Presence Weekly 10/23/2023

The Devo: The Gift of Serving and Leading

The Parable of the Talents

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. 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. 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.' 

This is a familiar parable for many. I have preached on it several times and am sure I have a seminary paper on it somewhere. One of my seminary professors said of parables, "Parables start close to everyday events but then twist into surprising developments. Further, parables usually leave the hearer in some doubt, calling for self-examination."

The context of this parable finds Jesus teaching on the Mount of Olives shortly before he enters Jerusalem, where the religious leaders are plotting to kill him. His audience consists mainly of his disciples (meaning a large crowd of those following him) and monitors from the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

Jesus's message is essentially, "Use the gifts that God gave you!"  

The key to correctly understanding the parable comes from noticing that the commendation of Jesus comes not from the type or quantity of the gift, but from the stewardship and application of the gift. The majority of the crowd would have found great encouragement in this parable since his disciples likely included merchants, farmers, landowners, tradespeople, the wealthy, the poor, the marginalized, men with social standing, women without legal status, and children. 

For the seekers and followers gathered with Jesus, this invited their participation in Christ's mission of making all things new, regardless of what they had to offer. That was certainly good news!

This message also encourages those serving and leading in the public square, specifically in Washington. Cabinet Secretaries, General Counsels and other Senate-confirmed positions have great agency and resources to steward. These high-profile positions are the most likely to receive news coverage and recognition. 

Yet, the Parable of the Talents conveys equal commendation to the scheduler, agency accountant, patent engineer, IT support member, policy advisor, staff attorney, and data analyst. All are entrusted with a position in the public square and expected to steward their position and gifts to "seek the welfare of the city" [or agency or nation],” to "proclaim the excellencies of the one who called them out of darkness and into his marvelous light," and to "bind up the broken-hearted" and "not Lord it over them as the Gentiles do." In short, everyone serving and leading in government is called to use their position to offer foretastes of the coming Kingdom. 

This also applies equally to those elected on the Hill as well as their support staff. It applies to the State Department as much as it does the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. But also to those working at the Center For American Progress and the Heritage Foundation. And even to Christians serving and leading at the Rainforest Trust or the American Farm Bureau.

We explored the problem with minimizing our vocations a couple of weeks ago. While this passage runs parallel to that idea, is goes further. Jesus’s point here is not that all jobs are gifts are equal, but that using them for the glory of God is imperative.

Driving this point home, Paul speaks to those living in indentured servitude,  

"5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free." Ephesians 6:5–8 (ESV)

But not everyone is receiving commendation in this parable. Also in the crowd are members of the Pharisees and Sadducees. It is to them Jesus is most likely speaking when he says, 

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.' 

Jesus's point is that, as leaders of the Jewish people, they have done nothing to steward the blessings God entrusted to them. Instead, they consolidated their power through deals with the Romans, created a crushing set of religious regulations that left the people feeling hopeless, and neglected to use their position to bless the people and even their oppressors.  

It's essential not to use this part of the parable against those in power. Despite Jesus utilizing this opportunity to lay out a prophetic warning to the religious leaders, the parable's context is about three servants. As such, it applies to everyone in a general sense. 

Regardless of where you are positioned in the public square, failure to steward your gifts for participation in Christ's mission of making all things new will receive the harshest of condemnations from Jesus. 

Jesus, of course, desires that we seek his commendation. 

Questions

What resources has God given you, and how can you steward them in your present position?

What, if anything, is holding you back from fully using your gifts?

Tip: Consider using the four questions of faithful presence to help you develop a fuller picture of how you can participate in Christ's mission of making all things new from your position in the public square. 

Last Things...

Our next Cultural Conversations podcast will be available soon along with an audio and video supplement to our First Peter Study, First Peter: Living in Faithful Presence.