Bible reading
‘... a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave ...’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave ... Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master ... I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘... you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.” (Matthew 25: 14-30)
Meditation
In the story people at work are ‘entrusted with vast sums of money and expected to use them in commercial ways.’ One talent is sixteen years’ wages, five is eighty years’ worth. ‘That’s a lot to entrust to a slave ... Slaves, those way down the pecking order, were here entrusted with huge wealth. The master didn’t entrust the talents to his fellow owners or to his friends, but to his slaves.’ In that sense, ‘this parable is more about equality, at least of opportunity, than it is about inequality. Slaves, if they can handle it, are as worthy of being trusted as the leaders of society.’
In the story ‘people are given assignments, they have responsibilities, and they have to report back to the boss, who then assesses them and rewards them with further work responsibility – or punishes them with demotion (or the sack). The relationships are business relationships. There is one worker who obviously has real commercial smarts, another who is not quite as high-powered but still does pretty well, and then there is the one who has no commercial savvy at all, and who lets his employer’s money sit in the ground doing nothing. So we have the successful risk-taker and the conservative, risk-adverse colleague who’d much rather do nothing than try anything.’
The parable ‘upholds commercial activity – even ... banking’ and, more specifically, ‘Jesus does indicate that – in the right settings – using money to make money is completely acceptable.’ ‘For Christians in the workplace that is welcome and affirming.’ Despite this, ‘the parable doesn’t tell us that money is good, or that we will be doing God’s work if we earn more talents for Him by any means we wish as long as we end up increasing the amount.’
However, ‘done well, done properly, these activities will validly contribute to the building up of the kingdom. As a result we must be open to the possibility that God has placed them there for us to use in this way. If we approach the workplace with the idea, the preconception, that good cannot possibly be achieved there, then the chances are that it won’t be. But if, in part thanks to this parable, we are open to the possibility that God can work through instruments such as money and in the workplace, then who know what might happen? ... God can turn up and do amazing things in the most unlikely places.’
So, the ‘parable of the talents is about whether we try to be the best we can be, working with God to build His kingdom, heal His creation, including the workplace – which, like everything else, will be perfected at the end of time. It’s about being ourselves, not trying to be people we’re not. It’s about doing only what we are capable of doing, but doing it very well. It’s about a God who entrusts us with things of enormous worth – the possibilities of being His co-workers – and who will love us for what we have done unless (... unless we hide the gift, don’t ask Him for help using it, and then turn around and tell Him it was all His own fault anyway).
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you entrust us with something of enormous worth; the possibility of being your co-workers in building your kingdom. Enable us to be ourselves; doing only what we are capable of doing, but doing it very well by trying to be the best we can be.
Work through instruments such as money and in the workplace. Do amazing things in the most unlikely places.
Show us how commercial activity and banking done well will validly contribute to the building up of the kingdom of God. You have placed commerce and banking there for us to use in this way, so them and us to heal and perfect your creation, including our workplaces.
Work through instruments such as money and in the workplace. Do amazing things in the most unlikely places.
May those who are way down the pecking order be given equality of opportunity through being entrusted with responsibility. Enable those in this situation to know that, if they can handle it, they are as worthy of being trusted as the leaders of society.
Work through instruments such as money and in the workplace. Do amazing things in the most unlikely places.
Blessing
Entrusted with being co-workers in building the kingdom of God. Given equality of opportunity. Enabled to be ourselves and do what we are capable of doing very well. May these blessings of God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon us and remain with us now and always. Amen.
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Michael Been - World On Fire.
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