19:26Luke 19:26

In the parable the servant who leaves his pound unworked loses it, and it is given to the servant who has gained ten pounds.Ms 9, 1898, par. 1–6 All that anyone has is capital lent by the Lord to be traded for Him, distributed to every person from the lowliest to the highest and proportioned to varied capabilities, including natural advantages, money, ability, influence, property, and every spiritual advantage.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72+3 What is entrusted grows through faithful use into greater capability, usefulness, and fitness for further service, while what is neglected, buried, left idle, or abused is taken away, even what the person has.Ms 76, 1900, par. 9+4 At His coming Christ scrutinizes the use of every talent to see whether He receives His own with interest, requiring an account from every responsible being and judging each according to what was received rather than demanding equal returns from unequal gifts.4SP 311.2+4 Work done faithfully with little is as valuable as work done faithfully with much, for mere profession and having one's name on the church books does not secure entrance into the kingdom, while love shown by works, obedience, and service to others is counted genuine.2T 667.3–668.2+4

The saying gives the outcome of the parable of the pounds: the servant who left his pound unworked loses it, and it is given to the servant who gained ten pounds, so that what is entrusted grows through faithful use while what is neglected is taken away.Ms 9, 1898, par. 1–6 It expresses the consequence of using or failing to use what God has entrusted.Ms 9, 1898, par. 1–6

The pound is the Lord's own capital advanced to His servants to trade diligently for Him, and no gain could have been made without His first deposit and no interest without His principal.Ms 57, 1901, par. 15+1 The time for faithful trading is a period of solemn privilege and sacred trust when destiny for life or death is being decided, followed by a day of reckoning.Ms 57, 1901, par. 15+1 Success in trading comes from Him and to Him belongs the glory, so the faithful servant takes no credit to himself but says, Thou deliveredst unto me thy pound, giving all praise and glory to the Lord and giving God the credit rather than claiming merit.Ms 57, 1901, par. 15+1 Returning the Lord's gifts does not buy heaven, yet the glory due Him requires bringing tithes to His treasury and making offerings willingly and abundantly according as prospered.Ms 57, 1901, par. 15+1

All a person has is a loan from Christ, who purchased soul, body, spirit, time, gifts, and offerings with His own blood and suffering to secure willing service in saving souls for whom He died.Lt 59, 1893, par. 11–13 Every entrusted talent, small or great, learning or money, must be put out to use and employed in doing good to the glory of God, and even the lowliest talent and humblest service becomes a consecrated gift when exercised with the aim of doing the Master's service.Lt 59, 1893, par. 11–13 Greater gifts do not release from obligation but increase and intensify responsibility, so the question is not what one has of the Lord's but what one is doing with what He has entrusted.Lt 29, 1897, par. 14–15+1 The Owner will demand an account asking what use was made of His goods, requiring interest according to the entrusted capital and the measure of the gift of Christ, so that faithful improvement gains more and enters the joy of the Lord while selfish extravagance, misuse, misapplication, and diversion to selfish use is robbery of God and meets with loss.Lt 59, 1893, par. 11–13 A steward is one trusted to act for the master and protect the master's interests, and using the advantages gained from the master's goods for personal benefit perverts that trust.Ms 33, 1907, par. 6

The talents are distributed to every person, from the lowliest to those in highest trust, with no idlers in His vineyard and none excused, each gift proportioned to varied capabilities.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72+1 They include every natural advantage, money, ability, influence, houses, lands, the light of truth, and every spiritual advantage, all belonging to God and to be used for His service and glory rather than for selfish purposes.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72+3 Each person is responsible in proportion to the gifts received, with greater gifts bringing greater responsibility, and must give an account, for the day of reckoning is near.Lt 29, 1897, par. 14–15+1 Faithful use increases usefulness and fitness to trade on the Lord's goods and accumulate by trading, develops greater capacity for service through Christ's grace, and requires returning to God a corresponding increase with usury for His glory, to spread the light of truth to people in darkness, to do good, to advance His cause, and to save souls.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72+3 Hoarding what is entrusted brings loss, as the slothful servant with his one pound lost his soul, while even one soul gained through faithful effort makes the labor worthwhile.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72+1 The reckoning comes in the day of final account when Christ as Chief Shepherd and Judge reckons with His servants, who are justified by faith and judged by their works, for faith works by love and purifies the soul from moral defilement to become a temple for the Lord.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72 Those chosen by grace as servants are workers bearing cares, burdens and responsibilities, united with Christ by living faith as laborers together with God, handling not their own goods but the Master's capital as wise stewards, and must improve character and ability according to privileges and opportunities without trifling with time.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72

The measure of instruction Christ gave was meant to be useful in devotion, practical holiness, and the Lord's work, and knowledge is not to be accumulated for its own sake when it diverts from these.Lt 47, 1895, par. 14–15 Christ's servants are to put their abilities and what they have received to use, and as they impart to others they receive more richly.Lt 47, 1895, par. 14–15

What is entrusted grows through faithful use, while what is neglected, buried, left idle, or abused is taken away, even what the person has.Ms 9, 1898, par. 1–6+4 In the parable the servant who failed to put his pound to work loses it, and it is given to the servant who gained ten pounds, expressing the consequence of using or failing to use what God entrusts.Ms 9, 1898, par. 1–6+1 Entrusted talents are to be actively used, managed, invested and improved in His work, and those who give up or neglect opportunities to help and advance that work are held accountable for them.Lt 43, 1899, par. 34–36+1 Faithful trading brings increase of capability, usefulness, and fitness for further service, including mental and moral improvement and growth in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.Ms 76, 1900, par. 9+2 The more talents are exercised the greater the increase of capability, but unless the seed sown struggles above the soil springing up into life it loses all power to germinate.Ms 76, 1900, par. 9 Faithful use increases usefulness and fitness to trade on the Lord's goods and accumulate by trading, requiring a corresponding increase with usury for His glory, and through Christ's grace develops greater capacity for service.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72+1

God judges each servant according to what was received, not what was lacked, and does not demand equal returns from unequal gifts or three pounds from one given one, but commends faithful improvement.ST Oct 22, 1894+2 A person with one pound is accountable for using it according to ability, and neither is the entrusted pound accepted back unimproved nor is more demanded than known capacity allows.Lt 26, 1894, par. 21 Each person answers personally for how gifts were used and cannot shift responsibility to another, and reward or punishment corresponds to whether the trust was improved or abused.2T 667.3–668.2+2 People are accountable for the gifts they have received, not for gifts they have never had, and this responsibility cannot be transferred to another or taken over by human agents.SPBC 183.1–2+1 No work for God is insignificant and even a small gift must not be left idle or buried, and having little is no reason to do nothing.2T 667.3–668.2+2 Work done faithfully with one talent is as valuable in God's sight as work done faithfully with five talents, and one given little who serves faithfully is judged as faithful as one given much.SPBC 183.1–2+1

Using the gifts and light given can multiply them, so people become responsible for the additional gifts gained, and faithful improvement through grace develops greater capacity and gains more.Lt 29, 1897, par. 14–15+3 Every acquired ability is to be used for God, with conscience and heart trained to recognize and act on the needs of the work, and using talents for His honor and to bring people to the truth makes them accumulate.Ms 101, 1898, par. 8+1 Hoarding what is entrusted brings loss, for the slothful servant with his one pound lost his soul.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72 Persistent self-indulgence and failure to exercise these gifts can lead to eternal separation from God.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72+1

There is no second probation, for day by day and hour by hour all are now trading on the Lord's money and building for the last great day.MC 67.1 Each person is working for time and eternity, making a record in the books of heaven that prepares reward or punishment proportionate to work done.MC 67.1

At His coming Christ as Chief Shepherd and Judge will reckon with every responsible being and require an account of what was done with His goods, expecting results from everyone.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72+2 He will scrutinize the use made of every talent and capital entrusted by God to see whether it has been improved so that He receives His own with interest.4SP 311.2+2 The question then will not be what one had of the Lord's but what one did with what He entrusted, with interest required according to the entrusted capital and the measure of the gift of Christ.Lt 59, 1893, par. 11–13

When the Owner comes He investigates how His goods were used, and those who remain faithful through the test receive His reward.Lt 59, 1893, par. 11–13+1 Faithful stewards who faithfully improve a sacred trust will be ready to give an account when the Master calls them to account, returning what was lent them with its increase.3T 123.1+2 Faithful improvement gains more and enters the joy of the Lord, while selfish extravagance, misuse, misapplication, and diversion to selfish use is robbery of God and meets with loss.Lt 59, 1893, par. 11–13

Mere profession of faith in Christ has no value in that reckoning; only love shown by works is counted as genuine and decides gain or loss.4SP 311.2 Merely having one's name on the church books does not secure entrance into God's kingdom, for each person is accountable for using entrusted opportunities and goods in obedience to God's known will, in service to others, and in helping the work of salvation, and doing nothing with those opportunities places souls in peril.RH Apr 22, 1909

Servants are justified by faith and judged by their works, for faith works by love and purifies the soul from moral defilement to become a temple for the Lord.Ms 81, 1893, par. 69–72 The time for faithful trading is a period of trust, followed by a day of reckoning, and returning the Lord's gifts does not buy heaven.Lt 192, 1903, par. 29 Those who serve faithfully must give God the credit rather than claim merit for themselves.Lt 192, 1903, par. 29

Money, means and property are the Lord's own goods placed in human hands to be used faithfully for His glory and the saving of others, to build up and advance His work where the field is in greatest need, east or west, north or south, with no human restrictions laid upon their use.ST Jul 23, 1894+1 They are lent to support every part of His work, and by them God tests whether people love the gift more than the Giver.ST Jul 23, 1894 The increase He requires is tithes brought into His treasury and gifts and offerings given willingly and abundantly according as He has prospered, with frugality and self-denial and labor to give the message of truth at home and in regions beyond, and no one is compelled to give it.Ms 57, 1901, par. 15+1 The talents are His capital advanced to His servants to trade diligently for Him in a time of solemn privilege and sacred trust when destiny for life or death is being decided, for no gain could be made without a first deposit and no interest without the principal, and success in trading comes from Him to whom belongs the glory.Ms 57, 1901, par. 15 Those who refuse to connect with their Maker and serve Him, who are unfaithful in rendering to God His own and disregard His charge to His stewards, will not long keep the blessing of what was entrusted to them, for even that will be taken away.Ms 26, 1896, par. 27–28

What God entrusts is to be made fruitful and returned with gains and with usury at His soon coming.9T 58.2+2 Those who have means must at once look over their affairs and do what they can without a day or an hour of delay, answering His call for help by bringing offerings and giving to relieve His suffering institutions, saying they freely give Him of His own.9T 58.2+1 Even a small amount is accepted because it is placed in the hands of Christ in the person of His afflicted brethren, and rightly employing property has eternal consequences.RH Mar 19, 1901 That faithful putting of the Lord's goods to work includes giving means to support sanitariums in their work for people's spiritual and physical healing.Ms 136, 1908, par. 10–11

All a person has is a loan purchased with blood and suffering to secure willing service in saving souls, and every entrusted talent, small or great, learning or money, must be put out to use and employed in doing good to the glory of God.Lt 59, 1893, par. 11–13 Riches are given for the Lord's service, not for needless display or self-indulgence, and greater gifts do not release from obligation but increase and intensify responsibility.Lt 59, 1893, par. 11–13+1 The question is not what one has of the Lord's but what one is doing with what He has entrusted, for the Owner will demand an account and require interest according to the entrusted capital and the measure of the gift, so that faithful improvement gains more and enters the joy of the Lord.Lt 59, 1893, par. 11–13 Those who divert entrusted wealth from God's work while others are in need prove unfaithful stewards and hinder the spread of His kingdom, and selfish extravagance, misuse, misapplication and diversion to selfish use is robbery of God and meets with loss.Lt 59, 1893, par. 11–13+1 When the Owner comes He investigates how His goods were used, and those who remain faithful through the test receive His reward.Ms 150, 1898, par. 23–24

To hide money in a napkin and bury it in the earth, to bind it away from the cause of God and withhold facilities from new fields, is to embezzle the Lord's goods and take them away from His work.Ms 172, 1901, par. 1–4 It retards His work through slothfulness and selfish withholding of what belongs to Him.Ms 57, 1901, par. 7 It is done under His displeasure, brings His curse, and He cannot and will not sanction and prosper work carried on in that way.Ms 172, 1901, par. 1–4 Those who have means should invest it now in the work of preparing people for Christ's coming, rather than hoarding it or relying on a future bequest.HSFM 292.2–5 The call is urgent because a time is coming when commandment-keepers will be unable to buy or sell, and the work of saving souls will come to an end.HSFM 292.2–5

God entrusts work and means to men in responsible positions and to institutions as stewards to advance His work, especially in neglected cities, countries and fields, and He watches to see if they do it unselfishly and faithfully.RH Aug 6, 1901 They are to return fruit in due season to the Owner of the vineyard by cultivating barren wastes, sowing seeds of truth, and supplying His messengers.RH Aug 6, 1901 If they selfishly refuse, close the doors He has opened, and fail to strive earnestly and cooperate intelligently with Him, He takes His gifts, means and resources away from them and leaves them barren, and gives them to other agencies who will honor the trust and accomplish His purpose.RH Aug 6, 1901 The amount entrusted may vary, but each person must seek wisdom in prayer and avoid using the trust for self-glory or impulse, and even those given little must not think their gifts are useless.Ms 150, 1898, par. 19 Those in responsible positions must set a right example by planning and working for the relief of the institutions with greater earnestness than for their own property, and if all do their part heavenly angels as representatives of omnipotent power will be commissioned to help in the time of special need.RH Mar 19, 1901

Disciples cannot remain slothful servants but must work, watching for opportunity to represent truth to others and win souls to Jesus Christ.Ms 76, 1900, par. 9 Talents are entrusted to professed followers for the very work of enlightening souls perishing without Christ and making Christ known to the world.Ms 151, 1897, par. 28–29 The more talents are exercised, the greater the increase of capability, requiring mental and moral improvement and growth in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.Ms 76, 1900, par. 9 Unless the seed sown struggles above the soil springing up into life, it will lose all its power to germinate.Ms 76, 1900, par. 9

Every person has his work in the Master's vineyard and harvest field, not the minister alone but all who profess the truth.Ms 151, 1897, par. 28–29 To bind the talent in a napkin and bury it in the earth is to be an idler in the marketplace and a slothful church member letting souls die while doing nothing.Ms 151, 1897, par. 28–29 To unearth the talent and put it out to the exchangers is to minister effectually to others and be trained as a diligent laborer.Ms 151, 1897, par. 28–29 Its use develops men for positions of trust and influence and accomplishes great good for the Master.Ms 151, 1897, par. 28–29

Gifts are given as grace, power, and abilities so truth can be shared and missionary work done, and even a small gift is to be used rather than hidden like a talent in a napkin.SPBC 128.3–4 As people use what they have, the Holy Spirit brings God's truths newly to mind and makes the work effective, with human effort cooperating with divine power and the credit belonging to God.SPBC 128.3–4 Those who use their talents aright obtain more power and place themselves as laborers together with God, cooperating in perfect harmony with His appointed agencies in molding human character after the divine similitude, with mind, soul, and strength controlled by the Holy Spirit.Ms 1, 1899, par. 7–8 This faithful trading is individual work in which each must earnestly seek peace in Christ, while those who do not connect with God in this way rob God and lose even what they have.Ms 1, 1899, par. 7–8

A minister's wife is responsible for the talent God has lent her, to work earnestly and faithfully with her husband to save souls, overcoming discontent and sacrificing personal preferences when needed.GW 202.1 The entrusted talent includes the God-given ability to write, and means are designed to come into the hands of those who write to be used wisely as stewards without compromise.Lt 34a, 1886, par. 28–29 Faithfulness means not shifting stewardship upon any man or set of men but investing means in His cause when and where the Spirit indicates, including entering mission fields to advance His cause.Lt 34a, 1886, par. 28–29 Parents must come to Jesus just as they are for forgiving grace and healing power and for capabilities to rule their households aright.Ms 1, 1899, par. 7–8

Capabilities are to be used in His service in work suited to one's gifts, not hidden or left idle, through daily dependence on God's converting power.Lt 93, 1901, par. 13 Every acquired ability is to be used for God, and training the conscience and heart to recognize and act on the needs of the work is the duty of every disciple.Ms 101, 1898, par. 8 Disciples who use the abilities they have received will be given more, while those who do little will lose what they already have, and faithful use can increase what has been entrusted while burying it brings accountability.Lt 93, 1901, par. 13+1 The principle applies to every talent, including houses, lands, and money, which are to be used for God's glory and for doing good, advancing His cause, and saving souls, and even one soul gained through faithful effort makes the labor worthwhile.Lt 20, 1897, par. 20–23