Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14:30, Luke 19:12-27) (03/07/24)
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TITLE: "Thy Kingdom Come" | Previous Challenge Entry
By Vashti (Rose) Hing
03/14/24 -
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"I will open My mouth in parables.
I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."
This scripture tells me that the mystery of the Kingdom of God is revealed through parables. And he who has an ear to hear will hear what the spirit is saying.
Consider the culture and customs of when Jesus walked on this earth. Parables were a part of their teaching style. Parables conveyed the importance of things critical to their daily lives and compared them with those that pertained to their spiritual lives.
I remember that, in my generation, as a teenager, when my grandmother wanted to tell me something serious for me to be aware of, she would speak a proverb. For example, "how you make up you bed you will lie on it." I understood what she meant because of the situation at that moment. And that caused me to check my life and my attitude towards life. Likewise, when Jesus spoke in parables, it was to shine a light on some issue about a natural event or a spiritual matter or to answer someone's question.
The parable of the talents is significant to the Kingdom of God not only in Jesus's day but also in our day. It might have been that Christ spoke the two parables on two different occasions, as mentioned in Matthew chapter 25, following the parable of the Ten Virgins, about our personal spiritual lives, and in Luke chapter 19, following the salvation of Zacchaeus. After that, our Lord set forth for Jerusalem.
Jesus spoke the parable to divert His followers' attention from looking for His Kingdom to come at that time. He wanted them to know what the Kingdom of heaven was like. They had their conception of what it would be like. So, Jesus likened His Kingdom to a man going on a long journey.
Thus, with our Lord, He has left His Father's home and has gone on a long journey and entrusted His servants with His money to trade for the establishment and growth of His Kingdom. So, he distributed the talent or the money to His servants and told them to do the best of their ability to trade for more.
And here, the characteristic difference appeared. The one that received the five talents went and traded and made another five. In like manner, the other received two and gained another two. As each one received according to their ability, so each worked according to their power as good and faithful servants of their Lord.
But the third one was like many of us who hide our talents because of fear and criticism. We are just here as believers, doing nothing for the Kingdom of God and criticizing those working for His Kingdom. Shame on us!
The third servant was presumptuous in his attitude toward his Master, so his talent was taken away from him and given to the one with five other talents.
The lesson for us as servants of the Lord and as believers in His Kingdom is that we should use what He has given us to the best of our ability, whether five talents, two, or even one, to bring others into the Kingdom because it is His desire that none should perish but all should be saved. And at His coming, we will hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord."
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