There are at least seven principles we can pull from the Parable of the Talent. Take a look at the story and then I’ll list the principles:
Jesus said in Matthew 25:14-30, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
SEVEN PRINCIPLES
- The Principle of Ownership: Everything I have belongs to God. In v.14 Jesus said the kingdom can be compared to “…a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.”
- The Principle of Allocation: God has given me talents. In v.15 we read “To one he [the master] 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.”
- The Principle of Accountability: God expects me to use what I’ve been given. Verse 19 reads, “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.”
- The Principle of Utilization: It’s wrong to bury what God gave me. We read in v.18 “But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” Then we read the master’s response in v.26 “…his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant…'”
- The Principle of Motivation: Fear keeps me from developing my talent. In v.25 the servant who buried his treasure told the master, “I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”
- The Principle of Application: If I don’t use it, I lose it. In v.28 the master orders his servants “…take the bag of gold from him [the one who buried what he’d been given] and give it to the one who has ten bags.”
- The Principle of Compensation: If I use my talents, God will reward me. Two of the three servants invested what the master gave them and got a return. Each was rewarded as a result. The master said the exact same thing to both the servant who turned five talents into ten and the servant who turned two talents into four. “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!’” vv.21,23