomy 23:19 -
You shall not charge interest on loans to another Israelite, interest on money, interest on provisions, interest on anything that is lent …
The master was saying, these difficult times required risk and brave action.
These are like our own times. We have the great gift of the gospel – we are called to share and trade it – and not bury it. Are we cautious with the talent; or are we prepared to risk all? Our person with just one talent, was punished for being cautious and prudent, not for being wild and profligate. Challenging.
Over recent months people have been engaged in thinking about ideas for our one talent – our one penny. These have been shared in our Bulletin over recent weeks – and they are all gathered together in this little booklet.
IV
If we are not to bury our talent, whom then do we serve? Who are the people, what are the circumstances in which we need to bring our concerns before God? Our prayer is one way of serving these people.
V
Now usually the parable of the talents is referred to when a congregation is considering its finances. And typically the church needs more money. The sermon line is that we should be wisely using the God-given talents, and not just our money which we have. Talents, time and money we say – how do we use them? Indeed it is interesting that it was in the Middle Ages with the widespread popularity of this parable, the word talent, which originally was just a large sum of money, came to mean something like what it means today. It was a God-given gift, or skill or ability – and the implication was that it should be used to glorify God and serve Christ.
As we have seen, there are other meanings for the story, but it remains to ask: how do we use our God given resources and talents?
Our freewill offering is a way of doing this. In fact, if you look within our proposals for the life of this congregation, you will see that at as a worshipping congregation we seek not to be so reliant on other income streams as we perhaps have in the past. We seek to be a larger congregation and we seek us each to contribute more.
So today take those pennies, together with your offering, and it will be collected.
