The Treasure in Our Hands

When the faithful group of seekers of Seneca Presbyterian Church gathered last Wednesday evening to sink our teeth and our hearts into the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), we discovered an almost universal dislike for this parable. The reason could have been as simple as its dis-use and abuse by so many preachers. Who has not heard this parable interpreted thusly? God has given us talents – skills and gifts – to use in a way that honors God. But too often we are afraid to use those talents – skills and gifts. Instead we bury them and keep them to ourselves. Then, if we get the soft climax to the sermon, we will be exhorted to do better - to dig up those talents and put them to use so God will bless us. But if we get the tough climax, we will be warned that God has little patience for those who bury what God has given and meant for us to use.

            I suppose every interpretation has within it something of truth. After all, we are beginning with God’s Word, the source of all truth. But I fear this is far too tame an interpretation for any parable of Jesus, let alone one that comes so near the end of his life. The parables of Jesus were simple stories with great meaning. The series of parables that end Matthew’s Gospel are stories with life and death meaning. These are stories that have a way of getting to us. And if it is God who is doing the “getting,” our discomfort is likely a clue to what we are meant to “get.”

            So if you are curious, here is what made us uncomfortable:

·         We thought the one talent servant was short-changed. He started off with low expectations. No wonder he was afraid.

·         Anyone who is entrusted with someone else’s wealth and acts recklessly with it is subject to a penalty. You should not act recklessly with what belongs to another.

·         Just how did those servants double their money? Did they do it honestly or dishonestly? Could the parable become a license for those who abuse the innocent and trusting gifts of others?

·         What if the return on the investment had been less? What if the servants only earned 50% or 25% or even 10%? What would the master say then? What would the master say if the servants risked the money and lost?

·         What’s wrong with keeping something entrusted to you safe? Why was the third servant judged so harshly? Is this really God? What happened to “salvation by grace alone through faith alone”? We don’t like this image of God.

So - just who is this master and what is his treasure? And what are we called to do with it? We’ll pick up with those questions on Sunday.