In the parable of the talents we have another parable which is difficult for us to understand . This difficulty is again probably due to our man-centered bias that God will act in a way which is merciful to the humble, that he would always be giving and forgiving every imaginable sin, and that he would never ever cast away someone who feared him, as the servant with the one talent seems to. As we look more closely at this parable we see that in fact our Lord did show the servant what to do with the talent, that he expected him to act in accord with his master's desires, and that he is acting quite rightly to accomplish his will of delivering his grace to those he chooses at the end of the parable.
First off, how did our Lord show his servant what to do with the talent? The servant condemns himself. He knows the master gathers where he has not planted. He knows the master uses his resources to gather an increase. But this servant stubbornly ignored the master's habits and procedures, preferring to act according to his own plan. Our God desires to show his riches to the world. He does not desire his riches to be buried and hidden away. The Light of the World has revealed himself to mankind. This is our second point. God has revealed his desire and expects us to act in accord with it. Let us act according to his obvious desire by displaying his riches. Even putting the investment out for interest would do so, says the master. It might not make the kind of increase that the others who were apparently more speculative did, but it will be in accordance with what the master desires. By acting according to his own fears and by devising his own plan to keep this large sum of money safe the servant thwarted the master's plan. At the end of the parable the master shows that he is going to deliver his grace to those who will be stewards according to his desire. This is altogether righteous. The servant who was disobedient receives the very reward that he has prepared. Do we receive the grace of God and strive to hide it? What does our Lord give us? He makes his grace invisible. He may take it from us. Do we receive the riches of salvation and avoid sharing it with others through thought, word and deed? Will he not let us keep to ourselves and our own plan of salvation rather than his plan of salvation? Does he not come to his own who reject him and then turn to the Gentiles?
Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, has given himself so as to draw all people to himself. He has died to apply forgiveness of sins to everyone who believes. How dare we hide such a great salvation from those around us? Our Lord will accomplish the proclamation of his good news. And if he finds us unwilling to reveal that good news he will take the good news of salvation and give it to those who believe him enough to act in accordance with his desire - to reveal him as the light of the world. May we repent of our evil selfishness. May we take this gift of the Gospel and share it with the world around us. And may we take courage. We don't have to become successful futures traders for the Lord. We can go into the marketplace and open a savings account for him. We can bring his light with us wherever we go. We have the resources of our great and mighty Lord available, openly, living and working in our lives, wherever we are, from day to day.
Lord, work through us. Gather an increase to yourself.
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