Church On The Move | Pastor Nate Keeler
In Jesus’ Parable of the Talents, three servants are given a holy moment, a high-stakes opportunity from their master who entrusts them with wealth and leaves on a journey. This isn’t just any parable; it’s a powerful message for each of us about the nature of faith, risk, and reward in God’s Kingdom. Each servant’s response to their master’s trust holds lessons about how we, too, are invited to step out in faith with what God has placed in our hands.
Scene One: The Master’s Invitation
In the first scene, Jesus describes a master going on a journey, leaving each servant a different amount of wealth to manage. The talents he distributes are not small amounts; in today’s terms, each talent represents around 75 pounds of gold—equivalent to roughly $2 million. Together, the master’s gift to his servants represents a huge portion of his wealth, which they are meant to steward and expand in his absence. Each servant is given an amount “according to his ability,” meaning the master knows each one’s strengths and trusts them to use the resources wisely.
But the master’s invitation isn’t just about money. The word Jesus uses is “entrusted”—not “given.” These servants receive the talents to grow, not just to safeguard. This is an invitation to take risks, to step out of their comfort zones, and to courageously work toward increasing the master’s estate.
Imagine holding that weight of responsibility. With such a significant amount, each servant might have thought of the risks—the chance of theft, deception, or simply poor judgment. Yet the master’s expectation was clear: He wanted them to put this gift to work and see it grow.
Scene Two: The Servants’ Response
In scene two, we see how each servant reacts to this holy moment. Jesus explains that the first two servants are proactive. The one given five talents goes to work immediately, doubling what he was entrusted with, and the one with two talents does the same. Both of these servants take action “at once.” There’s no hesitation, procrastination, or excuses—they get to work right away, fully committed to the master’s mission.
These two servants understand what’s at stake, and they choose to prioritize the master’s interests. Their immediate response, even with the risks involved, reveals their faith in the master and their understanding of his character. They don’t see the talents as burdens; instead, they embrace this as a unique opportunity to serve, expand, and steward his wealth.
But then there’s the third servant. Instead of taking action, he takes his one talent and buries it in the ground. Fear and a lack of trust in the master drive his decision. He admits later, “I was afraid,” and explains his choice as a way to keep safe what he was given. He had an opportunity, just like the other two, yet fear stops him from stepping out in faith.
This servant’s inaction reveals a deeper problem: he doesn’t fully know or trust his master’s intentions. He assumes the worst and chooses what seems like the safest option—avoiding the risk but also missing the reward. His focus on personal safety, comfort, and maintaining the status quo becomes his guiding principle.
Scene Three: The Master’s Return
The final scene shows the master returning to settle accounts. When the first two servants come forward with their doubled investments, the master responds with words they surely longed to hear: “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.”
For these faithful servants, the reward goes beyond just acknowledgment. They are given even greater responsibility and, perhaps more importantly, greater joy. Their commitment, courage, and willingness to serve with what they had leads to lasting fulfillment and a deeper relationship with the master.
But for the third servant, the consequences are stark. His lack of faith and his desire for comfort and safety result in him losing even the little he was entrusted with. While the first two servants stepped into the joy and abundance of their master’s trust, the third servant is left in regret, having missed out on the chance to grow and expand the master’s estate.
What This Means for Us Today
The Parable of the Talents offers a timeless message about faith, risk, and the rewards of aligning with God’s purposes. Each of us has been given gifts, talents, and opportunities by God, and He invites us to use them boldly. These “holy moments” call us out of fear and into trust, out of self-preservation and into service. But stepping into these opportunities requires courage and a deep understanding of God’s heart.
Scripture is full of such holy moments. Think of Esther, who risked her life for her people, or Peter, who found a second chance on the shores of Galilee with Jesus. Each one had a defining moment where they could shrink back or step forward in faith, trusting that God would carry them through.
In our lives, we face similar moments. God entrusts us with resources, relationships, and even challenges that can either be risks we avoid or opportunities we embrace. And, just like the servants in the parable, how we respond shapes our journey and determines the depth of our relationship with God. Fear may tempt us to cling to what’s safe, but faith pushes us to let go and invest fully in God’s mission.
Responding to Our Own Holy Moments
In the end, the question for us isn’t about how much we’ve been given but what we do with what we have. Will we act like the faithful servants, seizing every chance to serve God’s purposes, or will we bury our opportunities in the ground, choosing comfort over calling? Jesus Himself faced the ultimate holy moment in the Garden of Gethsemane and chose to surrender fully to God’s will, giving His life to redeem ours. He calls us to a similar life of faith-filled action.
As believers, our greatest joy comes not from ease but from aligning with God’s mission—even when it’s risky. The beauty of this alignment is that God doesn’t just reward us in Heaven; He blesses us with purpose, joy, and an enduring legacy here on earth. It’s an invitation to experience the Kingdom in its fullness, to be part of something much larger than ourselves.
So ask yourself: In the holy moments God places before you, will you step out in faith and take the risk?
Conclusion
The Parable of the Talents reminds us that faith isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about trusting God with what we have, stepping out, and taking the risk. God isn’t looking for perfection, but for hearts willing to embrace His mission, trusting in His character and goodness. When we live like the faithful servants, we enter into a greater joy, purpose, and partnership with God that brings both present and eternal rewards. Are you ready to say “yes” to God’s invitation?