Risk, Response, Reward

This week we are looking at the story we call, “The Parable of the Talents” from Matthew 25.

Remember this is a parable, an illustration of the Kingdom of Heaven. In both Mark and Luke it is called the Kingdom of God. For us the word “heaven” can set us on the wrong track from the beginning. It is not about “heaven” after we die, but God’s Kingdom which is past, present and future. Jesus is using parables to tell us about the qualities of life we can expect when God is our King.

Let me begin by telling you what this parable is not about! It is not a blessing of capitalism or particular business practices. The story comes from the life of people in his time and is a vehicle which conveys a deeper truth.

To explain one interpretation I want to use three “R” words; Risk, Response and Reward.

The wealthy man in this story takes a RISK by placing his wealth in his servants hands. He actually doesn’t tell them what to do with it. It is up to them. What they do is also a RISK because they might lose it all, and then how would they face their master when he returns.

Going on a journey presumes that he will return, but in the story he is away for a long time. This is about the RISK of faith; faith the servants have in their master and faith the master places in his servants. I think it is important to note that this is not about believers and non-believers. The are all servants; church members in good standing you might say. The message for us seems obvious to me. Jesus has left us in that position of faith, with all the “wealth” we need to faithfully serve him.

What is the appropriate RESPONSE? Two of the three servants wanted to please their master and set about the business of putting their master’s “wealth” to work. The other was just frightened and suspicious of his master’s motives, so he did nothing at all. Apparently the rabbinic law allowed that a person was innocent of blame, if they buried wealth that was entrusted to them, to keep it safe.

In the context of the parable Jesus is rejecting that position. Clearly we are called to do something with the “wealth” Jesus has given us. In the end the RESPONSE we make will be a product of the relationship we have with the master. If it is a relationship of fear and suspicion, we will respond with fear and suspicion. If it is a relationship of respect, trust and even love, that will define our response. Maybe the way you are responding, reveals something to you about the nature of your relationship with God.

Finally the master comes back and reviews what his servants have been up to, and gives each their REWARD. The first two servants took the RISK and their RESPONSE was faithful, active and productive. The third guy just didn’t take the RISK. For the faithful servants, the master’s REWARD is “the joy of the Lord”; the sheer pleasure of knowing they have served faithfully. They do not see what they have done as a burden or a duty, but sheer joy.

To this the master adds the REWARD of more “wealth”, which gives them the opportunity to give more in service, which after all is their great joy. Is that the way you see your RESPONSE to God? The last servant finds darkness, anxiety and stress. What he is doing doesn’t give him any joy at all.

To a large degree our REWARDS are simply the consequences of our relationships. In the parable Jesus is pointing out what the consequences are of a positive, loving, faithful relationship with God and others, over against negative, passive, unfaithful relationships.

The parable does not invite us to look at those around us, but at ourselves, and then do our own “wealth” assessment. An assessment that might lead to changed relationships.