Parable of Talents

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 15, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 49.

Parable of Talents

The measure of each man’s responsibility and the basis of his accountability to his Maker were both decided by Christ in His parable of the talents. The parable forcibly illustrates the righteous character of our Lord’s final reckoning with men. His requirements are proportionate to their endowments, and His awards commensurate with their improvement of their talents. “According to his several ability” is the divine rule of bestowment and requirement. Hence in the parable, “to one servant he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one,” reasonably and justly expecting and demanding to receive back from each of them in a corresponding ratio, as a result of the faithful use and application of these talents in his service.

Thus the Lord distinguishes between men in reference to their abilities and their opportunities for usefulness. He does not endow all men alike; and it is well that He does not. To one He gives five talents, and opens up before him an expansive field of labor for their full exercise; and then He says to that man, “Enter there and use them for Me.” To another He gives two talents, and puts him in a position of responsibility commensurate with his more limited endowment; and to another, one, and bids him to use that for His glory. One man He makes rich, another poor; to one He gives great powers of intellect and facilities for acquiring knowledge; another possesses small abilities and limited opportunities.

This, however, is not so ordered of God to excite in us envy for those above us, whom we may esteem more favored than ourselves; nor should their more liberal gifts and higher stations beget in us the spirit of covetousness. It should suffice us that the Lord has put us where we are, and given us what we have, be it much or little; and our chief ambition should be, not to have more, but to use better what we have, knowing that “if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” It is after this manner that God is graciously pleased to accept our offerings and to judge of our use of His gifts.—Christian Intelligencer.