You Wicked and Slothful Servant
Matthew 25:14-15, 24-28: "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.... 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! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.'"
In yesterday's reading, we witnessed the blessing of a servant by his master: "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master" (Matthew 25:21). Jesus taught the Parable of the Tenants to encourage his disciples and us to faithfully use the gifts he has given to build his Kingdom.
In today's reading, the picture is not to encourage but to discourage and reorient. Talents were distributed to the servants according to ability. This servant received one talent, the equivalent to about twenty years of a laborer's work. Even one talent was a significant portion to leave entrusted to a servant. Each of the three servants in this parable were entrusted with talents: five, three, and one. To each one of these servants, this money entrusted to them was likely much more than they had personally ever received in their lifetimes. It was an honor and a privilege for the master to provide them this opportunity.
What made the difference between what the first two servants did with the talents and what the last one did? The text seems to indicate it was their view of the master. The last servant accused the master of being a hard man. This misperception of his master resulted in the servant's laziness and fear. Instead of working to build upon what had been left to him, he safely buried the treasure. There was no risk of losing the money but no opportunity to gain anything either. There was absolutely no investment on the servant's part!
The master was not pleased with this servant and severely reprimanded him: "You wicked and slothful servant!" (Matthew 25:26). Not only was the talent taken from him, but the servant was cast into the outer darkness; that place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). Jesus wanted his followers to know that they would be held accountable for what he entrusted to them, not just in this life but in the life to come. Faithfulness produces abundance and eternal reward, while unfaithfulness results in loss and eternal torture.
Jesus certainly wanted his words to be jolting to his listeners back then, and I believe he wants his words to be jolting to us today. What are we doing with his gifts to us? We have all been given spiritual gifts that are meant to be used for the building up of the kingdom of God. Beyond spiritual gifts, we have been given financial gifts, influence, abilities, and opportunities. Each of these are also to be stewarded in a way to build up the body of Christ and the kingdom of God.
May we joyfully use all of his gifts!
Reflection:
Do these words of the master to the servant seem hard to you? If so, how is Jesus calling you to wrestle with your investments today?
In yesterday's reading, we witnessed the blessing of a servant by his master: "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master" (Matthew 25:21). Jesus taught the Parable of the Tenants to encourage his disciples and us to faithfully use the gifts he has given to build his Kingdom.
In today's reading, the picture is not to encourage but to discourage and reorient. Talents were distributed to the servants according to ability. This servant received one talent, the equivalent to about twenty years of a laborer's work. Even one talent was a significant portion to leave entrusted to a servant. Each of the three servants in this parable were entrusted with talents: five, three, and one. To each one of these servants, this money entrusted to them was likely much more than they had personally ever received in their lifetimes. It was an honor and a privilege for the master to provide them this opportunity.
What made the difference between what the first two servants did with the talents and what the last one did? The text seems to indicate it was their view of the master. The last servant accused the master of being a hard man. This misperception of his master resulted in the servant's laziness and fear. Instead of working to build upon what had been left to him, he safely buried the treasure. There was no risk of losing the money but no opportunity to gain anything either. There was absolutely no investment on the servant's part!
The master was not pleased with this servant and severely reprimanded him: "You wicked and slothful servant!" (Matthew 25:26). Not only was the talent taken from him, but the servant was cast into the outer darkness; that place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). Jesus wanted his followers to know that they would be held accountable for what he entrusted to them, not just in this life but in the life to come. Faithfulness produces abundance and eternal reward, while unfaithfulness results in loss and eternal torture.
Jesus certainly wanted his words to be jolting to his listeners back then, and I believe he wants his words to be jolting to us today. What are we doing with his gifts to us? We have all been given spiritual gifts that are meant to be used for the building up of the kingdom of God. Beyond spiritual gifts, we have been given financial gifts, influence, abilities, and opportunities. Each of these are also to be stewarded in a way to build up the body of Christ and the kingdom of God.
May we joyfully use all of his gifts!
Reflection:
Do these words of the master to the servant seem hard to you? If so, how is Jesus calling you to wrestle with your investments today?
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