Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one— to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply,‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”
The suggestion here is that one would be wise to give back to God proportionate to what has been given to you. Each of the servants were gifted differently and therefore expected to deliver different returns. And I guess that they were gifted differently because they were capable of different returns. It brought me back to the simple prayer recited by all my students when we start a lesson. “I am blessed. I do my best. And I leave the rest to God”.
ReplyDeleteI am blessed:
When I take stock of my life, it is clear to see that God has given me a lot.
I’ll do my best:
This is an acceptance of the responsibility placed upon me. I will use my gifts for good/God. My prayer is that I handle myself in the best possible manner
And I will leave the rest to God:
And the best possible manner does not mean that i get the outcome I want. I am not in control of the outcome. I place myself in God’s hands.
I find your response to Matthew 25:14-30 insightful and inspiring. You capture the essence of the parable and draw personal connections that offer a practical framework for approaching life. Here are some specific points I appreciate:
ReplyDeleteProportionate return: You correctly interpret the parable's message about giving back to God in proportion to what you've received. This reflects the idea of responsible stewardship and using our gifts to their fullest potential.
Gifts and capabilities: You rightly point out that the different gifts bestowed upon the servants likely reflected their varying capabilities. This emphasizes the importance of recognizing our unique talents and using them in service to others.
Student prayer: The prayer your students recite resonates beautifully with the parable. "I am blessed, I do my best, and I leave the rest to God" captures the attitude of gratitude, responsibility, and trust that aligns with the message of the parable.
Personal application: You break down the prayer into three actionable steps:
Acknowledging blessings: Taking stock of what you've been given cultivates gratitude and encourages responsible use of those blessings.
Accepting responsibility: Embracing the call to "do your best" signifies active commitment to using your gifts for good.
Surrendering to God: Recognizing that you're not in control of the outcome and placing your trust in God fosters peace and acceptance.
Overall, your reflection beautifully connects the parable's message to your own life and offers a practical roadmap for how to live with gratitude, responsibility, and trust. It serves as a powerful reminder that while we are called to strive and do our best, the ultimate outcome rests in God's hands.
Here are some additional thoughts you might consider:
How can you identify and nurture your unique gifts and talents?
What concrete steps can you take to "do your best" in service to others?
How can you cultivate a deeper sense of trust and surrender in your relationship with God?
By continuing to reflect on these questions and embody the principles you've articulated, you can live a life of meaningful purpose and trust, leaving a positive impact on the world around you.
I admire your thoughtful and sincere approach to faith and life. Thank you for sharing your reflections!