Luke 19:11-27
The Parable
“Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: ‘A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, “Do business till I come.” But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We will not have this man to reign over us.”
“’And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, “Master, your mina has earned ten minas.” And he said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.” And the second came, saying, “Master, your mina has earned five minas.” Likewise he said to him, “You also be over five cities.”
“’Then another came, saying, “Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” And he said to him, “Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?”
“’And he said to those who stood by, “Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.” (But they said to him, “Master, he has ten minas.”) “For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.”’”
Lesson
The Lord has given us abilities, and expects us to use them in His kingdom. If we sit on our hands and do nothing, we will be unacceptable to Him. He expects gain from us, whether in converting others, or in working within the church in some capacity for the enrichment of the saints.
I’ve always taken the first two persons, the five talent and two talent, to be those who have converted others into the church, while the one talent did nothing with his faith, but just kept in inside of himself, doing literally nothing with it. In being told he should have at least put it in the bank, I’ve taken that to mean he should have at least worked in the church, that he might have enriched others, and the Lord have had gain that way.
See “The Talents”