Before going on a journey, a master entrusts his possessions to his servants, each according to his ability: five talents, two talents and one. The lesson placed the parable within the mysteries of the kingdom, which God reveals to His people, and within Christ’s call to be on the alert because the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. The slides showed how great a single talent was, about 56.7 kilograms of gold, to press home how much has been entrusted.
God gives every person life, abilities, possessions, influence, knowledge, health, strength and time, and each of us must answer to Him for how we use them. The servants who traded and doubled their talents entered into the joy of their master. The one who hid his talent in the ground was cast into the outer darkness. Fruitfulness does not come from human strength; the Holy Spirit at work in the elect enables them to bear fruit and grow up into Christ.