Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” vss. 24b-25
Matthew 25:19-30
The one talent slave brought back the money that he had been given by the master, but he had done nothing with it, and his excuse was fear. He was so afraid that he had gone and hid the money in a hole in the ground. The master was not pleased, and the parable has a catastrophic ending for the slave. The story of course has little to say about the nature of God, but it has a whole lot to say about how things are in the world. It’s true that those who have an abundance seem to end up getting more, while those who have only a little end up losing even that, not because God wants it that way, but because in the world wealth begets wealth. But it’s also true that fear is the enemy of excellence. All of us have been blessed with incredible gifts; some have more than others–and they use their gifts without fear. It doesn’t seem to bother them when they make mistakes or earn the ridicule of others. They simply smile and go on living. But others are paralyzed by their fears and refuse to risk failure. So they slink about, keeping their mouths shut, and no one ever knows what blessings they have to offer.
Thought for the Day: When has fear kept me from using my talent?
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