Reflections: Talents and Talents

I am getting ready to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday and am thinking about all the things I need to do to prepare. Packing - making sure someone will take care of my house and my cats while I am away - all the things.  

Jesus told a story—a parable– about a man who was also getting ready to go on a trip. The Bible calls this the Parable of the Talents (which is a word for money in this story.)

Read Matthew 25: 14-30

“I need someone to take care of my money” the man asked his servants and he handed them each some of his money. So, while he was away two of the servants went to the market. They traded the talents and made even more. One servant was afraid so he buried his money.  The man returned and the two servants handed him more money than they had been given. “Good job” said the man. “ You shall have more.”

The third servant brushed the dirt from his talents and said  “I was afraid—I buried my talents. “

The man said  “Give your talents to the others,  You did not use what I gave you and I will not give you any more.” 

Okay Jesus, cool story. but again.... WHAAAT?  It’s pretty hard to figure out sometimes just what Jesus is trying to teach. 

It's a weird story. I mean, it's hard to think that Jesus is telling us that it's okay to take someone's possessions and gamble with them.  To take a risk that might end badly - like the servants losing all the money and the man coming back to all his money gone. 

(Sidebar: Although I wouldn't be that upset if I came back from traveling and my cat sitter had somehow traded some of my possessions for more cats...)

But, I think the point here is the contrast of the first two servants with the third. The third servant was afraid and didn't do anything. In fact, he was so afraid that he hid the money he was given so no one could ever see it.  

Remember Jesus is using these parables to help people figure out how to live together in community as we wait for his return.  If we take the gifts and talents God has given us and hide them away - then they are of no use to anyone, including ourselves. 

But if we use what we are given and act boldly, just maybe our gifts and talents can help us show our love for God and love others. Just maybe we can use our gifts to help make God's kingdom on earth a better place.  

So here is what I am thinking about this week:
What am I good at?
What gifts and talents do I have that make me uniquely me?
How can I use those to love God and love others? 

Jesus is asking us to use our special gifts and talents to help people and do good things in the world and not to be afraid and bury them. 

So, think about all the things you are good at—what gifts has God given you to make you special? Because everyone has special gifts. And think about how you can use them.  Jesus is asking us to put our fear aside because sometimes serving God means taking risks and sharing our talents - even when we are terrified.