Double Your Money

Do you remember the old television quiz show with Hughie Green?

In today’s Gospel we have a similar scenario. 3 servants are entrusted with the responsibility of managing their master’s money while he is away. He returns to find that the servants given 5 and 2 talents have, through sound investment, doubled his money. However, the servant given 1 talent just buried it in the ground. A talent was a lot of money, equivalent to thousands of pounds today. The master commended the servants who had doubled his money and invited them to share in the abundance his life, but the third servant was severely punished and banished from the kingdom.

Jesus is demonstrating in this parable that, as part of God’s kingdom, we have a responsibility to use the talents (or gifts) we have been given to do God’s work. In whatever we are called to do, to spread the good news that we are all children of light. The 1 talent servant buried his light in darkness. He was probably miffed because the others had been given more than him but God gives according to our ability and equips us. Diversity and creativity are built into all creation. In Genesis God placed Adam in the garden and gave him the responsibility to tend it and care for it and produce good fruits. We too are given responsibility to produce good fruits. God knows our characters, qualities, and capabilities and gives us everything needed to do what he has called us to.

The servant let fear immobilise him and made a judgement about his master not being a fair man. We are told to trust in the Lord and not to lean on our own understanding.

What about the relationship and communication between the 3 servants? It seems as if the 1 talent man had taken himself off and done his own thing. He was piqued and felt slighted that he had been given less than the others, although he had been given abundance (thousands of pounds) he was not satisfied! He wanted more! He did not have an attitude of gratitude!

Comparing ourselves with others, instead of rejoicing in our uniqueness is harmful. We are all beautifully and wonderfully made as part of God’s design for creation. The 1 talent man saw himself as worth less than the others, instead of giving thanks for life. We are all God’s children of light, and diversity is woven into creation. We are commissioned to spread the light of the Gospel in the world, wherever God has placed us. Not to bury and hide our light as the servant did.

St. Paul tells us to encourage one another and build each other up in love. At first, we might sympathise with the 1 talent man as he did give at least give back what he was given but the pointJesus is making is that he wasted opportunities for abundance! We are required to grab opportunities to spread the good news and be part of growing God’s kingdom on earth.

The prophet Zephaniah, in our first reading, spoke of The Day of The Lord’s return and God punishing those who rest complacently, as they are like wine dregs that become sediment. They become cut off from the vine, living church, withered, and withdrawn and cannot bear good fruit.

However, it is not all doom and gloom for St. Paul tells us that the day of The Lord’s return will come like a thief in the night, we do not know where or when but we do need to be ready. We need to be in relationship with God and listen to His voice for our lives. To keep awake and be active, put on the breastplate of faith and love and helmet of salvation and do what God calls and equips us to do.

Amen.

Angela Stewart, Lay Minister