“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” (Matthew 25:25 KJV)
This has got to be one of the most referenced parables in the New Testament. Even though the term “steward” is not mentioned anywhere in this chapter, it is frequently referenced for a great example of just that; stewardship. While this parable is absolutely packed full of real world meaning, the overarching idea of a manager or an administrator gets lost in a misunderstood premise that all we have belongs to God. Misunderstood? It is true that everything that even exists has been made by God (see John 1:3). It is also true that God gives and takes as He chooses. It is even further true that everything we have has been given to us from God. So, what is it that is misunderstood?
Take another look at this servant’s response. He clearly acknowledges that this talent is God’s. He does not even try to mince words about that. He also exhibits a healthy fear, or respect, that under no circumstance did he want to have nothing to give back to his master. Yet this answer not only got this servant in trouble, but is used to reveal the very heart of why the master is upset. The master is upset because the servant failed to do anything with the investment. Believe it or not, the talent belonged to the servant for a time. The expectation, boom or bust, is that faith is exercised.
And now we begin to see the misunderstanding that is so easily missed in this passage. We are taught that since everything belongs to God, that we should be a good steward of it. Yet that is not how God actually gives talents, responsibilities, or tests in our faith. He actually turns full ownership of the gift over to us for a time. For a season, it does actually belong to us. We have physical possession of it. We have full rights of what to do with it. Like any other parent that gives a gift to their child, the gift now fully belongs to the child to do what he or she sees fit to do with it. Which draws out the very real seriousness of what we have been given. We are now in full possession of a gift for which we will be accountable for. Given the full talent with no strings, what do we do with it? You can begin to see that the gift becomes even more real. Even more serious. The more we deny or rewrite the history of how we got the talent, the more we fail to see the forthcoming accountability of a very real master. Since we actually own this talent, it is more personal than if it were merely leased or borrowed. This is not a company talent. It is ours. A talent that a master who died for us wants to see if we can let something in us die for Him. A talent that gives us a much more real chance to honestly grow our faith in Him. This master reaps where He does not sow because He is teaching us how to sow that which He has given us. Both win. Make no mistake, it is never a zero sum gain. He overflows and teaches us how to too.
“His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:” (Matthew 25:26 KJV)