Matthew 25:16, commentary and pictures

The servant entrusted with five talents went at once and put them to work in trading, and gained five more instead of leaving them idle.
The talents are the Lord's own goods lent as a sacred trust and not owned outright, including money and property and every natural, acquired and spiritual gift, ability, opportunity, privilege and light to be invested for His glory.
God distributes to every person according to individual ability, and He expects returns only according to what each has received, honoring faithfulness in great or small trusts alike.
Trading means putting what is entrusted to active, unselfish, faithful use for His glory and the salvation of souls, and gifts improve and multiply by diligent use while leaving them unused weakens and loses them.
After a long time the Master reckons with His servants expecting His own with increase, and faithful improvement brings His commendation as good and faithful, greater trust, entrance into His joy and eternal life.

Setting and Context

The verse belongs to teaching given on the Mount of Olives to the disciples about the second advent to the world. After specifying the signs showing when the coming is near, the disciples are bidden to watch and be ready because they know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Watching for the coming is shown to mean spending the time not in idle waiting but in diligent working.

The verse belongs to the parable in Matthew 25:14-23, the last of the many parables in the public teachings to the disciples. It was spoken early in the morning after crossing the mount. It was given as a warning in regard to the second appearing in the clouds of heaven.

The waiting and slumber followed by the bridegroom's coming are connected with the prophetic and ceremonial arguments that prompted the 1844 midnight cry. The parable of the talents follows the parable of the ten virgins. It teaches that Christians must keep working actively and make no relaxation of effort in seeking eternal life, while watching vigilantly and waiting in a sanctified way.

The instruction in Matthew 25:14-46 is to be studied and compared with the life record. Every man is required to put away boasting, for self-sufficiency is fearfully dangerous. Self-sufficiency and boastfulness make the words of Christ of no effect instead of putting entrusted gifts to active use.

The parable represents the kingdom of heaven and teaches that God-entrusted gifts and abilities must be used accurately. The lesson applies to each person individually. The Lord expects His followers to use their abilities to enlighten and bless those around them, and those who undertake this work can rely on divine aid.

God gives people talents according to their abilities and expects them to put those gifts to use and improve them. Different amounts are given to different ones, according to inherited and cultivated abilities, and a corresponding return with wise use is expected. Trading means putting the talents to exercise so they are improved, and as they are improved more is given to trade. The servant's trading and doubling of five talents shows that what God has entrusted can be increased through active, faithful effort, gaining an equal amount for faithful service in His service and for the good of others. Faithful service increases what a person can offer, so no gift however small is to be treated as unimportant, and this applies to spiritual service as well as to other work, including developing skill and wisdom in preparing healthful foods. Each person should employ the abilities entrusted in the work suited to them, knowing that stewardship will be examined at the judgment.

The parable of the talents was discussed as a subject at the camp-meeting at Richland, Kansas. It shows the servant actively using what was entrusted to him and increasing it. Inaction in God's cause destroys confidence, underscoring the need for active service.

Jesus has entrusted goods and responsibilities to His church through successive generations, and these responsibilities have grown with the light given. Those entrusted with the Master's goods are to put them to work faithfully. The gifts given to the apostles have passed to workers in later ages, who are to improve what they have been given. Even the humblest service is consecrated when it is done to carry out the Master's will and promote His glory.

Faithful Servant's Action

The one who received five talents went at once and traded with them and made five talents more, actively putting what was entrusted to work to double it instead of leaving it idle or hoarded. His faithful use brought a satisfying result and followed the plan of addition, adding grace to grace, for which the master later commended and rewarded him. He diligently put them to use according to his ability and according to the Word rather than for selfish ends, and gifts improve and multiply when so used, with each person to do the utmost with what has been received. The trusts so employed are more than earthly goods and employment, including spiritual gifts, means, abilities and opportunities to be invested in service for glory rather than buried in worldly enterprises, and even humble service becomes sacred when employed in doing the bidding. The present is the time to use them especially for the salvation of souls, for church membership alone does not secure entrance into heaven and each must examine faithfulness in using what has been entrusted.

What is entrusted must be actively put to work, traded, improved, developed and increased and returned with increase rather than left idle, hidden, buried, neglected, wasted, tied up or spent in self-pleasing, with each steward accountable for faithful use and increase. Every ability and power is to be put to work for the best possible use, productively and continually developed in usefulness to bless others and not misapplied or left without benefit. Every ability is held in trust and will be required with increase, and the one who hides it is slothful and unprofitable, whose complaint that the master is hard does not excuse failure. Trading means faithfully putting gifts and resources to work according to ability, which can increase what was entrusted and develop character, and faithful use of even a small gift is valued. Gifts and resources are to be put to wise use rather than buried, for those who bury will be replaced by workers who put them into circulation.

The servant put what was placed in his hands to work and gained an equal amount, illustrating active service producing returns and that talents increase by faithful service. This improving is to continue through life, guided by sound experience and directed toward the good of others rather than sacrificing what is lasting for cherished errors. Entrusted property and money are to be used for good to advance the cause and to bring tithes and offerings into the treasury as property grows, requiring daily consecration and gratitude lest they become a harmful temptation to possessor and others. The talents include sacred truths, light, differing abilities and opportunities to be actively shared and faithfully used for others rather than kept unused, and faithfulness will be assessed when reckoning comes. Servants who put abilities to work bear fruit while those who hide them are slothful and unfaithful, and those who rely on preaching but do little to make truth known need instruction and care so they will serve others.

Guarding every talent strictly and trading to gain still others is required of all, for every child and youth and every young man and young woman is entrusted with talents as a measure of power. All are called to make the most of them by placing a proper estimate on individual responsibility. This means gathering every ray of divine light and letting it shine on the pathway of others, because no one lives to himself.

The servant put ability to work rather than living idly or pleasing self, requiring human effort joined with the Spirit's power, with all glory to God and no excuse of faith for idleness. God gives each person work and ability, and each is responsible for his own work to be faithfully improved through personal effort. As powers are used conduct influences those around, for God works in them to will and to act.

Meaning of Talents

The talents are the Lord's own goods, property, capital and money, lent on trial as a loan and sacred stewardship never owned outright, still His even with increase, bought by Christ's blood and suffering, to be treated as His and returned with usury. The servant puts the money out to usury and gains the like amount, and on reckoning gives back principal and interest, for God lends wisdom for use according to His purposes and will require His own again, scrutinizing every talent returned and dealing personally with each borrower accountable for time, abilities and possessions. Trading is investing that capital for the salvation of fellow men, using riches to advance His cause and relieve the widow and fatherless instead of hoarding or spending as pleased, abusing them for pride, position, extravagance, vain show, ambition and profligate selfishness.

The servants are followers professing accepted service, bought to live for Him and not for themselves, for all people belong to God by creation and by redemption through His Son's blood, called to serve, and each will answer at judgment for how the claim was met. Christ, about to leave earth for heaven, entrusts flesh and blood, nerve and muscle, mind and intellect and reasoning powers, special ability, worldly possessions, time, strength, means and every capacity of usefulness, not capriciously but as One who knows each person and gives to every man his work. Day by day He tests whether men acknowledge Him as giver and prove worthy of eternal riches, and use of endowments decides destiny, with greater endowment requiring greater return and no boasting permitted.

The talents mean more than temporal employments, worldly goods and money and more than preaching ability; they include every natural, acquired, original and spiritual gift, ability, capability, opportunity, privilege, light, influence and grace to be invested to advance His glory with eternity in reckoning. They are a loan for a sacred higher trust, not to be buried in worldly enterprises nor used merely to accumulate worldly goods, and even humblest service becomes a consecrated gift when exercised in doing the Master's bidding. Each must faithfully employ his own gifts rather than leave them unused or transfer responsibility, returning in proportion to what he has and not what he lacks.

They include means, money, temporal possessions, property, houses, lands, wealth and influence entrusted to rich and poor alike, including ability to acquire wealth and to write and its income and royalties, to be used for His cause in spreading the warning message and winning souls rather than selfishly kept, tied in risky ventures, spent on self-gratification or invested in farms and buildings that cannot be taken to heaven. Where truth lives in the heart the receiver aids with substance, influence and effort so other souls embrace truth and begin also to work for God, and each person brought to truth is a gain who can in turn help others, continually increasing the gain to return both trust and increase. Faithful constant use brings crowns, with reward added for everyone helped to salvation.

They include life itself, time, moments, health, strength, reason, intellect, mind, thought, speech, writing, sympathy, affection, conscience, skill, judgment, wisdom, position and opportunities, including the golden privilege of a word in season especially for the sick, the vigor of youth, and knowledge of Bible truth and present truth about Christ's soon coming. They include money, influence and wisdom as well as gifts often found among the poor such as simplicity, humility, tried virtue and confidence in God, given to point others to Jesus and serve the needy, with each accountable to make the most of opportunities and return increase proportionate to what was entrusted. Property, time, strength and ability belong to God and must be used in service rather than selfishly withheld or spent for worldly aims, recklessly spent on indulgence and vanities, or wasted, and faithful use includes giving to meet needs and support His cause.

Life itself is a solemn sacred trust bought at great cost by creation and redemption, belonging to God as Creator and source of life, requiring every power and portion of living machinery to be preserved, studied and dedicated to honor Him. Life comes from God who keeps the heart beating and the machinery in motion independently of human will, watches over sleep and shields with His hand, and for His sake every organ, sinew, muscle, affection and physical, mental and moral power is to be appreciated, valued and preserved for His service because Christ gave His life to redeem. Every reasoning person must improve this talent by use and double it in God's service with no excuse for neglect, rendering thank offerings, pressing onward on the plan of addition, revealing a character in accordance with God's character, since each will individually give account in judgment.

The distribution is to one ten talents, to another five and to another one according to ability, with whoever improves to the utmost given other talents continually added as faithfully improved, so talents continually increase. Reward is measured by faithfulness in proportion to ability, so one with only one who gains one is as surely rewarded as one who gains a larger number when work has been in proportion to ability. Faith is a talent of the verse to be actively used for others, exercised by helping others and refusing doubt, and God will increase the faith put to use.

Every human is entrusted with talents that only Christ's love enables to use rightly without abuse, to be appreciated and used and not abused, with grace through Christ making capable of bearing fruit unto partaking of the divine nature as return corresponding to His sacrifice. Entrusted gifts are a stewardship given to do their work and bless others, yet few use them to best advantage. Talents are powers given for service, not for selfish gain or neglect, to be faithfully used in small duties in preparation for greater trusts, not for selfish ends or human pride but for God's glory, His work and suffering people.

Talents are abilities entrusted to every person including the drunkard to honor God and bless the world, and God will require an account from one who helps speed the drunkard's ruin. Even the drunkard is capable of better things, formed in God's image and purchased with His blood, while fellow men lay snares, degrade and rob the poverty-bound while living in luxury, and God sees first cause and last effect and will not pass by cries nor pay no heed. Human skill and invention can serve God's purposes even when He is not recognized, and every person is responsible to use talents though others may exploit him.

Talents are gifts to be developed in proper relation to one another contributing to a whole reflecting God's wisdom and character, actively used and cultivated not left idle. God entrusts His own goods to test allegiance, and gratitude for His Son requires gifts, offerings, possessions and compassionate service as His helping hand, imparting to receive to impart again and laying up heavenly treasure unto eternal glory. He permits men to handle His goods to test them, asks willing cheerful giving and loving service to bear blessings to needy perishing souls, wants each to make all possible of himself to have more to return, and those remembering daily what He is, speaking His perfection, asking what to do for Him and confessing Him forever, lay up treasure and at last possess eternal weight of glory.

Abilities such as writing are gifts from God to be put to work and increased, for which possessors are accountable. Entrusted talents including money and property are to be put to work and increased not hoarded, answered for to God, and advanced for His work rather than kept in unnecessary possessions. The Lord's gifts of time and ability are trusts for this life and eternity to be faithfully used following Christ who gave His life to ransom people to obedience.

Talents are heaven's choicest goods including saving grace and light of the divine Word, to be diligently used and increased through faithful service and practical godliness. Those receiving them must trade upon them, live out practical godliness and serve wholeheartedly. Entrusted gifts including means and abilities for compassionate labor are to be wisely used to save the needy, testing allegiance to Christ, and returned with increase.

Talents include material means and accumulated knowledge and light to be wisely and economically used to advance missions near and far, bringing individual responsibility. What a person possesses or acquires is to be treated as a talent and employed faithfully for God. Influence and every capability are precious gifts lent by God to be improved for His glory not as personal worth, with success belonging to Him, the whole life belonging to God, and those recognizing this giving Him glory and growing in knowledge and wisdom.

Every ability, influence and power is a gift to be developed and used faithfully rather than claimed as grounds for pride or supremacy, producing increase to be returned to Him. Gifts are a loan of no value unless rightly used, purposed to lead sinners to Christ and advance salvation not selfishness, greed, ambition or control of conscience. Even a great gift is of no value to Him unless used rightly and wisely in His service.

All held including position, possessions, business and opportunities is held in trust to test character, and trading means using every talent to carry forward education and labor for perishing souls. Everyone with knowledge of truth holds talents, income and opportunities lent to be accounted for to God as Creator and Redeemer, striving to obtain best knowledge of usefulness, and blessing attends such efforts. Human life is under God's disposal and talents are time, influence, means and all gifts entrusted, with every person to answer since bought with a price owing life-service to God, so placing God secondary to men and binding the mind by promises to men shows a strange idea of God.

Talents are precious gifts to be cherished, purified and sanctified to the highest standard, beginning with reformation at home instead of accusing brethren. They are to be put to active use beginning with decided reformation over against one's own house unto purification, bringing other minds under power of truth, instead of spending disposition proving defects in brethren. Talents are lent to be improved to the best of ability, with Christ as perfect Model and all-sufficient help for character development.

Men without faith are mere fragments falling short of what they might have been, while those looking to Jesus as author and finisher become model men, with Christ the one perfect Model for child, youth, young man and mature man and Example in all things in an age when history is rapidly made. God gives abilities such as inventive power and organizing judgment to be used with foresight and tact to establish His work securely and durably. Scientific skill and ingenuity are to be so employed for durable establishment.

Distribution According to Ability

God apportions His gifts to every person from the lowliest to the mightiest according to individual ability, capability, capacity, and inherited and cultivated powers, so that trusts differ in kind, measure and value by His design and no one able to reason is excused as an idler. The five are given to one able to use five, the two and the one in like manner, not capriciously but in exact fitness to use.

Responsibility is measured by what each has received and not by what he lacks, for God expects returns only according to what a man has and not according to what he does not have. He is equally honored by the faithful improvement of a great trust or a small trust, and diligence with two receives the same approval as diligence with five. No one is therefore to reach beyond ability, to grieve over gifts not given, to transfer responsibility to another, or to surrender gifts to another mind, control or human judgment, but each must employ his own gifts and render his own improvement.

Even one with only one talent must put it out to the exchangers and by wise investment increase it, doing with all might what the hands find to do, for a small trust is no excuse. One rightly used doubles to two, faithful use of pence is judged as faithful as pounds, and God values fidelity, motive and proportion over size rather than amount alone. Those given fewer talents are not to repine over limited ability, capacity, opportunity and circumstance, but to prove loyalty by devoted service within those limits, trusting God with what they have to support His work. The humblest gift or service has its appointed work and appointed mission, and when used wisely it accomplishes it, accumulates through little acts, reaches souls and influences that greater gifts cannot reach, and leads at last to Well done, which is spoken only to those who have done well.

Faithfulness in little daily duties works on the plan of addition while God works on the plan of multiplication, enlarging ability, opening ways and training for greater responsibilities and revealing character. Claiming readiness for five without climbing round after round is self-inflation that fails His standard, for fitness for greater trust is proved only by fidelity in the small. Those entrusted with larger talents of influence and of money, and some with both, bear weighty responsibilities and heavier judgment for improvement or abuse, since the talents and capital remain the Lord's and every talent returned is scrutinized personally. Yet they must not despise, silence, control or force into one channel the less able or experienced workers, for God gives to every man his own work and sphere and armor, great and small alike are chosen vessels, and a man with one talent may reach a class that those with two or five cannot approach.

Faithfulness requires arousing from silence and being shut up with self, being moved by duty and the importance and need of truth, and putting the gift to work, including the gift to speak to hundreds, because it is needed. Inheritance of money does not itself qualify a person for responsibility, for God works through all who will be worked and helps those who help themselves. A talent however small and a service however humble advance God's kingdom when devoted to Him, and thinking and speaking with desire to do one's best for the Master honors Him before people and angels. Everyone joined to Christ, young or old, whether entrusted with one, two or five talents, has a duty to work for Jesus according to ability. Human ability and wisdom are entrusted to prove whether people will make right use of His gifts, not to be trusted in or exalted as one's own, requiring the world with its selfish interests and perishing treasures to be subordinated to religion, all trust in self to be renounced as little children coming to Christ, with the eternal reckoning not far hence in view.

Trading Through Active Service

Trading means putting what the Master entrusts to active, unselfish, faithful use for His glory and the salvation of souls according to the Word. It is witnessing for Christ, communicating truth and light and present truth to those in darkness, speaking timely words, reading and living by God's Word, relieving the widow and fatherless and suffering, and doing good works yoked with Christ in perfect obedience. Money entrusted is to be invested in His cause to advance His work and save souls rather than buried in worldly possessions, tied in risky ventures, or spent on needless things and self-pleasing. Each soul gained can help others, so the work continually grows, and what is entrusted must be used and increased, with unused gifts required again with the improvement expected.

Gifts improve, multiply and increase through faithful diligent use, producing greater capability, efficiency and usefulness. God works with the user to strengthen abilities and enlarge capacity rather than supernaturally supplying what is lacking, developing powers through earnest service, faith, discretion, perseverance and sacrifice, with the Holy Spirit helping overcome old inclinations and form new habits. Faithful work follows the plan of addition, adding grace to grace, and is later commended and rewarded. Hiding ability brings no increase, and leaving ability unused weakens, rusts and loses it.

Faithful trading requires daily consecration, dying to self, living unto God, doing humble duties cheerfully, seeking wisdom, and depending humbly on Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is done with strict integrity, economy and self-denial, as a producer not only a consumer, training ideas to handle money so gifts increase to the Giver and return fruit in season while relieving suffering humanity bought with blood. God is a rich giver not a harsh exacting creditor, bestowing according to ability to use and placing men where they can trade, while the one-talent man from selfish anxiety hid his talent thinking improvement would require giving it all back. Readiness joins unselfish watchful labor with prayerful meditation and piety, since neither quiet devotion without service nor constant activity neglecting piety is enough. Such faithful use gives spiritual life and transforms selfish worshipers of mammon into earnest co-workers with Christ, barring out covetousness.

Trading is to be done at once where one is rather than waiting for more schooling or greater opportunity. It begins with the first endowment and nearest humble work, learning by use with correction, cultivating dormant gifts, arousing latent ability, overcoming timidity, and training for service. Gracious opportunity is now while the Master is on His journey, because tomorrow probation may end and the account be fixed forever. Faithful use glorifies God, gathers blessings and gratitude, makes the soul like a watered garden, and gives joy at reaping in gathered sheaves, while abused talents bring a curse.

Stewardship is individual and cannot be surrendered, sold, handed to another mind, conference, council or publishing house to control, nor judged by human judgment. Each must trade himself, manage his own business, exercise ability already possessed to gain more, cultivate intellect, and render his own account under divine direction. No one is accountable for talents never had and none should complain of smallness, for pence faithfully used are judged as faithful as pounds, and one talent well used will gain others and still others. Placing mind or talent under human control separates the agent from God and brings confusion, distrust, jealousy and loss of faith. Worth comes not from number but from appreciating, prizing as God's gifts, sanctifying varied mental and physical endowments to the Master's use, and putting them out to the exchangers to learn to acquire more.

Using entrusted means and influence as intended makes a person a co-worker with Christ to win people by representing His character. Capabilities are entrusted under His supervision to contribute to the good of the whole and uplift humanity while remaining both learner and teacher. God's Spirit does not make human effort unnecessary but teaches use of faculties for God's glory, disciplining mind by education for intelligent service now and exercise in immortal life.

The increase is to be used to spread truth, save souls and advance soul-saving work. This includes missions near and far and foreign countries, tract and periodical publishing and distribution, meetinghouses, sanitariums for physical and spiritual healing, schools to train youth, and specific needs such as Nashville and Washington. Money is not to remain idle in banks or property but to be put into circulation, used economically, with every unnecessary penny forfeited as opportunity withheld from feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. Faithful self-sacrificing use with tithes, offerings and gratitude builds God's work and sends the living preacher to those in darkness.

Doubling talents means being working Christians who work as Christ worked, helping and blessing instead of criticizing, with unreserved surrender and consecration of time and talents. It means preaching to the poor, healing the brokenhearted and sick, doing medical missionary work with unselfish love, serving where help is needed, bearing responsibilities for others, and developing skill in preparing healthful foods. Love for Jesus is proved by desire to work, sympathy for followers, sacrifice, and zeal proportionate to eternal life, with the same earnestness and perseverance with which Christ worked. Religion is not confined to rest-day formal duties but joined to daily business, following Christ's self-denying example.

The present is the period of stewardship in which followers trade on the Lord's goods and God requires full increase, not less than He entrusted. Every day and hour is recorded, the night comes when no man can work, and faithful trading keeps each lamp trimmed as preparation to meet Christ's near coming. The opportunity is now but may end when probation closes, every talent returned is scrutinized personally, reward is proportionate to improvement and abuse brings punishment.

Trading must stay in God-appointed work and humbly improve it daily until doubled. Each has special work allotted with help for the single eye to God's glory, done in harmony without selfishness or human wisdom, keeping open the channel to receive and share grace. Leaving proper place to assume unappointed responsibilities with ambition and buying and selling and getting gain loses experience. Even one apparently humble consecrated individual has enlarged conception of duty by the Holy Spirit, inspired with burning zeal to communicate light and grace to the whole church. The power of truth in and out of the church is what the members' zeal, purity and intelligence make it.

Becoming in every sense a man of opportunity gains respect, by repenting and making restitution, rising above hindrances with God-given purpose, taking up God-given special service, and redeeming the time, since inheritance of money does not qualify for responsibility. It is a privilege to diligently trade to increase the store to impart to the distressed and become the Lord's right hand for benevolent purposes, working in faith as colaborers and vessels for honorable service. No one lives to himself, but gathers every ray of divine light to shine on others, putting time, strength, influence, mind and every ability into active work as channels of light yoked with Christ and cooperating with heavenly agencies. Guarding every talent strictly and trading to gain still others is required, for keeping talents in inaction loses all ability while improving mind enlightens others.

Their use gives no reason to grasp for status or keep to the front; the servant works humbly, and knowledge, ability and influence developed through faithfulness will be recognized in due time. People are responsible for doing their own work; angels can cooperate but cannot take their place, and neglecting appointed work costs souls while affecting eternal welfare. Faithful trading requires putting on the armor and fighting battles, carrying share of responsibility rather than abandoning it when difficulties arise. Stewards are not to copy worldly habits but to receive Christ's grace with every gift purified, refined and elevated, using abilities to the highest degree rather than encouraging conformity to the world.

Trading with talents means raising up every year a company of enlightened workers for home and foreign missionary work, with breadth of mind, wiser planning, and anointed eyes to see the trust. It belongs not only to ordained ministers but to humble consecrated people with quick understanding who follow on to know the Lord, denying self, lifting the cross, reflecting light and becoming living channels of blessing. Believers must watch for opportunities and continue earnestly without complacency, taking initiative rather than waiting, staying watchful and laboring without relaxing vigilance or congratulating self for little. When each uses and increases talents, light is set on a candlestick with clear steady rays, giving power and proclaiming the message with fervency so unbelievers see God as source of strength.

Every church member has received a talent to be put to work, leaders must plan so each has a part and none live idly, and only by employing all talents can the church avoid fruitlessness. Members must be educated to become unselfish efficient workers, each a living stone emitting light, for talents unemployed are taken by the enemy for his own work. Those entrusted with gifts are responsible for using them, including studying the Bible. Using talents includes training others by giving them opportunities to lead, share Bible readings, and learn by doing even when they make mistakes, so more gain experience to carry responsibility.

Entrusted talents faithfully used under Christ's teaching and help can be increased, the servant trading and doubling what was received. Faithful stewardship diligently uses entrusted gifts for the Master's service not leaving them unused, sharing burdens, training helpers, and recognizing limits while sharing responsibilities. God entrusts capabilities and means to be faithfully used for others' benefit, truth's advancement, and His kingdom's building. Entrusted abilities and opportunities are to be actively used to save souls and make Christ known not buried or neglected, expected of each person regardless of education or status, with harmful habits that deprive the world of good making guilty before God.

Gifts and abilities are entrusted to be faithfully used for God's glory not self-glorification, shown in bringing others to Jesus and sharing truth's light, helping them learn His life and character. Every truly converted member is given work with entrusted talents, and best use means working as Christ worked with love, travailing for sinners, preaching, visiting families, praying and hiding self. This includes opening oracles, talking and praying with families, exhorting the needy, meeting deficiency with Thus saith the Lord, wearing His yoke and learning meekness. Entrusted gifts are to be actively and unselfishly used rather than for personal advantage, showing the steward can be trusted with blessings.

God gives everyone talents and work in earth's last days, and all truly believing and united with Christ will improve them with whole being putting God's kingdom first, while slothful professors cannot meet Christ with joy. An entrusted talent is a borrowed trust to be actively used, increased and returned with increase, with human effort doing good only in partnership with divine power, God supplying what is lacking. Entrusted abilities are to be actively used since all have talents, and service takes different forms so not everyone preaches but all can minister. Powers are to be employed wisely and under the Holy Spirit's control for God's glory. His goods are put to work to bring Him a return through saving souls and strengthening His kingdom.

Faithfulness is active, dependent work not slothfulness, succeeding only through dependence on Christ by doing one's best, seeking daily knowledge of God, and abiding in Christ, receiving from Him and giving to others. Light and advantages received must be reflected to others through teaching and example, bearing fruit and developing Christlike character as lasting treasure carried into future life. Trading on large entrusted capital means considering human brotherhood in all outlay, investing means and privileges to turn men to righteousness and seeking first the kingdom, recognizing human value as fallen yet purchased by Christ's life. Trading means going to work instead of nursing defects, losing sight of self in doing good and obeying the Word, which elevates above spoiled character unfit for heaven, with self dying a natural death.

Trading is ministering to those needing help and carrying work forward intelligently by helping and blessing one another, with connection to God giving power to blend unitedly and carry it better together than separately under the Holy Spirit. Everyone who heard truth must trade by manifesting its principles in purified character and testimony leading others to truth, for to hear and not walk in light is to hide the talent. Truth received as heavenly gift works from the heart outward in practicing and teaching, especially to poor souls in darkness and dead in trespasses, and those communicating keep it living and receive fresh light through angels' cooperation, while those hiding lose what they have. Using and developing abilities includes preparing for responsibility and helping others become capable workers.

All talents are to be used with earnestness and zeal in proportion to the greatness of the truth to be shared. Talents must benefit others and increase or they will diminish, requiring pure inner principles with the Word regulating feelings and speech, the heart regulating promptings of speech and conduct, and speech not used to help no one. Grace enables faithful use to bring a harvest of souls, requiring exercise of every power to save the perishing and give the last message of mercy, with means put into circulation not bound up, fully consecrated, alert to necessities and working with devoted interest. Those consecrated must do the Father's will daily with wholehearted service, shaking off lethargy, giving honest labor for wages, advancing students, seeking salvation, standing on the rock, and working to recover what was lost.

Faithful use includes using every ability and setting others to work, training minds and members to lead meetings and give Bible readings so churches supply men to carry truth everywhere, bless themselves, gather sheep, and raise new churches in cities, villages, towns and unaroused nations. Improving entrusted talents is a way to serve God and offer thanksgiving with earnest effort to honor Him, putting goods to diligent wise use. God desires men to enjoy blessing by trading with talents, and in national apostasy legalizing sin His people must show colors with mutual love and ceasing strife, carrying love as best credentials with no drawing back.

The Lord gives stewards work to do rather than remain inactive, and faithful activity can produce more than one good result, requiring decisive earnest work not scattered aimless efforts, as sale of Object Lessons both relieved school debt and shared light. Trading begins with first giving self to the Master and then working with Him in helpful service, using talent including money in missionary work not hoarding it, seeking families needing spiritual help and turning royalties to translation, distribution and new enterprises. Talents are sacred gifts to be put to earnest careful use very soon for one's own and others' salvation, reasoning from cause to effect instead of criticizing brethren. Abilities and opportunities entrusted by God are to be developed in useful service without waste or overuse, requiring humble dependent service since good comes through His blessing not self-credit.

The value of a needed work must not lead people to despise the person doing it. Trading faithfully means exercising business tact with diligence and caretaking in daily work, with failure hindering God's work and placing a person as unfaithful, quick dispatch alone not enough. God-given abilities are to be used for God's glory not selfish advantage by seeking faith that works through love in faithful service. Spiritual and temporal gifts are to be cultivated with skill and heavenly wisdom to honor God, keep the soul in His love, and labor for those Christ died for. Entrusted talents are God's resources for carrying truth to be used and circulated worldwide including foreign countries, not buried in worldly enterprises. People should wisely improve God-given abilities and opportunities by faithfully doing duties before them rather than falling into mental laziness or shallow achievement.

Growth Judgment and Reward

The entrusted goods must be traded at once while the Master is on His journey into a far country, for gracious opportunity is now and tomorrow probation may end and the account be fixed forever. After a long time He reckons with the servants, requiring His own with usury and increase, scrutinizing every talent returned and dealing with every person personally whether he improved or abused what was lent. The capital remains His own, not the servant's, and He expects returns according to the trusts bestowed, with reward proportionate to improvement and punishment for abuse. To trade and improve is to ask what belongs to the Lord and put it to active, unselfish use for His glory and the salvation of fellow men, using riches to advance His cause and relieve the widow and fatherless instead of abusing them for pride, position, extravagance, vain show, ambition and profligate selfishness. For servants entrusted with larger talents of influence and of money, some with both, this lays weighty responsibilities, including speaking to thousands and reporting for encouragement, since they were purchased by suffering and blood for willing service.

Faithful use glorifies God, gathers rich blessings and gratitude from those helped, makes the soul like a watered garden whose waters fail not, and gives inexpressible joy at reaping time in seeing the sheaves gathered as the recompense of fidelity, while abused talents reflect a terrible curse. The use of what is entrusted will be examined at the Lord's coming in the investigative and last general judgment over time, words, money, influence, pen, voice and spiritual light. Those justified by faith are judged and rewarded according to works, for mere profession of faith has no value as proof and church membership alone does not secure heaven; genuine love is shown by works and genuine faith is proved only by love expressed in works. Failure to acknowledge God's claim does not lessen responsibility, for people are borrowers accountable for time, abilities and possessions with the wisdom given to use them according to His purposes, and withholding or misusing them robs the Giver. Each must examine how faithfully he is using what is entrusted, especially in work for salvation of souls, for everyone must answer for that trust in the final judgment.

Accountability covers not only what is returned but opportunities, abilities and improvements neglected or left undeveloped, measured by the powers first given and the possibilities for growth, not only by present capacity. Judgment takes account of what could have been done and what ought to have been, and merely keeping what was entrusted without using it to serve and advance God's work makes a person an unfaithful servant. As people exercise the ability they have, God works with them to strengthen and increase it, providing what is needed for growth in knowledge and virtue. Spiritual idleness is unfaithfulness, and inaction in God's cause destroys confidence, underscoring the need for active service that puts gifts to work rather than leaving them unused. The servant's trading and increase illustrate the duty to develop faculties and use them to serve others, with the original trust and its increase both accountable to the Master.

Faithful improvement brings the Master's commendation as good and faithful, rulership over many things, greater trust, entrance into the joy of the Lord and at last eternal life and Well done. Diligence with two is equally commended with five, receiving the same approval and promise, and faithfulness in small humble daily duties proves fitness for greater responsibilities. Wise use increases ability, for gifts and privileges including received truth and light are given according to ability to be used faithfully and shared with others. The opportunity to use them for God's glory is now, but it may end when probation closes.

Rewards are proportionate to zeal, fidelity, effort, labor and improvement, including entrance into joy and still more trust. They are not earned as merit for salvation but are purchased by Christ, yet each receives according to works. His diligence in putting money out to usury to gain five more is met with the same approval as the two-talent servant, showing God requires His lent endowments to be sacredly employed without trifling because He will require them again with principal and interest.

Faithful use causes talents to grow, so one can become two and two can become four, even four make eight; as knowledge and powers are exercised more is gained. God cooperates to enlarge capacity and open ways, strengthening abilities as they are used, while leaving ability unused weakens, rusts and loses it through self-indulgence and misuse of mind and body. Trading means devoting influence, knowledge and powers to Him in appointed duty, each in appointed place from lowliest to mightiest, with work matching the light shining in the heart and the measure of fullness received. What is sown through this work on earth is reaped in the world to come, where the work begun here reaches completion in a higher, holier life that lasts forever, and abilities developed in this life will be employed on a wider and nobler plan in the future life.

The improved gift is to be returned to God as a consecrated offering for His glory, with every effort prompted by a pure sincere heart as a fragrant offering. Both principal and increase belong to Him without taking credit or mixing gifts with worldly purposes, and faithful returning is met with greater trust and increased ability, including treasure in heaven and lasting results from material means and physical and mental powers. No one is to surrender or leave idle what is entrusted, but is to make best use as God's agent, investing rather than neglecting or misusing so the Master receives what is His when He returns.

Responsibility grows with light: all must walk in the light and stand on the elevated ground which truth has been preparing, exhibiting in character and works that union and oneness with Christ which accords with sacred truth now shining on the pathway. Faith, obedience, love, experience and character should grow in proportion to light, grace and privileges received, with continual onward and upward growth so fruit corresponds with what was received and becomes perfect before God. Failure brings condemnation in proportion to grace and truth bestowed, for light becomes darkness in proportion to light received when truth reaching the understanding and illuminating the soul is turned away from and refused. The church is weighed in the balances of the sanctuary against what she would have been with faithful improvement, and if talents are left unimproved fruit is imperfect and she is found wanting, seeing but not perceiving and hearing but not understanding while professing to know God yet in works denying Him by deeds adverse to truth and righteousness. Those with full and varied experience shining on the pathway must improve every talent to contribute to fellow men's welfare, multiplying talents through energetic proper use.

Faithful improvement of entrusted gifts bears on eternal destiny and gives no ground for self-exaltation, for what people possess is gift not ownership. Each person must ask whether he has proper appreciation of God-given talents in time, influence and money, and whether in using them he is cooperating with God, for God accepts the purpose and cooperates with the effort so even one talent faithfully used will be increased. God watches how stewards fulfill the sacred trust, whether increasing and sustaining worship, blessing the needy, relieving the widow and fatherless, poor, hungry and naked, and advancing His cause to save souls, or hoarding and embezzling His goods for selfish passions, pride and appetite and sustaining the church by sociables, fairs, raffles, games and lotteries. Faithful use shows appreciation for Christ who gave His life as Substitute and Surety and gives probation to work out perfect character by obedience through the Holy Spirit, laying up treasure in heaven and securing eternal riches and mansions beside the throne, while refusal leaves insurance not in heaven's banks.

The servant who doubled his talents is the pattern to follow by being working Christians who work as Christ worked, helping and blessing instead of criticizing, preaching to the poor, healing the brokenhearted and sick, and doing medical missionary work with unselfish love, and those who so double will hear Well done, be made ruler over many things, enter joy and sit with Christ on His throne. God-given abilities are to be improved through exercise rather than left unused, and those entrusted must account for failing to develop them. People entrusted with gifts are tested by God and are to prove faithful and true in using them, with ability and judgment improved through faithful work returned to God. Faithful work including earnest efforts to save others tests soundness of conversion, religious principles and loyalty to God. Time, talents and abilities are gifts to be worked and returned with increase, not grounds for selfishly claiming a reward, and eternal life is conditional on entire obedience; talents come from God not for boasting but as blessings for which each is accountable, and misuse calls for repentance before final judgment.

Warnings Against Unfaithfulness

Burying talents means leaving them idle, dormant, squandered, misapplied, or invested where they cannot honor God or benefit people instead of trading with them to increase them. It includes reckless, trifling, cheap conversation that belittles speech and mind, molds associates downward to what is low and ignoble, wastes accountable opportunities for influence, and by strengthening evil corrupts what was entrusted. Hiding instead of using is fearful failure that casts away the crown of life, and merely possessing ability, influence, means, or spiritual understanding while waiting for a better opportunity leaves the trust unimproved and increases accountability no better than selfish hoarding.

Burying through worldly entanglements, business, money-making, hoarding, covetousness, love of money, desire for supremacy, and self-pleasing is unfaithful stewardship that serves Satan, robs God, retards work that capital could advance, and spreads selfish leaven. Money entrusted is to be invested in the cause to advance the work and save souls rather than buried in worldly possessions, spent on needless things and self-gratification, or tied up in risky ventures, and influence is to win people who can then win others so gain continually increases. The wealthy are to consecrate entrusted goods so what they have may be doubled, for talents include temporal possessions, means, and influence and not only ability to preach and teach.

Those who fail to use gifts faithfully lose them, with unused talents given to those who will use them; hiding brings no increase, forfeits favor and the crown of life, robs God, and ends in outer darkness as unprofitable. Faithful trading means using all talents to the utmost and developing body and mind by exercise to the highest point for winning souls and glorifying the Giver, not for farming, building, or earthly selfish purposes, and accepting responsibility with self-denying cross-bearing to fill a grand place in saving souls. Non-use from fear that God will demand back what is improved cuts off hope of eternal reward, leaves souls dry as the hills of Gilboa, shriveled and dying spiritually, unfitted for heaven, with life-work in ashes and reward eternally lost. Fear, grudging giving, or transferring property to others does not excuse the responsibility, and neglect brings condemnation in proportion to light and grace given.

Church membership alone does not secure heaven and mere profession has no value; genuine love is shown by works, stewardship will be examined at His coming and in the judgment over time, words, money, influence, pen, voice, and spiritual light, withholding robs the Giver, no idler or slothful one will be inside the kingdom, and sleeping churches must awake, unearth the talent, put it out to the exchangers, arise, and shine. Even small acts done from love for the poor, vulnerable, and needy are accepted and rewarded as done to Christ. Misused abilities can hinder others and work against Christ, while rightly employed abilities lead to eternal riches and valuing each moment for holy purposes. Using a gift to turn people from God is robbery recorded in heaven, greater intellectual ability, means, and opportunity bring heavier burden and responsibility, and fidelity is valued above amount.

Failure to trade comes from Satan's work to prevent use; he holds some as slaves and controls the talents of many professing present truth, and those leaving talents unused daily rob God and dwarf and degrade powers by frivolous amusements, selfish ambition, and absorption in commonplace matters when the highest themes are within grasp. Lent intellect, tact, time, strength, influence, mind, privilege, and duty must be sanctified, yoked with Christ, and put into active work as channels of light cooperating with heavenly agencies, with no excuse of being only a lay member; keeping them in inaction loses all ability, perverting them aids Satan and ruins souls, and every wasted hour, misused strength, neglected duty, and despised privilege is registered to be met in judgment. God is a rich giver and provider, not a harsh exacting creditor; He bestows according to ability to use and places men where they can trade as providers not only consumers, returning fruit in season and relieving suffering bought by blood and laying up a good foundation, while the one-talent man from selfish anxiety hid his talent thinking improvement would require giving it all back.

Failure to connect with Christ robs God, while connecting is individual work through Jesus seeking forgiving grace, healing power, peace, household rule, and Spirit control of mind, soul, and strength so human beings labor together with God in harmony with appointed agencies molding character after the divine similitude. Refusing to work unless self is benefited and grasping for wages is burying the talent, leaving others to bear double burdens, sacrificing property and time, retarding the work, and planting a selfish grasping leaven with abominable results, along with idleness, failure to discern deficiency, and criticizing and complaining. Neglecting or mishandling appointed work costs souls, for each must do his own work which angels can cooperate with but cannot take his place, and intellect and reason affect eternal welfare. Failing to serve God and help others with entrusted abilities and opportunities robs God, and unfaithfulness wastes chances to do good and bring people to Him. Using life and abilities for self rather than God's service is unfaithfulness to the trust.

Talents must be employed in the Lord's service always and fully with present surrender, in contrast between the servant who put them to work and a son who wasted abilities and opportunities, with the unfaithful facing final accounting. Temporal business must not absorb attention at the expense of devotion to God, but entrusted talents are to be wisely put to use and increased. Misapplying entrusted gifts by following personal inclination wastes opportunity, robs God, and can cost a rich spiritual experience.

Specific Life Applications

Trading with money and means is wise investment to sustain worship, missions, meetinghouses, missionaries, youth education, blessing the needy, tithes and offerings and heavenly treasure, putting the Lord's money to active use instead of hiding it in the earth, using it economically and for good rather than spending on display and self-indulgence, drink, tobacco and ornamentation, and never sustaining the church by fairs, raffles, games or lotteries. Entrusted money is not to remain idle in banks or property but to be put into circulation for God's work including Nashville and Washington, sanitariums for physical and spiritual healing, schools to train workers worldwide, tract and periodical publishing and distribution, and sending the living preacher to those in darkness, with diligence and care avoiding waste showing fitness for greater eternal responsibility. Every unnecessary penny spent for self forfeits opportunity to do good and withholds honor from God, and hoarding, embezzling, tying means in risky ventures, investing in farms and buildings that cannot be taken to heaven, or preserving merely for self or leaving use to others fails to yield increase for Christ.

Multiplying talents means answering God's claims in this life by devoting self and property to God in self-denial and present opportunities, becoming one's own executor while of sound mind and good judgment rather than shifting responsibility through bequests at death, which receives no commendation and no reward. Selfishly retaining means as long as possible and soothing conscience by planning bequests brings the doom of the unprofitable servant when He comes to receive His own with usury, for children do not become responsible for the father's talents and the steward must trade himself and render back both principal and interest. Holding back even to please children is disobedience like burying the talent in the earth.

Parents as stewards must trade with surplus means themselves while living with prayer and experienced counsellors who know truth and the divine will to advance the cause, not to please children or defer until the last hour. Means may go to afflicted children or those struggling in poverty who will make judicious use, but placing it in unbelieving, reckless, already supplied children's hands merely because they are children is sin against the Master, lightly regards God's claims, and puts means effectually in enemy ranks to be squandered, hoarded and worshipped. Property willed principally to children with none or only a meager pittance for God will frequently prove a curse, temptation and open door to hurtful lusts, while means may be entrusted to children only with surest evidence their love, interest and devotion to God's cause are greater and they will be more earnest, zealous and benevolent. Those deficient in good works who love in word but not in deed and withhold from God's cause are unfaithful and must render account at the reckoning shortly to come.

The time and mental powers entrusted to mothers are talents to be cultivated to do good and train children from earliest years, for minds are meant to accomplish good and neglecting entrusted duties makes an unprofitable servant held accountable. The talent lent to a minister's wife is united soul-saving work with her husband, to be improved faithfully and earnestly setting aside personal wishes, pleasures, comforts and natural tastes rather than neglected or cast aside lightly. Training church members for missionary work enables them to use and increase abilities and develop into persons fit for trust and influence to accomplish good for the Master. Sisters as well as others must put talents to use now instead of waiting for greater opportunities or holier dispositions, consecrating soul and body to Christ at once in confidence He will use them to do His will.

Young physicians' abilities and future work are to be returned with increase by serving with wisdom and integrity as producers not consumers rather than seeking praise, belonging to the Master not to themselves. The physician's talent is the bedside opportunity to bring Christ's religion into the sickroom, speak a timely word for Christ and serve as minister of righteousness, which rightly used reproduces itself many times over unto eternal life, while neglecting it hides the talent and wastes fruit. Genius and capabilities require self-denial and self-sacrifice, not pleasing gratifying impulse, and as guardians of the sick physicians must obey laws of their being, keep self-control and preserve strength by obedience rather than using it all up, for disregarding health injures self, wrongs those in care, and leaves no reserve for emergency when serious irremediable blunders follow.

Youth and students must consecrate and cultivate physical, mental and moral powers and Christian grace wholly to God for His glory and labor to save souls, growing firm, unwavering, rooted and grounded to give the church designed help. Schools and colleges are to mold minds and bring hidden faculties into use, striving to improve education, abilities and religious experience rather than remaining defective or doing careless work, while teachers draw out faculties with tact. Giving mind to pleasure and amusement instead of strengthening for noble purposes, leaving knowledge unworked, or yielding powers in any measure to Satan robs God and brings guilt like the unfaithful steward.

A minister who abandons soul-winning for temporal gain is an apostate misapplying talents, for responsibility is exactly proportionate to gifts and business men's obligation is no less than ministers' as co-workers with Christ, and deceitfulness of riches ruins thousands who forget stewardship since riches make entrance hard and account is near. Those in holy trust must trade day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment in living persevering dependence on Christ rather than dropping work to avoid mistakes or choosing easier less responsible positions, maintaining consecration, faithful study, prayer, walking in His counsel and unreserved surrender, for in own strength they can do no good. To lay aside trusts repeats the buried-talent history from false conception charging the Lord with severity and fraud without experimental knowledge of free mercy and grace to right all ways. Ministers apply increase by entering new fields, bringing people to truth, studying Scripture, praying and meeting opposition to gain experience, devoting time to intense interested work, dropping seeds of truth in every association, keeping warning uppermost as soul-burden so light flows when lips open, cultivating faculties for eternity without trusting human wisdom, recognizing no one method or gifts suffice but different capabilities complement under the Spirit. Spending hours in visiting and talk on unimportant matters, letting opportunities pass unseen, spending days without prayer with nothing to show, and spending large means for little result is failure to trade, exactly recorded with every defect, unfulfilled duty and idle hour unto eternal wages.

God distributes to every person according to ability and watches whether talents are used wisely and unselfishly rather than to favor self, seek advancement, or heed praise that makes stewards careless. Talents devoted to doing good produce effective influence, but turned to selfish pleasure, gain, worldly interests and exaltation they are perverted and do great harm, and unfaithfulness to great trust of influence and money brings heaviest condemnation. Ability, wisdom and success are sacred trust capital from the Source of wisdom to be employed to His glory, so strife for supremacy is out of place and Jesus alone is exalted, excellence not disparaged and devotion not superiority bringing esteem in heaven. Those failing to use gifts lose them to those who will, for gifts are not chiefly for earthly wealth but for serving others and laying hold of eternal life, with the wealthy accountable for property and those with health and strength accountable to work diligently, manage time and means well and provide for families.

Trading includes practical benevolence to the poor, afflicted, orphan, fatherless, sick, hungry, naked and destitute, with even small acts from love accepted and counted as done to Christ, awakening interest and impressing unbelievers. It means speaking timely words, reading and living the Word, using money for soul-saving purposes such as educating a child, witnessing to present truth to penetrate error not by much talk only but by good works in perfect obedience yoked with Christ, so each soul gained can help others and the work grows. Every converted soul hearing truth must enlighten others, bringing increased strength and power, for even one talent can help bring a soul to heaven whose influence reaches others, while unused gifts will be required with expected improvement.

The light of present truth including prophecies of Christ's soon coming, the third angel's message and Sabbath truth is a precious talent to develop heart, mind and affections and then share to enlighten unbelief and make men wise unto salvation, not buried under cares while millions pass in delusion. The reckoning will ask not how successful in gathering means but what was done with time, pen, voice, money, influence and thrilling truths heralding the second coming, requiring careful thought and highest use of intellect. Knowledge of truth must be understood, received into heart, lived in character, shared rather than hoarded, exercising ability to gain more ability, becoming firm brave workers instead of dependent children, cultivating intellect with close hard thinking. Little strength comes from not exercising what God gave and wrapping talent in a napkin, so younger less worn minds must arise to help against the mighty, take burdens and bear responsibilities instead of leaving them on older burden-bearers.

Readiness for the second coming is unselfish watchful labor joined with prayerful meditation and personal piety, neither quiet devotion without service nor constant activity neglecting piety being enough, but the all-round perfect man in Christ blending both, using probationary time well with thorough training in every educational line to learn and digest true knowledge. The prospect of soon coming must not produce idleness or neglect of schools, sanitariums, food factories and trades, but doing all possible to bless humanity, for talents increase only by use as five became ten and no idler is guiltless. Entrusted talents carry full work to be done, and doing only one-third leaves two-thirds working against Christ, with none able to reason excused and none to sleep at post, but all accountable in Judgment and faithful use revealing character like God's.

In contrast to the five foolish virgins with lamps and no oil, mere profession does not save, for devils believe and tremble without right faith. Trading five into other five means not making feelings the criterion but going to work taking up nearest burdens as laborers together with God, letting God build with solid timbers into character by grace from Christ, cultivating right disposition rather than fractious fretting temper, opposite to the one-talent man centering capabilities, thought and burden on poor self in fear.

Faithful trading is exemplified by Moses who wholly giving himself to God listening to obey became eloquent, patient, self-reliant and competent for the greatest work ever entrusted to mortals, and by Daniel who looked to God exercising every power until trusted in Babylon. Joseph and Daniel's fellows valued God's favor above princes, and Elijah and Jeremiah held commission from God accountable for use, acknowledging Christ as Master and no earthly master now in genuine gospel medical missionary work amid departure to broken cisterns. Worth lies not in number but in appreciating, prizing as God's gifts, sanctifying mental and physical endowments to Master's use, putting them to exchangers to learn more, consecrating to His glory not self, with smallest gift not despised and no person controlled to express another's mind. Singing and musical ability likewise are talents of influence to be cultivated and used for God's glory rather than self-pleasure or worldly approval, joining interests with His workers rather than wasted or abused.

Talents are workers and ability to be traded and increased where they tell to better account, broadening to new fields and following up work begun, not confined to one locality. Concentration in Battle Creek while London is scarcely touched, or piling means in one place leaving cities barren and unworked with criticism blocking others' wheels, is unfaithful stewardship. Trading means using light and means to sustain hard discouraging fields where truth never had standing, raising able workers to carry last mercy message and sustain all branches, using superior qualifications, means and influence to establish centers as in New York and other great cities whence Bible truth goes forth, and using means and personal effort wisely to bring salvation with precious reward. Means test whether owners acknowledge God by advancing His cause, improving time and talents as love and grateful obedience, offerings accepted not from His need but for servants' benefit, while unfaithful stewards face judgment with plans ended and property taken.

Putting a discouraged brother back to work reflects the need for willing laborers who put what is received to use and increase it. Thoughtful faithful use of entrusted time valuing moments, keeping diligently employed to benefit self and bless others especially in personal service for poor, sick and suffering instead of wasting hours in idleness and unrefreshing recreation, brings far greater prosperity to missionary enterprises, while refusing work for lack of high wages is idle folly better replaced by moderate wages, and wantonly thrown away time must be accounted for as sinful shameful misuse. God's claims on time, influence and money are plain leaving no doubt where to use them, each to ask whether he appreciates talents and cooperates with God, for even one faithfully used will increase as God accepts purpose and cooperates with effort.

Ministers, editors, presidents and others with greater talents have no right to disproportionate or rising wages, for talents and supposed ability are given not made, and those responsible should reduce receipts, take smaller wages, sacrifice and set right example while common workers receiving little are not expected to give up more. Delay in establishing the sanitarium was failure to multiply entrusted funds and facilities that if put to use would have advanced the work, contrary to doubling by faithful use. The talent of means is traded by loans and gifts placing sanitarium institutions where they can do God's honorable glorious work without embarrassment. Abilities must be put to very best use to reach Boston with truth, with sanitarium as great facility and tent meetings in city and suburbs to give last mercy message, gifts of grace increasing by wise use without self-exaltation or precise human lines but by Spirit direction, humble walk and looking to Jesus.

Houses, lands and large revenue are the Lord's goods lent in providence to trade upon during probation to form character for mansions prepared, requiring entering Christ's humble obedience, no self-exaltation for possessing much, feeling means a serious responsibility, and earnestly asking with converted heart how to use wisely. Every hour of probation is God's gift to be improved as He directs, laying sure foundation teaching temperance by precept and example, treating hours as sacred so wasting minutes in indolence and apathy is sin, to give back all gifts with additions. Money is not saviour but talent lent to trade wisely to honor Him not for self-gratification dishonoring His name, beginning with fear of the Lord as fear to dishonor Him, whereupon God shows covenant and becomes wisdom, sanctification and righteousness making instruments to promote His pure holy character unto Christlike perfection. People are accountable for every particle of influence from God to be improved in efficiency, representing Christ and letting God direct thought, word, deed and business.

Means and talents for carrying forward God's work must not be wasted in desultory efforts but used decidedly and earnestly. Every talent is a gift for God's glory, calling those responsible to use abilities and time faithfully including missionary work for the young rather than dishonoring commercial pursuits. Different gifts including time and opportunities to lead others to truth are to be improved by faithful use, and property used in God's work according to what was given. Family members should wisely place abilities where greatest benefit allows knowledge and experience to grow and serve others. Those with means should return to the Lord His own and help His institutions, for resources including wealth are not personal property to use as pleases but to be invested freely in building His cause.

God gives work with time, talents and abilities to every man, woman and child requiring diligent employment not idleness, including educating children through well-directed industry without impairing strength or disqualifying for religious duties, while throwing off responsibility for ease and luxury while others strain to secure against want and render back to God displeases Him. Talents are to be put to work in circumstances and daily life where one lives, multiplied for others' good not wasted in faultfinding and criticism. Strength is valuable trust to be used to best advantage, neglecting it being as wrong as rich selfishly keeping wealth unused. One placed in trust should use abilities faithfully and receive help rather than censure, for use leads to increase. Talents are skill, health, powers with time and money to be wisely improved to gather means and bless others rather than centered on self, through self-reliant useful labor, earning by effort, keeping account, spending judiciously, denying candy, luxuries, dress and adornment, using earnings for thank offerings, missions and poor homeless friendless helpless youth, accounted faithful stewardship while every self-spent cent must be accounted for.

Every talent small or great is confided to be improved according to the Giver's will requiring unreserved consecration of body, soul, energies and capabilities throughout probation, for God claims all service mortal aided by grace can render and greater trust brings greater obligation, so withholding is robbery, with Christ's cross alone guaranteeing excellence and success, elevating tastes, subduing appetites toward eternal inheritance measuring with God's life amid foes within and without. One must not refuse God's given work because fellow workers undervalue abilities, but work for Christ's glory not merely human approval. Money and means lent by God to be wisely improved and required again with usury call for economy, close calculation, self-denial and decided step-by-step change of wasteful habits. Restricting people from sharing truth for lack of formal education leaves abilities unused, deprives church of workers and keeps people unreached, for each believer is to employ talents to win souls.

Talents are to be devoted to highest holiest purposes for greatest good, each accountable for life and gifts. Gifts are to serve God and benefit others rather than kept for self, and hoarding wealth while neglecting orphan, widow and poor fails to render God His due. Entrusted goods are responsibilities requiring acting as Christ would with exact fairness and justice, God rejecting gain through injustice. A wife's controlling influence over her husband with active mind is talent given to do good to church and world by spiritual help and wise counsel, when traded rightly under the Spirit strengthening his spiritual and mental powers into powerful instrument, but when used under enemy training to plant suspicion, cast untruthful suspicions, suggest evil of brethren and turn against counsel and light it lies in ruins leaving mind childish, life dead yet burdensome, both almost useless under God's displeasure. Ability is to be improved until it blesses possessor and all within reach, responsibility valued as heaven-entrusted capabilities exercise in doing good following Christ, with property and abilities advancing cause and blessing humanity.

Means given to experienced workers in a needy new field would have produced far greater results and advanced God's work. The lesson applies to those entrusted to act with kindness and liberality not exacting every cent possible. God entrusts intellect to be traded for His glory, leaving refusers after test to imaginings while taking those appearing less endowed without large self-confidence and making weak strong as they trust Him to do what they cannot, accepting whole-hearted service and making up deficiencies, molding material others pass by through simple means to reveal God. The five talents are precious gifts to be improved by faithful use in trust, yet fear of cruel words, backbiting, reproach and envy from unruly scandal-mongers keeps holders from work leaving them without surety and peace in martyrdom instead of doubling. Money belongs to the Lord as sacred trust to be used faithfully advancing His work as His cause requires.

Further points

The one entrusted with five talents put them to active use and increased them while the master was away, and this trading is the pattern for faithful service. Those who steward what is entrusted are not to imitate the habits of the world. They are to receive the grace of Christ so that every gift is purified and refined and lifted to a higher purpose for his service.