The Value of a Talent

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He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! Matthew 25:24-26a.

In the parable of the talents a wealthy man gives three servants specific amounts of money to looked after while he is gone. The servants who are given five and two talents both used the money in such a way that they were able to double their master’s money. The master is pleased with this and on his return rewards the two diligent servants. The other servant however, took the single talent he was given and buried it, confessing a fear of losing it and facing his master’s wrath. The master is displeased with this approach, he expected this servant to use the money in such a way that it would bring increase in value, just like the former two servants did. So the third servant is instead rebuked and loses the money he has been given to look after.

There is much that can be learnt from this story, but in this brief thought I want to point out that one of the most interesting aspects of this parable of the talents is often missed. That is; the fact that the value of a talent in Jesus day was 6000 drachma, and the value of a drachma was one days wage for a labourer. This means that the average working class person would have to work for 6000 days to earn one single talent. That is more than 16 years worth of work! In reality though in order to save this much they would have work many years more, as it would almost all be eaten up by the daily cost of living.

Knowing this helps to understand the level of responsibility given to the servants while the master was gone. It also explains why the servant’s action of hiding the talent in the ground was not an unnatural thing to do. The risk of losing the money entirely or of reducing the amount through bad investments was very real.

The master’s expectation though is that the risk be taken anyway, that the servant attempt to use the very substantial amount of money given to him to increase the master’s holdings.

God has given us all specific talents, resources, and other gifting. Using them does involve risk, but God’s expectation is that we find a way to use them which builds his kingdom and his family. Perhaps we have an advantage over the servant in the parable though, because Christ is willing to lead us in this through the leading of his Holy Spirit and we have the Word of God to guide us. The risk though remains and so we if we are to use our God-given talents and resources we must exercise our faith in the God who entrusted us with them. Knowing that, just as the parable says in verse fifteen, God has given to each of us according to our ability. He knows us, he knows what he has entrusted to us. His expectations are in line with what he has given us, for on this earth all we have is Gods, and in the light of eternity God is all we have.