The Parable of the Bags of Gold - Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Reflection: Since this parable is still in the setting of Jesus teaching on the end times, it has to do with the faithfulness with the riches and resources we have been given on this earth. Though the servants are given differing amounts of gifts, that have been entrusted to them. The clear mandate is to put them to work. Notice it says each one was given differing amounts according to their abilities. So it is clear the mission they were given they were fully equipped to handle.
Then it says after a long time, the master came to settle accounts. The one with five bags of gold had gained five more and the one with two likewise. But the one with the least amount took his only bag and hid it in the ground in fear of the master. It's funny you would think that fear would cause him to put it to work, but in this case fear caused him to be inactive versus proactive.
We know from 1 Corinthians 12 that we all have been given a spiritual gift, at least one. And some more. The Holy Spirit has distributed them to use just as He determined. Who knows better than God what our abilities are and how we can put them to use for His kingdom. The only question is are we going to use them for the common good of the Church. The Church's mission is the Great Commission, and we all have differing amounts of gifts and abilities. When Jesus returns the same question will be asked of us. What did you do with what I divinely entrusted to you. If we have been faithful in exercising and employing our gifts for God's glory we will hear the words "Well done good and faithful servant!" I don't know about you but I want to hear those words at the end of my life. Amen.
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Reflection: Since this parable is still in the setting of Jesus teaching on the end times, it has to do with the faithfulness with the riches and resources we have been given on this earth. Though the servants are given differing amounts of gifts, that have been entrusted to them. The clear mandate is to put them to work. Notice it says each one was given differing amounts according to their abilities. So it is clear the mission they were given they were fully equipped to handle.
Then it says after a long time, the master came to settle accounts. The one with five bags of gold had gained five more and the one with two likewise. But the one with the least amount took his only bag and hid it in the ground in fear of the master. It's funny you would think that fear would cause him to put it to work, but in this case fear caused him to be inactive versus proactive.
We know from 1 Corinthians 12 that we all have been given a spiritual gift, at least one. And some more. The Holy Spirit has distributed them to use just as He determined. Who knows better than God what our abilities are and how we can put them to use for His kingdom. The only question is are we going to use them for the common good of the Church. The Church's mission is the Great Commission, and we all have differing amounts of gifts and abilities. When Jesus returns the same question will be asked of us. What did you do with what I divinely entrusted to you. If we have been faithful in exercising and employing our gifts for God's glory we will hear the words "Well done good and faithful servant!" I don't know about you but I want to hear those words at the end of my life. Amen.
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