I was at coffee with a friend of mine and we were talking about the parable of the talents. I would like to share the truths that we discussed during our time together. This story is found in Matthew 25:14-30.
If you are not familiar with the story that Jesus told describing the kingdom of heaven here is Moriah’s shot rendition: once upon a time, there lived a Master who was going on a trip. He wanted to make sure his money (talents) was taken care of while He was gone and therefore entrusted certain amounts to different servants according to their ability. To one He gave five, to another He gave two, and to the third He gave one. He went away and when He got back asked for each of them to give an account. Both the one with five and the one with two had doubled what they had been responsible for, but the other who was entrusted with the one had buried it because he was afraid. The master was pleased with those who had used His money well, but displeased with the one who buried it, taking the one talent away from him and giving it to the one with the five (now ten) talents.
So many times, I have heard teachings and sermons on either the servant with the one or the servant with the five. The one that only had one was a bad servant because they were afraid of what his master would say, so he did nothing and wasted it. The one with the five was given the extra one talent and was faithful. But I have rarely heard anything about the servant who was given two talents. Because I had heard so little about him, I began to wonder why he was in the parable. Jesus was so precise, He never just told something to tell it, every detail was important. It was not because the story was better with three characters instead of two, no God had a purpose. So I began to explore the story and then this is what God taught my friend and I that day at coffee.
Our passage says that each servant was given talents based on their ability. Therefore, it was the Master’s understanding and knowledge of their capabilities that caused Him to only give this servant two and others more or less. But as we look at this servant, we find two traits that are essential to the life of a Christian. The servant who was only given two was humble and content.
First, he was humble and did not lord it over the servant who only received one talent. He did not parade himself around, no, he stayed working faithfully and worked on what he was entrusted with. So, he remained humble even when others were not honored as he was. Second, this servant was content. When someone else was given more then he was, we do not find him complaining and raising an uproar because he was not given the honor of handling more. He instead trusted his Master that he was entrusted with what he could handle, and this drove him to be faithful and again work what he had been given. He was content with the responsibilities that his Master gave him. As I contemplated this parable, I found that the servant with only two talents was my favorite, not only because I relate being the middle kid, but also because He showed perhaps more character than the others while not being the top, yet still be above others. It is like being the middle kid where you always have those older than you and those younger than you, and you have to learn to work in the adjustable ranks of leadership within the children. You are expected to be both big sister and little sister all at the same time. However, on a much more important and spiritual level, this servant demonstrated the godly characteristics of humility and contentment, ones that I believe all of us could strive to have a better grasp on. He remained steady and faithful to the task his Master had given him.