a Tagalog Bible clipping of Matthew 25:14-30
The Word Exposed
As we contemplate on the Parable of Talents, we tend to confuse the material measurements in the parable with the number of gifts we possess as individuals.
And we tend to judge the last servant as bad example; the master, a good one.
The Parable of Talents actually mirrors a comparison. Try to imagine the scenario while carefully reading the verses, to realize the following:
15 To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability.
God didn't gamble. The master trusts the last one to be most efficient so he gave him the least. He was generous to the others who are prone to faltering.
A bad benefactor gambles on his best bet. Yet covets anger to every penny unturned.
Second, that being with God requires full commitment.
24 Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; 25 so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ 26 His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?
Did you read between the lines? The servant is in silent protest. Not believing in his master's ways of sowing and reaping, he buried the money in the ground as symbolic gesture. This made his master angry-- and called him 'wicked'.
To a good God, we must show full commitment in our mission.
To a bad master, we must be firm in our ideals and avoid evil.
Third, that the coming of God has its own timing.
27 Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
The servant who doesn't expect God the good master to be far away long, didn't move it.
We must not bay our expectations to "all things shall pass", or that "the end is near." Tread the journey with care every step of the way. Linger not too slow, or hasten too much.
Lastly, face your troubles and responsibilities.
Evil will give you something that doesn't bear fruit, only to moth and rust, and be taken away. But God knows who you are, what you are capable of. Treasure your life's opportune. As our Filipino saying goes, "Di yan ibibigay sayo ng Diyos, kung di mo kaya." (God won't give it you if you unless you can handle it.)