PARABLE OF ONE TALENT

1. PARABLE OF ONE TALENT, Matthew 25:13-30, settled the WATCHWORD for this age, “WATCH therefore, for YE KNOW NEITHER the DAY nor the HOUR wherein the SON OF MAN COMETH” [Matthew 25:13] In Luke 19:12-27, the same PARABLE with minor variation was recorded before Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The narrative covers the grounds between Christ’s ascension, empowerment of His “SERVANTS” and His return to reward them. The generation that heard Him speak were not so minded, utterly frustrated by present pains and sorrow of Roman subjugation, they longed for what was yet to come, “And as they heard these things, he added and spake a PARABLE, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because THEY THOUGH THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD SHOULD IMMEDIATELY APPEAR” [Luke 19:11] The times were grim, may be worse today and the PARABLE, with specific reference to TALENTS was to COMFORT them and more so this generation, to HOLD ON till His return, “And he called his TEN SERVANTS, and delivered them TEN POUNDS, and said unto them, OCCUPY TILL I COME” [Luke19:13] TALENTS or POUNDS, as the case may be illustrate GIFT of  GRACE through FAITH in the name of Jesus Christ to OCCUPY and remain standing in TRUTH till He shall return, “And of HIS FULNESS have all we RECEIVED, and GRACE FOR GRACE” [John 1:14-16]
2. GRACE is God personified in Jesus Christ to accomplish His GOOD PLEASURE, “For it is GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU both to WILL and to DO of HIS GOOD PLEASURE” [Philippians 2:13] The NOBLEMAN in Luke 19:12 and the MAN travelling to a far country in Matthew 25:14, signify Christ awarding His CAPABILITIES to His SERVANTS according to their “ABILITIES”, “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” [Matthew 25:15] The Lord knows every man’s “ABILITY” and gives GRACE sufficient for each SERVANT’S capacity, with FREE WILL added to choose LIFE or PERDITION, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE and blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live” [Deuteronomy 30:19] Listen carefully, God did not predetermine any man to perdition and will not require any man beyond what he can deliver. The subject of the PARABLE got ONE TALENT, that was what he could handle but he thought differently and wanted more. He had a “better idea” of what he wanted to have and be, contrary to what God wanted him to have and be, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY than he ought to think; but to think SOBERLY, according as GOD HATH DEALT TO EVERY MAN THE MEASURE OF FAITH” [Romans 12:3]
3. Your TALENT is the measure of Christ in you, to replicate His GRACE in others, “And of HIS FULNESS HAVE ALL WE RECEIVED, and GRACE FOR GRACE” [John 1:16] In Luke’s account, one SERVANT working with ONE POUND got TEN POUNDS and another FIVE POUNDS, “And another came, saying, Lord, behold, HERE IS THY POUND, which I have KEPT IN A NAPKIN” [Luke 19:20] From covering his POUND in a napkin or burying His TALENT in the earth, as in Matthew 25:18, and the tone of his words, we see a SERVANT who had long forsaken his FIRST LOVE, “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:” [Matthew 25:24] He called Him Lord but in another breathe labelled Him a “HARD MAN”, indicating BITTERNESS arising from “REQUESTS” denied. The Lord does not grant selfish ambitions, which to those who will have their own way makes Him a “HARD MAN” and they sooner TURN AWAY, “And the TURNING AWAY OF THE SIMPLE SHALL SLAY THEM, and the PROSPERITY OF FOOLS DESTROY THEM. But whoso HEARKENETH unto me shall DWELL SAFELY, and shall be QUIET FROM FEAR of evil” [Proverbs 1;32-33] Compare the PEACE and QUIET of those who abide in the Lord to the terror of FEAR in the SERVANT who TURNED AWAY, “For I FEARED THEE, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow” [Luke 19:21]
4. PARABLE OF ONE TALENT is for such a time as ours, “Now all THESE THINGS HAPPENED UNTO THEM FOR ENSAMPLES: and they are WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION, upon whom the ENDS OF THE WORLD ARE COME” [1 Corinthians 10:11] We are STEWARDS of GRACE, appointed to replicate the same GRACE in others, transforming the worst offender into the LIKENESS of Christ; the FIRSTBORN among many Brethren [Romans 8:29] In doing your WORK, avoid selfish aspirations; knowing what God wants you to be is the key to success, “… Take heed, and BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS: for a MAN’S LIFE CONSISTETH NOT IN THE ABUNBANCE of the things which HE POSSESSETH” [Luke 12:15] Beware of those who have their TALENTS wrapped in napkins or buried in the ground, who are turning  the household of God into a den of thieves; by their fruits you shall know them, “WHOSE END IS DESTRUCTION, WHOSE GOD IS THEIR BELLY, and whose glory is in their shame, WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS” [Philippians 3:19] If any man has received the GIFT of GRACE, let him WORK  while there is yet time, the appearance of the Lord is ever so imminent and our REWARD so close, “And, behold, I COME QUICKLY and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, to give EVERY MAN ACCORDING AS HIS WORK shall be” [Revelation 22:12] If you have not received your TALENT, have yours today, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, amen