Sermon Talkback—November 16, 2008
“I Was Made for This,” a sermon by Pastor Chris Otani
Matthew 25:14-30
What’s a Talent?
A “talent” was the highest unit of measurement that existed in the ancient world. It would be the equivalent to what we might understand as the highest number we’ve ever seen attached to a financial conversation—a billion. For instance the $700 billion bail out package passed by Congress. This would mean, “To one slave he gave $5 billion.” In any way one looks at this, the amounts of money given to each slave were staggering, unbelievable, more than anyone present has or will ever lay eyes on.
The first two servants double their money; we are not told how. The third buries it. This is a prudent act. According to rabbinic sources, burying a deposit left in one’s care is not only a sensible way to protect it, but doing so secures one from suit if the deposit is lost. In fact, the mistake of the third servant may be that he perceives the money as a deposit and not as investment money.
One concern about this interpretation is that it sounds too much like Wall Street. Invest, and you will be rewarded (maybe not in our current economic woes). Save, without interest and you will be trashed. Thus endeth the lesson.
Christian interpretation of this passage has led us to see “talents” as non-monetary things given by God that we must use to God’s glory and not allow selfishly to waste away. In the first Spiderman movie, Peter Parker’s uncle says to him, “With great gifts come great responsibilities.”
Using Talents for God
The context of this story is the coming judgment of the disciples of Jesus. Matthew is adamant that all human, including those who follow Jesus, will be judged strictly by their deeds. The Son of Man will demand an accounting of all “talents.” Perhaps herein lies a key to the story.
In the context of Matthew a talent cannot be money; it cannot even be “talent” in the normal English sense. The Son of Man does not judge people by whether they used their talents or even their gifts from God well. The Son of Man judges by how we treat others. What makes you a good servant of Jesus is doing the Sermon on the Mount. As the Lord Prayer insists, we are forgiven to the extent we forgive others. The merciful will receive mercy.
How do we begin to use our talents given by God to carry out God’s will in the world when no amount of talents is too small to be used? How are you using your talent at FCBC to extend hospitality, mercy, and love to others?