Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Parable of the talents

The parable is a comparison of that story of using one's abilities to grow what they are gifted by their master to the sharing of what God has gifted the believer.

I don't think the Lord will judge me for not being a minister, a missionary or an evangelist. I don't have those skill sets and never worked to develop them. I'm not a public speaker. They hold a very high responsibility to God for their actions and influence.

But I do know He has been at times disappointed with me, whenever I did not do what I was fully able to do, to be what I know I should have been.
One good friend committed suicide. Did not see it coming. Best golf bud was killed in car vs. pedestrian accident. Both losses were hard on me.
I never shared any testimony or discussion of Christ with them. Many opportunities. I failed.

The walk is tough at times. I remind myself daily now, being a positive example to younger family members is job #1.

Not everyone has the mental capacity or means. They are not 'blessed' with these things.

All the great men on the Bible were wealthy men, Blessed by God.

According to the promises found in His Word, they will not be judged the same as those who hold those blessings and gifts.

Everyone will stand judgement. Everyone is offered the gift of eternal life.

Talents were a measure of Jewish money - currency.

Pounds are a measure of Gentile money - currency. So it doesn't matter whether you are a Jew or a Gentile. God has the same expectation of you.
The two servants that put the money out to usury both doubled their investment.

Matthew was a Jew and his gospel deals largely with the nation of Israel.
Luke was likely a Gentile and his gospel leans towards Gentiles.
My take away on this is for us to serve the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and minds -- as of the abilities that God gives.

Thank you for verifying that.

That's correct, and I didn't say you could choose your abilities. As in the parable, we are not accountable for what we cannot do, but what we can...........

Since justification is not obtained or maintained by works how does a reward interpretation fit?

A couple posts back it is finished. Sorry, for the mix up.

Appreciate the input folks. My dad asked me about this parable 2 months prior to his death. I could not give a definitive answer. I'm certain he understands it fully now.

No need for any sorriness - I was thanking you for verifying what I had always been taught. Have a great night.

This has been a great thread with a lot of excellent well thought out responses.

Condolences for the loss of your dad.

Wasnt the worst way to be cast into Hell? He was a believer. Why associate "outer darkness" to Hell? He failed and was not rewarded.

Do you cast your nonproductive child to Hell?

This.

The talents are well explained in 1 Cor 12:1-12. The parable explains how using our various God-given talents blesses not only ourselves but the lives of others; enriching both parties spiritually.

The thing is, what you can or can't do is related to you abilities. Some do poorly, constantly making bad decisions, because their abilities are poor. A gifted sprinter can sprint to the best of their ability, while another can barely shuffle their feet....a good businessman may have an innate knack for investments and thrive, while at the bottom of the spectrum, a bad businessman, not through lack of trying, cannot pick a winner, every decision loses money and they go bankrupt.

If one is judged by ability, success or failure, the cards are rigged from the beginning; those 'blessed' with the right stuff are guaranteed entry into paradise.

One crucial thing to note is that the servant who was given the least was punished for not making the most of it.

No matter what you are given, whether it's a life-long bed in a nursing home or a hot wife and a million $$, God expects us to use our blessings for Him.

This is a tough one.

It's easy to see Jesus as harsh when tragedy seems to follow one. But it's not the correct view. It's a view that sends people to Hell.

We should ALL be afraid of falling into that view (or at least I should, because I don't know if I can live up to this passage) because it's such an easy path to take.

The bad servant lacked works, but his real problem was he lacked faith. Look at how he viewed God.

Have you never considered, or witnessed, the plethora of examples where folks - some with limited "abilities or gifts" - have struggled, learned much and worked hard to create wonderful outcomes for themselves and others. Have you never considered the fact that degree of inherent abilities is not the key to this discussion - because having great abilities insures nothing with regard to outcomes.

The moral being, it is not what you have or are given - it's a matter of how well you apply what you have.