No two Christians are alike, so each one of us has been given gifts or talents according to our abilities and we should use these talents for the benefit of all. “The talents that Christ entrusts to His church represent especially the gifts and blessings imparted by the Holy Spirit. [1 Corinthians 12:8-11 quoted.] All men do not receive the same gifts, but to every servant of the Master some gift of the Spirit is promised.”1

God gives talents to each individual according to His plan. Every person must use his or her own God-given talents to help the whole body function as it should (Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:16). Jesus taught in a parable that if we use our talents for Him, He will give us more! But if we ignore our talents, or hide them, He will take away that which was given.

Matthew 25:14-30 tells a story of a man who went traveling into a far country. He called his servants to him, giving them each an amount of money, according to their individual abilities. To one he gave five talents; to another two talents; and to the third, knowing that he could not handle a heavy load of responsibility, he gave just one talent.

Each one was given the same opportunity to use his talent. While they were not told how to use them, they were expected to use them wisely. He did not expect the same result from each one.

Talent is understood as a unit of money in ancient times. It was a unit of measure or weight. The value of the coin would depend on its weight. While we cannot determine the exact amount of money this was, it was a substantial amount. In the parable of Jesus, talents also represent abilities or skills. The servants represent members of the church. Every member has some ability. There is not any “no talent” person. There is individual responsibility for different degrees of ability.

The first servant, knowing that his master was just, but strict, went out immediately and put the five talents to work for him. He investigated many business ventures before deciding what he would do with the money. Satisfied with his decision, he invested it. Trade implies carrying on transactions for a long period of time, not instant success. He eventually showed a 100% return on his investments. Matthew 25:16.

The second servant did not have as much to work with. His master, when he handed him the two talents, said nothing further. He didn’t tell him how to spend or invest the money. He did not give him project reports or business plans. But this servant, although not quite as smart as the first man, knew that his master intended for him to use it wisely. He went to work to figure out how he could best utilize what his master had entrusted to him. He did not sit and complain because someone else received five talents. He went to work and was faithful in what he had received and also received a 100% return. Matthew 25:17.

The third servant, known for his laziness, received just one talent. He looked at it, wondering what good one little talent would do. How could he use such a meager amount? He thought about his master, remembering the times he had rebuked him for his laziness. He was quite afraid of his master. He clutched the talent in his hand. Going quickly to his quarters he sat down to think. Yes! That’s what he would do! He would not spend his master’s money. No. That would be wrong. He would put it away in a safe place, not telling anyone where it was. In fact, he told no one that he even had the talent. Perhaps once in awhile he might have pulled the talent out to look at it. But then, thinking about how stern his master was, he hid it away again. He was faithless instead of faithful, burying his talent in the ground. This, as he perceived it, was a simple and sensible way to protect things of value.

When the lord returned from his mission, he called his servants to him, expecting them to give an accurate account of his money. The first servant came in and stood tall and proud in front of his master. In his hands he brought the accounting books, proof of how he had managed his lord’s money. The master was pleased.

The second servant came in. Humbly he stepped up to his master and handed him his records. With head bowed, he waited for his master to speak. He wasn’t ashamed at how he had used his lord’s money, but he wasn’t as self-assured as his mate. The master looked at the records and said, “Well done! You are a good and faithful servant.”

Now it was time for the third servant to come before his lord. “Well, servant” said the lord in his booming voice, “What have you to say for yourself? I am very pleased with these servants. They have each doubled what I gave them and how about you?”

The third servant was trembling. Clutched tightly in his hand was the original talent. He stepped up to the lord and opened up his hand. “Here is your talent. I have not used it nor spent it. I was afraid that no matter what I did with it I would not please you. Therefore, I hid my talent away in a safe place. I was afraid to make a mistake, so I did nothing with it.”

He had failed to use what the master had given him. He was not guilty of any grievous sin, he had simply failed to use what God had given him. If he had just used the talent, he would have been commended by the master.

The third servant had lack of faith and trust in his master and his goodness. He was afraid of losing the talent (Matthew 25:25), or his master, or perhaps he feared the punishment that would come upon him. The master had faith in his servant. But the servant did not trust himself nor was he confident in his ability. The one talent was not a measure of worth, but the master’s knowledge of his ability.

Notice here, the other two servants did not serve out of fear, but out of love. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

“When the Lord takes account of His servants, the return from every talent will be scrutinized. The work done reveals the character of the worker.”2 The more we are given, the more we are accountable for. Ability plus opportunity equals responsibility.

When the master returned, the five talent man was rewarded. Matthew 25:21, “His lord said unto him, 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.” His attitude of goodness and faithfulness resulted in faithful service. He was rewarded with greater responsibility. Those who serve faithfully will receive more opportunities for service.

The two talent man was also rewarded. Matthew 25:23 says, “His lord said unto him, well done, 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.” Although he returned only with four talents he received equal commendation.

The one talent man was rebuked (Matthew 25:26-30). He was condemned for not trying. The lord seized the talent from the third servant. “You wicked and lazy servant, get out of my sight. I will deal with you later.”

He was selfish with what he had, but also indifferent to the needs of others. He had wanted to store what he had. He had refused to think of his master’s best interest. He was unsure about what to invest in. He had the inverse problem of “proactive vs. waiting on God”; because he wanted God to come to him and tell him exactly how to invest - rather than using his talents. Wavering too long, he was still sitting on the money when the boss got back, and was demoted to a lower position. He not only lost his talent, but also life eternal.

With the third servant gone, the master handed out the rewards. To the first servant he gave the talent, which the third servant had returned to him. He said, “You deserve this, for you handled the goods I gave you well. Take this and invest it as well.”

The special gifts of the Spirit are not the only talents represented in the parable. It includes all gifts and endowments, whether original or acquired, natural or spiritual, no matter how insignificant they may seem to be. Perhaps our talent is helping those in need, or it could be musical or artistic ability. We may be good at story telling, writing, preaching, giving a Bible studies or maybe something more humble than that. Maybe it is just doing humble housework, or being a servant. It doesn’t matter. God gives each of us at least one talent. He expects us to put it to use. (See Messages to Young People, pp. 359, 360.) “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

The Lord has given us a talent. Someday He will call us to stand before the throne. He will say, “Where is that treasure I gave you that day? Did you use it for my purpose? Or is it stored away?” God does not say, “See what you can do with what I have given you.” He says, “I will hold you accountable for what I have given you.”

God has committed to us talents of speech, intellect, time, means, mental abilities, influence, health and strength, kind impulses and affections; and He holds us responsible for the use we make of these good gifts.

“The power of speech is a talent that should be diligently cultivated. Of all the gifts we have received from God, none is capable of being a greater blessing than this.”3

“Our time belongs to God. . . . Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time. . . . Parents should teach their children the value and right use of time.”4

“Health is a blessing of which few appreciate the value; yet upon it the efficiency of our mental and physical powers largely depends. Our impulses and passions have their seat in the body, and it must be kept in the best condition physically and under the most spiritual influences in order that our talents may be put to the highest use.”5

“Our money has not been given us that we might honor and glorify ourselves. As faithful stewards we are to use it for the honor and glory of God. . . . All we possess is the Lord’s, and we are accountable to Him for the use we make of it.”6

“God also entrusts men with means. He gives them power to get wealth. And He asks for a return of His own.”7

There is another story in Luke 19:12-27 which tells of a nobleman who gave ten servants money, and told them to “Occupy till I come” (Verse 13). He did not tell the servants what they should be doing. He did not give them job descriptions. He did not set one of them over the other. He just gave them one pound each, and then he went away on a journey, and said he would be back.

When he returned, he called the men up to give an account. He did not say to the men, “Now I hope that you have made a lot of money for me by your trading and business deals.” He just asked them how they had fared. The first man told him that his pound had gained ten pounds. The nobleman was pleased, and put him in charge of ten cities.

The second man, not quite as successful, but just as diligent, handed the nobleman five pounds in return for the pound. The master did not scold him, but praised him for his effort, and made him lord over five cities. Judging the men by their abilities and diligence, he did not overburden them with responsibilities they could not handle. He knew that both of these men would do their best to judge the cities in which they were put in charge.

Now came the third man trembling, because he was afraid of the nobleman. He had been told that he was strict and would not be pleased with his efforts, no matter how hard he tried. Because of his fear, this man did not do anything with the money. He just kept it wrapped and handed it back to the master, exactly as it was. Instead of an appreciation for being diligent in not spending the money on himself, or wasting it, the master rebuked the servant because he did nothing with it. His master told him that he was a wicked and lazy servant. He took the money from this slothful servant and gave it to the one who had gained the most.

How are our talents increased? It has been left to us to decide what to do with our talents and abilities. We can invest them and cultivate them to their fullest - and even discover talents we did not know that we had - or we may just bury our talents and go on our way. It is the use we make of the talents given to us, that makes us strong.

“Talents used are talents multiplied. Success is not the result of chance or of destiny; it is the outworking of God’s own providence, the reward of faith and discretion, of virtue and persevering effort. The Lord desires us to use every gift we have; and if we do this, we shall have greater gifts to use.”8

The time is coming for the Master’s return and we will be required to give account of how we used our talents for the Lord. We all want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” at our Master’s return. God will not force us to use our talents in His service. We were not created to be robots without freedom of choice. It is up to us to decide whether we will use or misuse the talents we have been given.

“We shall individually be held responsible for doing one jot less than we have ability to do. The Lord measures with exactness every possibility for service. The unused capabilities are as much brought into account as are those that are improved. For all that we might become through the right use of our talents God holds us responsible.”9

This is not a question of what we would do if we had a particular talent. It is what we are doing with what we have, that counts. Before we are given greater talents, responsibility, or material wealth, we must first prove that we are faithful with what we presently have.

God has given each of us some talents, just as the nobleman gave these ten men silver. The nobleman did not tell the servants how to make the best of what he had given them. God does not tell us how to make the best of the talents He has given us. He just tells us to use them. The rest is up to us. Whatever your talents, no matter how small, use them by improving them to the utmost.

Are we ready to engage in the work God has left us to do? We should be asking, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? How can I honor and glorify Thy name upon the earth? What am I doing with what you have given me now?” We will not be held accountable for what others possess, but will give an account for how we handle what we ourselves possess. If we don’t use what God has given us, we will lose it and be counted as worthless servants. Let us be proactive! Not just waiting on!