Love Isn't Love 'Til You Give it Away

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

First, a little review: This is the second of a three part series of posts on the parables found in Matthew 25.  Last week’s post, This Little Light of Mine, was primarily about the story of the five wise and five foolish virgins found in verses 1-13.  But, in order to understand the context of that parable and the ones which follow it, we also looked at the preceding chapter where Jesus, in response to a request from his disciples, talked about the events heralding the end of time, when he would return.  He ended his recitation of events, however, by telling them that no one but the Father really knew the time he would return and indicated that, regardless of the signs he had just given them, his coming would still be unexpected and that they should watch and be ready.  These parables are about “watching and being ready”.

This week we are looking at the story of what is commonly known as the parable of the talents, found in verses 14-30 of Matthew 25.  The story begins, “For it will be like a man going on a journey…”  Jesus is the man going on a journey. He is about to leave our world and return to heaven.   His disciples may not have completely grasped what was about to happen, but because they were asking him about the time of his return they obviously had some understanding that he would be going away.  Jesus expounds on that idea in this story.

The man going on the journey “called his servants and entrusted to them his property.”  The word for “servants” used here is the Greek word “doulos”.  This word was the common word for “slave”.  In our day and time, however, that word is so fraught with emotional baggage that most translators have chosen not to use it, but that is exactly what it meant to the people who were listening to Jesus.  There are some who prefer to translate the word as “bondservants”, a term which they relate to Exodus 21:5-6 where a bondservant is described as someone who had willingly sold himself as a slave (usually to pay a debt).  He could only be held for six years and then the master had to set him free; but, if at the end of six years the bondservant, because he loved his master, chose to remain with him, he would be marked by the master with an awl through his ear, and he would then belong to that master for the rest of his life. 

Those who prefer “bondservant” find this a heartwarming analogy, but, the problem is, those who belong to Christ did not sell themselves to Jesus in order to pay a debt, and then, after fulfilling their obligation, decide to stay because they loved him.  Romans 7:14 says that we were sold as slaves to sin.  We had a debt we could not pay, and 1 Corinthians 7:23 says we were “bought with a price”.  God bought us with the blood of Jesus; he redeemed us from our hopeless slavery to sin. Romans 6 says we are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness, meaning we are either slaves to our Action/Consequence natures or slaves to all that the Death/Resurrection model implies.  Like it or not, we and the characters in this story are slaves.  The people in this story belonged to the man who purchased and owned them.

Notice that when the man called his slaves to him, he “entrusted” them with his wealth, or, in some translations, his possessions or property; he was not dividing up his riches for them to keep for themselves; nor was he paying them. He was trusting each slave to administer a portion of his assets for him while he was away. The slaves understood that the goods belonged to the master, and that he would be asking how they were handled when he returned.

Verse 15 says, “To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.”  Biblical scholars agree that one talent was equal to somewhere between fifteen and twenty years of wages for an average day laborer.  Think about the average annual income, times twenty; then multiply that by two or five.  Each slave was entrusted with an amazing amount of wealth for which to be responsible.

The amount the master gave to each slave was determined by their “ability”. Because we know that the master in the story represents Jesus, we know that his judgment regarding their capabilities was sound.  His intention was not to show favoritism, but to be fair.  He did not give anyone more than they could be expected to handle responsibly.  This does not mean that one was more worthy than the others; it simply means that the master knew each slave well and proportioned the responsibility in a way which would challenge, but not overwhelm them. 

So, what do the talents represent?  I’ve heard many sermons based on the idea that the talents are just that—talents, or abilities.  Scripture does talk about spiritual gifts which are given to each of us; but, would the master give abilities based on the slaves’ ability?  Does that interpretation fit this parable?

I’ve also heard many sermons based on the idea that the talents, a form of money, represent the finances we have been given, and how we handle them. But, even one talent equaled more money than especially a slave would ever see in a lifetime. Certainly we are called to be good stewards of our financial resources; but, that particular puzzle piece does not seem to fit this puzzle.

So, let’s go over what we do know.  The story is about Jesus. The time was soon approaching when, after his death and resurrection, he would be going back to heaven.  The parable indicates that, before he left, he would entrust a lavish amount of his riches to each of those he had purchased, with the idea that they would be responsible for what he gave them, and he would one day return and would see what they had done with what they were given.

Let’s continue looking at the story, beginning with verse 16: “He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.” We learn several things from these verses.  First, we learn more about the nature of the “talents”. Those who did something with the wealth they were given came back with more of the same.  They didn’t buy anything with the riches or even spend them to accomplish something; they did not deplete the resources; they “traded with them” and came back with more “talents”. 

Secondly, we can detect a difference in the enthusiasm of the slaves.  The one who received five talents “went at once”.  He wasted no time, he went immediately.  And, he “traded with them.”  For me, that conjures up an image of an enthusiastic risk taker; he seems boldly daring in his quest to increase what he was given.  Both he and the slave who was given two talents doubled what they received.  But, the slave who was given one talent dug a hole and buried it.

Verse 19 then tells us, “Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.”  Jesus makes a point of saying that the master was gone a long time.  Just like the bridegroom in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, it seems that he took longer than expected, but when he came back he was ready to see what they had done with what they were given.

“And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Verses 20-23) 

We see in these verses that this was not a contest to determine who could come back with the most talents.  Action/Consequence wants it to be that way.  We want a winner.  But this is not an Action/Consequence story. The master was aware of the strengths and limitations of each slave when he assigned them their responsibilities.  It was not a competition.  The master says exactly the same thing to each of them.  There is no hint of a winner.  The master is pleased with both of them.  He invites them to share in his joy.

Action Consequence also desires a loser.  In verse 24 the story continues, “He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’

“But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.  For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

The problem with having a loser is, our Action/Consequence natures are likely to identify with him and then feel sorry for him. “The poor guy was just afraid to make a mistake and lose the money,” we think.  “He was only playing it safe, and for that he was berated and cast into darkness!” 

Let’s take a closer look at this slave.  The underlying issue with him was his view of the master.  He thought of him as harsh and demanding.  He essentially accused the master of being the kind of man who takes what does not belong to him; increasing his own wealth on the backs of those who actually do the work.  This slave was afraid of the master, because he believed the master’s expectations were too high and that the master was mean; and, therefore, he was not willing to take any risks with what he was given.  He simply buried it. 

Sadly, this is the way all of our Action/Consequence natures tend to view God.  Inside each of us there lurks the suspicion that God is mean.  It was the way Satan attacked Eve in the Garden of Eden.  He told her that God was mean; he didn’t want her to be happy; he was just trying to keep her under his thumb.  She believed the lie, and the rest of us followed.  After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, the first thing they did was to hide from God.  They went from basking in his love to fearing him.  Their entire view of him had changed.

Now let’s try to tie everything together.  What did the master entrust to the slaves?  What riches has Jesus entrusted to those he purchased with his blood?  I believe we have been entrusted with the riches of his grace; specifically, his love.  Jesus poured out his love for us on the cross.  He lavished us with his unconditional love.  We did not and could not deserve it or earn it; it was a gift.  And, to each of us, according to our ability, he has given the joyful opportunity to share his love. This is not meant to be a chore or a test of some kind; it is meant to be a blessing-filled experience.  It is not something that we “have to do”; it’s something that we “get to do”.  God knows us.  He knows our history; he knows our dysfunctional families; he knows the painful life experiences which have shaped us and sometimes crippled us.  He knows whether we are introverts or extroverts, and he lovingly offers us the opportunity to extend the love we have received to others in a way that will be meaningful and beneficial to both the giver and the receiver.

And, we are not asked to share “our” love.  We can barely muster up brotherly love.  Even our love for family is often a struggle.  What Jesus wants is for us to joyfully, enthusiastically share his love—which we cannot muster; it is his love, given through us to others.  And, as we risk loving lavishly with his love, our love is increased. When Jesus returns, he wants to see that our love for him and our love for others has grown.  This is not a requirement for our salvation; it is because of our salvation. The more we experience the security of God’s love and the more we live into our status as his beloved, the greater our love will be in response, both toward God and toward others.

The slaves who increased their talents, did so because they understood they had nothing to fear; nothing to lose.  They trusted their master because they knew him, and they risked with bold enthusiasm.  The final slave is not worthy of our pity.  He was lavished with the same love as the others, but he did not respond to or acknowledge it. He cherished and cultivated his suspicions of God’s meanness.  He clung to the view of a harsh and demanding deity who could never be pleased. He never accepted the incredible love being offered to him, so he had nothing to share.  He buried what was given to him and chose to live in self-imposed distrust and fear, viewing the master with contempt. 

God’s response to him was, ‘if that is really what you thought of me; if you were so afraid of me that you couldn’t share my love, you could at least have put it in the bank to collect interest.’  I think that means, the slave could have at least kept the possibility of God’s love as something to consider, where it might have had an opportunity to increase; but because he buried it there was no chance for growth. 

This is a parable about "being ready" when Jesus returns.  Jesus wants us to share his love with joyful abandon on this earth, confident that we are loved and have nothing to prove, no tests to pass, nothing to fear because he has already satisfied every demand on our behalf.  God is not mean! Because Jesus was good and faithful, God already views us as good and faithful if we have accepted Jesus' love freely given to us.  And when he comes back we will enter into the joy of our master forever.