Wasted Opportunity (Matthew 25:14-30)

As time goes on, regrets build up. Maybe it’s just a part of growing up. The truth is that we would change some things once we know how everything is going to play out. Other things we just want to forget altogether. Some regrets are more significant than others, and some things we just can’t fix. If you were currently doing something you will regret in the future, wouldn’t you want to know?

Today, we will look at a parable from Jesus and see one regret we need to avoid at all costs.

The Parable

Matthew 25:14--18 (ESV) --- 14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

The Setup

First, notice that he starts this parable off with a statement that this parable relates to “it.” He says, “It will be like a man going on a journey.” What does he mean? What is the “it?” He has been discussing the destruction of Jerusalem and his return to judge the nation. In the previous three parables, Jesus told his disciples that he would return at an hour when they didn’t expect him. He will come like a thief in the night, so they better stay spiritually awake (24:43). He will come like a delayed master, so they better not fail to do their work and go back to living for this world (24:48-51). Then, we saw his coming related to a delayed bridegroom, so the bridesmaids needed to keep plenty of oil as they waited. They need to be full of zeal and passion for the work God has given them to do. This parable is along the same lines.

He says that his coming will be like a man going on a journey who gives his servants his property. He wants to give the disciples a better understanding of what they are about to go through, so he tells them that this man who leaves is giving the servants different amounts of money. When you read talent, don’t think of being talented. In those days, a talent was a standard weight of materials. One talent of gold is equivalent to 2.5 million dollars in our day. If it were silver, it would be 33 thousand.

The Lord is going away, but he will give his possessions. He will give them a large number of riches. But notice that he gives a different amount to the different servants based on their abilities. He gives different amounts, knowing that these are different men. The one he gives the most to is the one who would be the hardest worker and the ablest to do good for the master’s cause. He gives this man five talents or 165 thousand dollars. The second man is given two talents. That’s still 66 thousand in today’s money. But he didn’t get the same amount because the master didn’t see as much ability in him. The third man received one talent. This man was less able, but he was still given 33 thousand. These men are all different, but they are all able to serve the master.

What They Do

The parable tells us what happened in verses 16--18.

The five talent man went out immediately to trade with the five talents. He was a go-getter. He was able to do something because he has the ability and the drive to do a lot with what he has. We read that he made five talents more. We aren’t told how long he had, but he was obviously a wise trader to double his money. The two talent man does the same thing. He also produced two more talents. But the one talent man went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. He essentially put it in a safe so that nothing happens to it. We get the idea that he is afraid because of his limited ability. He might lose the money, so he doesn’t do any trading. He is a one talent man, after all. He doesn’t believe that he can handle that one talent. His mind is full of anxieties, fears, and “what ifs.” He ignores the truth that his master will expect him to do something profitable with his talent.

The Master Returns

Matthew 25:19--27 (ESV) --- 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 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.’ 21 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.’ 22 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.’ 23 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.’ 24 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, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 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? 27 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.

Here we learn a lot about the master. The text tells us that the master returns after a long time to settle accounts. What does that mean? Settling accounts gives us the impression that he will get what is his and give them what they are owed.

We read that the five talent man comes to the master with his ten talents, and the master says, “Well done good and faithful servant.“ These words show that this master is pleased with how much work the servant has put in. He has been faithful and good while the master was away. So he is told that he will receive more in the future. Then, he says, “Enter into the joy of the Lord.” What a privilege. Don’t you wonder what that would be like? It seems like he will still be given much responsibility, but he will also be given a place of joy.

Notice that the second servant who has dealt with two talents is also given the same words. Even though he made less than the five talent man, he doubled his portion. He used the abilities and opportunities wisely and faithfully. So he too was allowed to enter into the joy of his Lord.

The third servant only has one talent to bring. This is the same amount he was given. But his reasoning is odd. He accuses the master of being hard and unfair. He says that he was afraid of the master, so he hid the money in the ground and kept it safe, but he didn’t do anything profitable. From the outside, this looks like it might be okay. If this master is what the servant says he is, it would probably make sense to avoid losing the money. However, the master points out to us that his logic is foolish.

The master says, “You knew that I reap where I have not sewn and gather where I scattered no seed.“ This is not an agreement with the accusation but an acknowledgment of it. If this is the way you truly felt about me, you should have at least invested the money with bankers so I would have some profit. As it is, the master has lost money by trusting it to the servant. Burying the money was “wicked and slothful.” The servant knew deep down that he was given that money to trade with and that he could make his master a profit. The master wouldn’t have given it to him if he wasn’t able to do it. But he didn’t want to serve the master. He just wanted to enjoy being called his servant.

Matthew 25:28--30 (ESV) --- 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 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. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

In the final section, we learn that the one talent is given to the one with five talents. We see that the master enjoys blessing those who are the ablest and the most laborious servants. Those who love him and serve him faithfully will be given much! But those who do nothing in service, showing a complete lack of faith in the master’s goodness, will lose everything. They will be cast out into the outer darkness instead of entering the joy of their master.

Application

Jesus doesn’t leave his disciples a lot of money. But he gives them truth. He gives them the Holy Spirit, and he wants them to do as much as they can with what they will be given over the next forty years. He doesn’t want them to cower in fear. He wants to see them stepping out in faith and making the most of every opportunity. As we move through the book of Acts, we see that happening.

But what does Jesus want us to do until the day he returns? What does he give us? To some, he gives wealth. To others, he gives a career that has influence. Many of us have children, spouses, and family. Do you see that this is all about the opportunity? Opportunity comes in so many different forms. There are so many different gifts being given to God’s people. Each of us has something from God, with God knowing our ability. What has God given you, and what does he want you to do with it?

Hopefully, we see that watching TV, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or whatever you waste your time doing makes us resemble the one talent man. He doesn’t want his disciples to bury their opportunity to serve him in fear. He doesn’t want them to be wicked and slothful.

If we want to sit back and selfishly enjoy our wealth, we would be better off not committing our lives to Christ. If we want to avoid using the talents, privileges, opportunities, and abilities God has given us and do nothing with them, what will happen to us? This one talent man buried his talent, but what about us! God will one day come to settle accounts with us, and he will see what we have done with what he has given to us.

Were you given the ability to teach and speak? Why aren’t you using your ability to teach and speak the truth of the gospel to the lost? The opportunities to become a preacher are plentiful. Are you given the ability to care and show compassion toward those who are suffering? Why aren’t you using your ability to serve those suffering in this congregation or serving your neighbors? Are you a top-notch organizer? How much time are you spending organizing teaching materials, resources, events, etc.? We should devote ourselves to whatever we know how to do. There is coming a day when you will have to give an account for what you have done with what God has given you. Don’t refuse to do the work. We need workers in the kingdom, not spectators.

It blows my mind to see people totally out of balance in their service of themselves and their service for the Lord. There is work that we all can do. Every part of the body of Christ needs to be equipped and functioning for the body to grow.

God doesn’t expect us to do more than we can do, but he expects us all to grow in our abilities and to do the best we can do. We need to grow in our ability so that God can give us more opportunities. I may never preach as good as Jesus or write as well as Paul, but I better use what I have to God’s glory. If I love God, I will grow in my ability and step out in faith.

Don’t be afraid of using your abilities. Do not believe that you are a less than one talent man. Do not fear messing things up. God has given you what you can handle, and he expects you to worship him with your life. Be free from fear and anxieties. You won’t mess up what God cannot fix. You will fail, but you will grow from that. I wonder how much of the five talents were lost in the process of gaining five more. Take a risk, and do what you can to glorify God.

Don’t waste your opportunity. Some might think that it doesn’t matter how much work we do for the Lord. But this parable teaches us otherwise. We need to be thankful that God has allowed us to serve him and make the most of this opportunity. It may seem like a long time to be working. It may be challenging to wait for a big payoff after this life. But our master will come, and the more we accomplish, the more we will be given in the end.

Conclusion

If we remain faithful to the end, we will get to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master. You have been faithful over a little. I will put you in charge of much.“ Jesus is fighting for his disciples to have eternal joy. That’s what I’m doing and why I’m speaking to you this way. I want you to experience the everlasting joy that only goes to those who use their abilities in the kingdom. Don’t leave this place and hide what God has given you. Use it to God’s glory. Build up this community of believers and stimulate spiritual growth in your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Don’t waste your gift from God and your opportunity to glorify his name. You will regret it.