Faithful Stewardship: The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30
"For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey."

In this parable, Jesus tells us a story about a man who is preparing to go on a long journey. Before he leaves, he entrusts his possessions to his servants. To one, he gives five talents, to another two, and to the third, just one. The interesting part is how he gives each servant a different amount, but he does so “according to his own ability.” The master knows each servant well enough to understand their capacity. The key here is that each one gets something, and the amount isn’t as important as what they do with it.

Now, let’s pause for a moment. A talent (1) in this story isn’t just a skill or an ability, though that’s how we might think of the word today. The Greek word τάλαντον (talanton) refers to a large sum of money, often in the form of gold or silver. The amount given to each servant isn’t small change—it's a significant sum, and it represents something valuable. This is a big deal. When the master hands over the talents, he’s not just giving them material wealth, but he’s also entrusting them with a responsibility. It’s like when someone trusts you with something precious—how do you handle it?

The first two servants, the ones who received five and two talents, don’t waste any time. They go out, trade, and make their talents grow. The servant who received five talents ends up with ten, and the one with two talents doubles theirs as well. When the master returns, he’s thrilled. He says to each of them, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He recognizes that they’ve been faithful with what they were given, no matter how much or how little. And then, he rewards them by giving them even more responsibility. The words he uses, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” are words we all long to hear when we stand before God, aren’t they? It’s not about how much we have, but what we do with what we’ve been entrusted with.

But then, there’s the third servant. The one who received just one talent. Instead of doing something with it, he hides it in the ground, fearing that if he takes a risk, he might fail. When the master returns, this servant brings back the one talent he was given and tells the master, “I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow and gathering where you didn’t scatter seed. So I was afraid and hid your talent in the ground.” It’s clear that this servant was operating out of fear, not faith. His attitude seems to be one of avoidance, as if doing nothing was somehow safer than trying and failing.

But the master’s response isn’t kind. He calls the servant “wicked” and “lazy.” The Greek word for wicked is πονηρός (ponēros), which goes beyond just doing something bad—it’s a moral failure, an evil choice that goes against the trust placed in him. The word for lazy here is ὀκνηρός (oknēros), meaning sluggish or slow to act. It’s a kind of spiritual laziness that keeps the servant from doing what was required of him. The master says, “You knew that I would expect results, so at the very least, you should have put my money in the bank to gain some interest.” The master wanted him to take action, to show some effort, but the servant didn’t even do the minimum.

Because of this, the master takes the talent away from the third servant and gives it to the one who has ten. He says, “To everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” This isn’t just about money or wealth; it’s about stewardship. It’s about how we handle whatever God has entrusted to us—whether it’s our time, our gifts, our abilities, or even our relationships. If we bury those things out of fear or laziness, we risk losing even the little we have. But if we use them, even in small ways, we open ourselves to more—more responsibility, more opportunities, more growth.

And then, of course, there’s the final part, where the master says to the worthless servant, “Throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” That phrase “outer darkness” is powerful. The Greek word σκότος ἐξώτερον (skotos exōteron) refers to a place of utter exclusion, a state of being far removed from the light and presence of God. It’s a metaphor for spiritual isolation and despair, a warning about the consequences of failing to live faithfully with what we’ve been given.

So, what does this parable really mean for us? First, it’s a reminder that whatever we’ve been given, however much or little, is a trust from God. The question isn’t how much we have, but what we’re doing with it. Are we investing in our relationships? Are we using our time wisely? Are we putting our talents—whether it’s artistic, writing, or practical—to good use for the Kingdom? The parable shows us that faithfulness isn’t just about multiplying resources. It’s about being faithful with what we’ve been entrusted with, even if it feels like a small thing. And in that faithfulness, God can do far more than we could ever imagine.

The servants who took risks and used their talents weren’t guaranteed success. They didn’t know if their efforts would pay off. But they were faithful, and their faithfulness is what led to their reward. On the other hand, the servant who buried his talent out of fear never even gave it a chance to grow.

In the end, the master’s words to the faithful servants offer something we should all aim for: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That’s the goal, right? To use what God has given us with love, trust, and action, knowing that even in the smallest acts, we can honor Him.

Don’t waste what God has given you!

1. In terms of silver, one talent would be worth roughly $30,000 today.

One talent of gold would be worth roughly $2.28 million today. 

 

 
I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Anna M. C. Hazen  2025

The image is AI generated on chatgpt.