Lessons From the Road to Calvary预览

Jesus gives a parable about a very wealthy man who was leaving for a long journey. This man called three of his servants and distributed his wealth to them. To one, he gave five talents, to another he gave two talents, and to the third he gave one talent.

In this context, a talent would have been a measure of weight, most likely used with gold. Many scholars believe that a talent was equivalent to approximately twenty years’ wages. In today’s money, a talent could have been close to a million dollars. So, imagine that the first servant had the task of managing the equivalent of five million dollars, the second servant had to manage two million, and the third was given the responsibility of one million dollars.

There is a key phrase that is easy to miss in this parable: …to every man according to his several ability… (Matthew 25:15) The master did not give his servants responsibilities that would have ruined them. While the responsibility for managing his wealth might stretch them and require them to step up, he knew that they would be up to the task.

The first two servants performed this task admirably. They traded, or invested, their master’s wealth and doubled their money. But the third went and hid the money in the ground.

After a long time, the master returned, and the servants were brought to account for how they had handled the master’s good. The servant who had been given five talents had earned five more. The servant who had been given two talents had also doubled his investment, earning two more talents. Each of these servants earned the same commendation from their master: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

The unfaithful servant did not fare so well. Instead of commendation, he received condemnation from his master: …thou wicked and slothful servant.

What are the lessons we can learn from this? The first lesson is that there is a degree that every Christian should be pursuing. It is the same degree the first two servants received: The W.D. Degree (Well Done, good and faithful servant.)

The second lesson is this: while the second servant was not given as much, nor did he make as much money, he did what he could with what he was given. He faithfully handled his master’s money and, therefore, received the same commendation.

Finally, these two faithful men went from servants over few things to rulers over many things. Christian, is that what you are living for? This life is preparing us to rule and reign with Christ, and our opportunity to serve Him can end at any moment. This ought to inspire us to look for and love the thought of His appearing. If we are faithful, we will hear, “Well done.”

Lesson: What are you doing with what the Savior has given you? You might not have a lot of money or natural abilities. Perhaps you feel stretched by the calling God has placed on your life. But know this: He will not ask you to do something that He will not empower you to do.