The story Jesus tells here in Matthew is about the kingdom of heaven. He says the kingdom is like an investor who entrusts resources (“talents” or weights of money) to three different employees to see what they can and will make happen with these resources:
- There was a five-talent man, who earned five more talents.
- There was a two-talent man who earned two more talents.
- And finally there was a one-talent man who did nothing to utilize and multiply the resources.
There is nothing disgraceful about being in any of those positions. We can grow from being a one-talent person to being a two-talent person to being a five-talent person in the work of the Kingdom. The two-talent man used it all and became a four-talent man. The five-talent man used it all and became a ten-talent man. He actually became an eleven-talent man because the investor decided to use him to “pick up the slack,” giving him the resources and responsibilities of the one-talent man. There is no doubt that the investor in this story thought that the one-talent man had the ability to become a two-talent man. But, the one-talent man looked at the others, grew jealous, and made bad decisions that lead to losing out entirely.
I was surprised by what came to my mind when I read that story: "I want to be a two-talent man!" I, obviously, don’t want to be a one-talent man who buries my talent, refusing to use it in the work of the Master. What was surprising, however, was that I didn’t immediately ask to be a five-talent man. That's kind of my nature. I guess I saw what happened to him: an already busy and productive man had to pick up the slack! So, what about two talents – if I could ask for those – seemed like a good goal. I prayed the following:
Today, Lord, help me to see and develop and plan to use my two talents according to my ability. May I use my talents for your glory and for the growth and encouragement of those around me.
You may wish to pray a similar prayer.
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