HE WHO HAS WILL BE GIVEN MORE. WHY?

Let's read today's verses Matthew 25:14-30.

"Again it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' His master replied, `Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

"The man with the two talents also came, `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; See, I have gained two more.' "His master replied, `Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

"The man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

"His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.'

"`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" (NIV)

This is the widely known Parable of the Talents. A talent was one of the coins used as money among the Israelites. This valuable coin was distributed among the servants in the parable; and Jesus used this story to teach that God expects a result from us for what He had given us.

In the English language, the word talent means the abilities and skills of a person. God has gifted each of us with unique talents. We use our talents wisely for our well being and also to benefit others. And at any point in time, we can be made to account for the fruits of these God-given talents.

But the scope of this parable is not limited to the monetary "talents" we invest or the creative "talents" we cultivate. What Jesus illustrated in this parable was of a spiritual nature. He wanted us to focus on our spiritual life, our spiritual gifts, our spiritual abilities, our spiritual works.

God wants us to cultivate our spiritual talents and put them to good use. If we do, God's pleasure will bring an increase to our spiritual gifts. It is foolish to hide our spiritual talents for whatever reason. This would displease God as He sees no productive results in our spiritual life.

Faith (also known as trusting and obeying God) is a spiritual gift. The more we use it, the more it increases. The more we trust and obey God, the greater our capacity to trust and obey God. This also holds true for all the other spiritual gifts such as prophecy, teaching, praying, worshipping, doing good works, etc. Jesus also taught that we accumulate "treasures in Heaven" as we use our gifts to the pleasure of God.

But there is a statement in this parable that must be tackled more clearly. It is, "To him who has, more will be given; to him who has not, the little that he has will be taken away." Many humanists would find this quite unjust. Many would argue that those who have none should be given more, and not those who already have. Many might even conclude that Jesus is espousing an injustice.

However, what Jesus was saying is not an injustice when it pertains to spiritual realities. Our Lord wanted to stress that any person who cultivates his spiritual life and uses his spiritual gifts would receive a commensurate reward. His spiritual gifts will be increased to allow him greater participation in spiritual life.

Another way of saying it is: the more we listen to God, the more we are allowed to hear Him; the more we seek His presence, the more we are allowed to experience Him in life's unfolding events.
Once there was a very old prophetess named Anna. She had been a widow for many decades. She spent all her time on the temple grounds where she worshipped, fasted, and prayed. Anna's life was filled with spiritual activity.

God blessed her unceasing spirituality by allowing her to see the Baby Jesus when He was presented in the temple. Anna was allowed to recognize God's Son when He came; and she was even empowered by God to prophecy about the salvation that Jesus would bring.

On the other hand, the reverse is also true. A person who neglects his spiritual gifts will not see any spiritual profit. His spiritual activities will continually decrease and his spiritual awareness will dwindle. He will become more insensitive to God’s voice and more doubtful of His presence in daily events. He may lose whatever little is left of his spiritual life.

But his losses do not end there. Today's parable says that Jesus will finally command, "Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This is an unmistakable statement that a spiritually neglectful person will end up in hell.

God bless us all.