Matthew
25:14-30 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far
country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave
five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his
journey. (16) Then he that had received the five talents went and traded
with the same, and made them other five talents. (17) And likewise he that
had received two, he also gained other two. (18) But he that had
received one went and digged in the earth, and hid
his lord's money. (19) After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
(20)
And so he that had received five talents came
and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst
unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. (21) His lord said unto
him, Well done, thou good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over
many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (22) He also that had
received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst
unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. (23) His lord said unto
him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord. (24) Then he which had received the one talent came and said,
Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown,
and gathering where thou hast not strawed: (25) And I was afraid, and
went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast
that is thine. (26) 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: (27)
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my
money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received
mine own with usury. (28) Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
(29)
For unto
every one that hath shall be given, and he
shall have abundance: but from him that
hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. (30) And cast ye the
unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth.
Notice
that the Master did not take back any of the money back. The two that increased
their talents got to keep them and were rewarded with power and authority. The
one who buried his talent and did not “put it out there” to earn with, not only
had his taken away but “lost his life”. This warning in verse 29 is re-stated
many times in Scripture. This story is not only a mandate to being responsible in
business but also in what God has deposited within you. If you do nothing with
a business opportunity you will not turn a profit and loose the business also. If
you don’t do something with the message of God and treat salvation as “yours”, it
does not profit the Kingdon of God, not only will you
miss out on the rewards of God, you will loose your life also.
For those who are really enthusiastic
about doing the most with God’s message and go about the “business” of sharing
it, there are greater rewards of power and authority.
Hebrews
11:6 But without
faith it is
impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that
he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.