Christian Living

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Making Good Use Of Talents
© 2007

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Cynthia McAlister, 15, was the daughter of the owner and chief executive officer of the Seminole Producer—the city newspaper. On her 15th birthday Cynthia was given $15,000. She immediately put her gift in a plastic bag and buried it under a hug pecan tree. The tree dominated all other trees on the McAlister estate so Cynthia knew where to go to find her money. From the early days of April, Cynthia’s greatest pleasure was to stroll along the stands of pecan trees to the spot where her money lay buried. For she believed this was the most secret and secure place anywhere in the town of Seminole. When she came to the tree where her money was, she would talk pleasant words to herself, laugh and make fun of those less fortunate than she.

On a very hot August afternoon, visitors from outside of the state could not help notice the neat rows of pecan trees and the bountiful amount of nuts the trees produced. It just so happened that on this day Cynthia checked to see if her money was still present as the visitors walked through the tree stands with her father’s permission. The visitor observed Cynthia, her actions and what she had done with her treasure unknown to her. Within minutes of her departure, the visitor dug up the money then left Seminole never to return.

When Cynthia returned to her favorite tree the next day, she discovered what had happened. She cried as she ran from the tree back home to report the missing money to her father and the police. Confused and saddened Cynthia called her best friend for assurance and comfort. Within minutes her friend quickly came to Cynthia’s home.

“My money, Bev! Someone has stolen my money and I don’t know who or when! I’m so hurt! And I’m so darn mad too! How did someone steal my money? I never told anyone where I hid it. I always made sure no one saw where I put it!”

“You should be of good cheer, Cindy,” said her best friend. “In a way you’ve really haven’t lost anything. If what you’ve told me is true and, I have no reason to doubt you, you weren’t using the money you had gotten anyhow. I don’t want to seem hard hearted but maybe you can just put something in the hole like that monopoly money you use when playing that game. You should put it in a plastic bag and put it in the hole where you lost your real money. You still have the hole. You can come back and pretend that the real money is still there in spirit and pray that it is with someone that needs it. After all, Cindy, your family is financially sound, your health is very good and your family is together. Right?” Cynthia was shocked by her friend’s statement.

This short story is fictional. However, it does tell a story very similar to one Jesus told more than two thousand years ago about how one ought to live their lives and what is truly valuable. In His parable, Jesus pointed out that everyone is given talents by God. These talents are not given in equal amounts or in equal value. God did not try to level the field for each person as some try to do today with their attempts to make the poor comfortable by taking from the rich. Being materially well off need not be the goal of people. Poverty can often time be a gift from God to let those who do not have material means know that what they do have are other God given gifts (good health, family, friends and so forth). What each person is given can be advanced and built upon to advance one’s skills, life and to the glory of God. Jesus warned those who would hoard and bury their talents and what the Master would do when he came to account for the talents given. Like Cynthia those who would bury their talents are apt to lose them when the Master comes to make an account.

It is difficult to imagine Cynthia re-burying money again after she lost so much. Yet today, there are thousands of people who whine, cry and complain about the talents given them. When they do not receive the talents they believe due them they become envious. They spend a life time coveting material wealth, power, prestige they see and perceive others have that they believe they do not have. And like Cynthia bury what they do have out of fear and mistrust of themselves and others. It has often been said in so many ways that the real measure of our character, value or wealth is how we would be worth to ourselves and others when everything we own or hold dear is lost, stolen or destroyed.

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