A Position of Wealth

Scripture: Matthew 25:15

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.

This parable (story) is a representation of how God entrusts His children with resources according to the ability of each. During this time period in the bible when Jesus told this parable, a talent represented a large sum of money to be invested by the receiver; so that the landowner would make a profit while he was away. The landowner would only entrust his wealth to those that he trusted while he was away. The value of the talents varied from time to time, however, it is rougly estimated that the value of a talent ranged from fifty thousand, twenty thousand and ten thousand denari. One denari was a days wage, and would be considered a small sum in the eyes of a rich landowner(Keener, 1993, p.117).

The first servant received five talents, the second received two talents, and the third servant received one talent. The purpose of the distribution of the talents to the servants was for the multiplication of wealth for the landowner. However, not all of the servants were faithful over what was given to thme. The first two servants invested the talents and multiplied what the landowner gave them. The third servant burried his talent in the ground were it yielded no return whatsoever. The third servant also made an excuses for what was not done. The landowner was of course not pleased with the servant, and took away the talent, and gave it to the servant that had been the most productive (Keener, 1993, p.117).

The third servant ended up with nothing, because of his fear of what he thought the landonwer would do to him, immobilized his productivity to the point that he did not multiply what was given to him. In essence, he was afraid to take a risk, and reasoned within himself, that what he was doing was right. Therefore, he did not use the talent for the purpose it was given to him for.

The servants who multiplied the landowner's position of wealth, shared in his wealth as well. The landowner also trusted the two faithful servants with many more things. The two servants were not resentful that the landowner was becoming more and more rich; because the nature of the landowner was that of a generous one. Therefore the servants knew that the landowner's investment was not just for the landowner, it was them also.

This parable teaches us that when God trusts us with wealth, that we are to use wisdom with what He gives us, and multiply it for the purpose of kingdom building. The Word of God speaks of planting seeds and making investments in the kingdom of God through our tithes and offering (Malachi 3:10).

When we invest our wealth (our resources, time and energy), into the kingdom of God; our wealth is multiplied in: the manifestation of souls won for the kingdom, programs created that build up and minister to the body of Christ, sustaining missionaries who are without any income, and planting and building churches throughout the world.

* How are you multiplying what God has given you?
* Have you been fearful to invest in the kingdom of God?
* How can you overcome this fear?

Reflection:
The purpose of the investment of our time, energy, and resources is for the purpose of Multiplication. When we do not make wise investments, it is like planting what God has given us in the ground; which will yield no fruit. We must consider how we invest our time, energy and resources to make sure that we are productive for the purpose of multiplicaton for the kingdom of God.

Definitions: (Matthew 25:15)

Gave:
1) to give
2) to give something to someone
a) of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage

1) to bestow a gift
b) to grant, give to one asking, let have
c) to supply, furnish, necessary things
d) to give over, deliver

1) to reach out, extend, present
2) of a writing
3) to give over to one's care, intrust, commit
a) something to be administered
b) to give or commit to some one something to be religiously observed
e) to give what is due or obligatory, to pay: wages or reward
f) to furnish, endue

3) to give
a) to cause, profuse, give forth from one's self

1) to give, hand out lots
b) to appoint to an office
c) to cause to come forth, i.e. as the sea, death and Hell are said to give up the dead who have been engulfed or received by them
d to give one to someone as his own

1) as an object of his saving care
2) to give one to someone, to follow him as a leader and master
3) to give one to someone to care for his interests
4) to give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return
5) to grant or permit one
a) to commission

Talent:
1) the scale of a balance, a balance, a pair of scales
2) that which is weighed, a talent
a) a weight varying in different places and times
b) a sum of money weighing a talent and varying in different states and according to the changes in the laws regulating currency

1) the Attic talent was equal to 60 Attic minae or 6000 drachmae
2) a talent of silver in Israel weighed about 100 pounds (45 kg)
3) a talent of gold in Israel weighed about 200 pounds (91 kg)

Ability:
1) strength power, ability
a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
b) power for performing miracles
c) moral power and excellence of soul
d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
e) power and resources arising from numbers
f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

Went/Journey:
1) to go away into foreign parts, go abroad

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Blue Letter Bible. (2009). "Gospel of Matthew 25 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 28 Nov 2009. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=25&t=NASB >

Blue Letter Bible. (2009) "The Minor Prophet Malachi 3 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 28 Nov 2009. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mal&c=3&t=NASB >

Higgins, S. (2009). A Position of Wealth. Devotions for Thought from http://devotionsforthought.blogspot.com

Keener, C. (1993). Making Use of the Interim Time. Matthew 25:14-30, p. 117. The IVP Bible Background Commentary - New Testament. InterVarsity Press, Illinois.