“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.” (Matthew 25:29, NKJV)

It is remarkable how much Jesus taught about money. In the parable of the talents, He spoke about a wealthy man who had several servants. He was going away on a long journey, so he entrusted his assets to his servants with the intention that they would make a profit. Each “talent” was a great sum of money—probably about 75 pounds of silver. In that culture, it would take an ordinary laborer about 20 years to earn a single talent! Knowing the capabilities of each of his servants, the man gave five talents to one, two talents to another, and one talent to the third servant. Then he went away.

Meanwhile, both the first and second servants invested their master’s money and doubled it. When the master returned, he met with each one to settle accounts. The first two servants each received the same commendation: “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.” But the third servant buried his talent and produced nothing for his master. He accused his master of being a “hard man”, reaping where he had not sown, and gathering where he had not scattered. He excused himself by saying that he was afraid of losing the talent, so he buried it. But the master called him a “wicked and lazy servant.” He should have at least deposited the money with the bankers so he would have earned interest. Therefore, he took the talent away from him and gave it to the first servant with ten talents. The principle is that those who are faithful will be given more, but those who are unfaithful will lose everything they have.

This should cause us to examine ourselves. What have we each been given by God? Our gifts, skills, experience, opportunities, time, money, and relationships. How are we managing these? Are we investing them in ways that profit our Master? Are we glorifying His name and building His kingdom with our “talents”? Or are we just consuming them on ourselves and on our own interests? One day the Lord will settle accounts with each of us. What will He say?

Each of us has been entrusted with different resources. Our stewardship of these determines our future reward. Those who have been faithful managers of our Lord’s resources will be given more, but those who have done nothing or consumed them on themselves will lose everything. As we begin a new year, let us ask the Lord to show us how we can be more diligent with the things He has given us. What is the Spirit prompting you to do with His resources? It’s never too late to change if you will do it today.