A Reflection on The Master’s Teaching
The Journey of People-Talents – Part 1
I would like to share a story with you. This is a very popular and well known ancient story. It is said of the Master Teacher, that He gave this story to illustrate how the kingdom of Heaven operates. The story goes like this. There was a master, a businessman, a man who owned properties and had much wealth. He is going away for a while on some travels. The story doesn’t really state why the need for his travels, but he had to go away. He called his servants before and gave them some instructions. He wanted them to take care of his affairs while he was away. [1]
Before saying farewell, he entrusted each servant with responsibilities to oversee in his absence. He gave to each of them responsibilities that aligned with their abilities to handle said responsibilities. This is key. Not each servant was able to be responsible for the same number of assignments, responsibilities, or talents as some translations of this story call them. I would like to equate them to gifts. It was their abilities that gave them the responsibility to be able to handle whatever talent, gifts, and amount of money that this master was leaving in their charge. So, this master says to the first servant, “I’m going to leave you with these five responsibilities or five talents or five gifts.” To the second he leaves two talents, and to the third he leaves but one. [2]
After he distributed these talents, gifts, resources, money, the responsibilities to these three servants, their job was to go, do business, and manage it on the master’s behalf. He entrusted them which means he felt that they could do the job. Upon his return home after being away for quite some time, the master asked the three servants to come forward and give an account of what they have done with these skills, these possessions, these resources, these talents. [3] I would like to think of them again as their gifts. What did you do with these gifts that I entrusted you with? Allow me to pause here, I don’t want to give the conclusion of that story right now. I want to leave this question looming overhead.
For now, let’s focus only on the distribution of those talents to each of the servants. This is likened to the gifts that have been given to each of the people-groups. In other words, let’s view these gifts not at the individual’s level or personal level, but rather as a group of people. I believe that the Master teacher has left each people-group with responsibilities, gifts, and talents, that He has entrusted them to tend or manage while He’s away. I want you to think about those gifts, those talents, in light of what the Master has given these people-groups. He has given abilities and responsibilities that left them in charge until He returns. With that in mind, think about the unique contributions of each people-group that we’ve named: the Northward, Southward, Eastward, and Westward people-groups. Think about what each of those groups have contributed over time. Don’t make the mistake or short yourself by looking at what each has done at a specific period of time. Doing so we might conclude that each or a particular group have not done very well with what they’ve been left to manage. However, when we look over time, we can see the work and the benefits that have come from their unique talents.
The story says that their Master had left, but it doesn’t say how long the master was absent. It just says he left them in charge, went away, and upon his return, he called them forth to obtain an update on their progress. He asked them to give an account. [3]
I am going to make the assumption that the Master has left the people-groups in charge of their talents, their skills, and over the course of time, which is still going, He has not yet called them together to give an account. However, assume that day is coming and ask yourself this question. What has each of these unique people-groups contributed based on the responsibilities, gifts, talents, resources, that God has entrusted us with? That’s where we are going in this series of lessons. Would the Master be proud or would the Master be disappointed? Let’s evaluate the people-gifts and to see if we can find reasons for the Master to be excited about what we, as people-groups, have done with our particular gifts, skills, talents, and resources. Have we even done what the Master asks us to do or have we chosen not to do anything worthwhile at all? Those are the questions that we want to point out and answer in this next set of lessons.
Question: Do you think the master teacher is proud of what the people-groups have done with their talents? Why or why not?
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[1] Matthew 25:14 NLT, Bible.com, accessed July 6, 2023, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.25.14.NLT
[2] Matthew 25:15 NLT, Bible.com, accessed July 6, 2023, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.25.15.NLT
[3] Matthew 25:19 NLT, Bible.com, accessed July 6, 2023, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.25.19.NLT
All Scripture references used by permission, see our Scripture copyrights.
