What gift have you been given?
Matthew 25:14-15
For as a one travelling into a far country [He] calls his own slaves and delivers to them his goods and to one he gives five talents to another two and to another one [talent], to every one according to their individual ability and immediately took his journey
Comments: In this passage, Jesus is referring to 1.) himself as the one traveling into a far country and 2.) to talents of silver. One talent of silver equals 1200 ounces, which in 2022 had a value of $27,228. Estimates vary, but one talent of silver in Jesus’ day, would have equaled at least twenty year’s wages. So, we see that Jesus is not chintzy with his own. Even one talent of silver is nothing to sneeze at. It is a significant amount to be entrusted with.
Even though Jesus compared his gifts to silver in monetary value, we know he was speaking about resources, gifts, talents, and abilities metaphorically. The Bible says that everyone has been given a measure of faith. Every person who belongs to Jesus has, at the very least, been given faith. So, no one can say they have been given no gift or ability with which to serve God. Faith is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The exercise of faith is a great gift, possibly the greatest. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
With the end game of winning souls—they who win souls are wise—Jesus gives to everyone who belongs to him, something of significant value to contribute, invest, and multiply during his absence.
Because Jesus used silver as an example, a precious metal known to retain stable monetary value, even more so than gold, we can be sure he will provide for all our physical and monetary needs as we follow him in exercising the gifts he has given us to serve him with.
Everyone has not been given gifts of preaching or teaching, but those are not the only gifts God gives; and he expects us to use whatever talents he has given. Jesus made it clear that he expects us to develop our talents and abilities—become the best we can be at whatever we have been given to do—while at the same time being content with what has been appointed to us.
Envying others who have talents, gifts, and abilities we have not been given, is sin … and will compromise our effectiveness in what we have been called to do.
We can rest assured that whatever has been entrusted to us, is good, and, if developed and used in faith, in obedience to the Word and Will of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, will bring great good.
Jocelyn Andersen is the author of several non-fiction books, including, Redemption: Bible Prophecy Simplified, a Study of HOPE.
Note from the editor: I read my Bible every day, always picking up today where I left off yesterday. I call this my “on-track” Bible reading. I have been doing this for over 44 years. It was the best advice I was ever given, and it changed my life. If you are not presently doing the same, I invite you to join me. How much you read on a daily basis isn’t important. It only matters that you read, feeding your spirit with a prayerful dose of the living and powerful Word of God.
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Read more about this commentary HERE.