The Parable of the Talents
14“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.19“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!’22“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
23“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!’24“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.28“ ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
MATTHEW 25:14-30I had just finished a consulting job in Georgia when I returned to my room, I heard a loud knock at my door.
It was my friend David. I couldn't believe it. Dave had driven 2 hours from Atlanta and tracked me down with help from my wife Kathy back home in Iowa. "I knew I could find you," he said with a big bear hug. "I heard you were in the area and just had to see you." We had dinner, talked about airplanes, and life and laughed for a couple of hours. Then Dave had to drive home. He had an early morning appointment.
Few actions speak more loudly about the value of a good friend than making time. Friendships today are withering and dying because few people are taking the time required to keep them alive. Friends forget to phone, fail to write, ignore important events, stand each other up, and let each other down. Some blame busy schedules, pressing deadlines, or geographical distance for a failing friendship.
But most suffer from the ailments of neglect or over commitment to too many things. Do you cultivate your friendship with God? Do you invest in those things of real and lasting value? God, Family, Friends?
Give God your time, build your relationship with Him, He is your best friend. Also, touch another life to bring the joy of Christ to them. Show others through your actions that you are a true brother or sister in Christ. Really Love them! Invest your time in the relationships that express Christ to the lives you touch. Remember one of the best ways to spell Love is T-I-M-E.
Love one Another,
The Church Mouse
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