I'm not sure why no one was brave enough to tackle the previous post about talents, but I've been mulling it over anyway. It was also part of the YOTB reading for yesterday, so I'm hot on the trail again.
Basically, I think that parable is a victim of poor Bible study. Tiff was on the right track when she uncovered the fact that the Greek word often translated "talent" refers to money. Remember that good Bible study means we take into account what the author meant for the people who he/she KNEW would be reading the account. Matthew 25 was written, most likely, to a first century audience with a strong background in Jewish tradition. If they understood "talent" as a monetary unit, then that's likely why Matthew wrote that word.
That means that the parable of the talents (money) is about stewardship. The principles are certainly applicable to talents (abilities), as Tiff nicely pointed out. However, it's a parable about stewardship of anything the Lord gives us. In the story the master gives talents to the servants according to their abilities (25:15). (Why would he give someone abilities according to their abilities? That's crazy, yet we all seem to fall victim to this Bible study approach.) One servant had the ability to manage a lot of money, another had the ability to manage an average amount, and another had the ability to manage very little. Each was then given the opportunity to make use of that money. Ultimately, each person was held responsible for what they did with what they were given.
This is a very simple analysis, but I think it's one worth considering. Most of my life I've seen this verse interpreted through people's natural talents, often being used to highlight people's talents and ignoring the responsibility we have in stewardship. WORSHIP IS NEVER ABOUT US, AND THAT INCLUDES HOW WE GLORIFY GOD IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF WHAT WE ARE GIVEN!! Does that mean we should hide our talents? Does it mean we should be silent with our spiritual gifts? Does that mean we should hide our money? Does it mean we should keep our ministries small? No, no, no, and no. That's what the third servant did that disappointed the master.
What we should do is put what we have to the Master's use. (That's the bottom line of the parable.) If it's spiritual gifts, may they be excercised frequently according to the Spirit's enabling. If our natural-born talents are involved, then we should be doing the same. If we're thinking about money, it is God's anyway, so let's put it to His use. This parable has considerably less to do with our talents than it does with how responsible we are to use and multiply what God gives us.
The Master gave you at least one gift according to your ability to manage it. I'm not concerned with what gift that is. Ask the Lord today how you're doing at managing that gift.
5 comments:
I see where you're coming from Lynn (as well as Tiff, whoever that may be).
You're quite right, in the parable it's obvious that he is talking about money- but I'm sure you are well aware when Jesus speaks in Parables he's not talking about the Physical elements of his stories. We know that God is not an evil unfair Judge, and we're not naggy women is one example that comes to mind nor does God dislike goats but loves sheep nor is he partial to weeds and wheat (although if he has his own garden he may...)- that is quite obvious.
Now you're right about people who preach talents as ability is a little off the mark if that's all they think it is. It's probably a coincidental pun in English though I doubt it is in Greek.
Though, I would argue that they who think it only refers to money, they are obviously missing the point. In Matthew, he uses the parable of the tenants to show that we need to be responsible as God's followers (refer to Matt. 25 for context) and we know that God asks us to store our riches... in the bank...j/k...(actually one parable denounces this) in heaven.
The point is summarized in Matt. 25:29-30. Now in the literal interpretation of Talents (money in parable) equals money(in real life) then most likely if we have bad employees we have to throw them "outside, into the darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth". Note that idiom is used at other times in scripture and alludes to hades or the lake of fire.
So, to summarize the seemingly intended message of the parable- Be smart about what you do for God or go to hell...
One thing I noticed about this parable, from reading 'A Life God Rewards' by Bruce Wilkinson a few years back, is that it is very similar to another one. The noticed difference is in the 2nd steward. In the one you mentioned here, Lynn, he was given 2 talents and produced 2 more. In the other one he was given five talents and only produced 2, if I got that straight.
You notice that both the 1st steward and the 2nd steward were told 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' But in the other parable only the 1st steward is told 'well done.' He is instead only invited into the kingdom.
I didn't read your post slowly to catch exactly what you were saying, also b/c of the frame of mind I'm in right now, so I may be the example of someone making the wrong application. And I'm saying we need to make the most of everything God gives us, being good stewards with our resources, abilities, and connections with people.
Ture? Untrue? Should I read slower?
Maybe this is a credit to the pastoral staff at my church, or maybe I just haven't been exposed to enough preaching on this parable, but until Tiff preached at Encounter I had never heard it interpreted as abilities. Your simple explanation of the talents as a monetary unit and the fact that this was likely the intended meaning for the readers is in fact the only way I'd ever heard it preached. I say all this to say one of two things (or possibly both), {1} go Hillside! or {2} I have been underexposed to preaching/teaching on the parables. Either way, from what little I've learned on this subject, I find truth in both interpretations - moreso the tangible stewardship sense, but what Tiff preached also made a connection with me. I enjoy your blog... Very thought-provoking!
How central of a paradigm should this be for the Christian life. It seems one could go over board trying to maximize and multiply to build the kingdom at the expense of taking time to be with God. I know this is an area that requires balance.
Also, I've sometimes heard this and assumed I was a person who received five talents. Some times I realize I only have two or one.
Another interesting point is that in the next section, the woman with the alabaster jar certainly invested her "goods" wisely even though the disciples were thinking totally pragmatically.
i would also suggest seeing the parable as a commentary against Israel hiding the good news of God. the master returning is God revisiting Israel and condemning those who have buried the message. notice how the master reaps where he doesn't sow...reaping outsiders and drawing them in!
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