Our culture thinks of our gifts as certain personal qualities and attributes. But Scripture speaks of gifts as freely received by God’s providence or grace. We have nothing that is our own, we have freely received it. Gifts have not been given to make us feel good about ourselves or for our own glory. They are to be used for God’s glory and the good of others. Everyone has them. They include our opportunities, privileges, abilities, advantages, benefits – spiritual and otherwise. This should be a great encouragement to us but sometimes we are tempted to disregard them. We may not consider ourselves to have much at all because we compare ourselves with others who we think have more. But it is dangerous to do nothing simply because we only have a little. What gifts can we use for Christ’s glory and what are we to do with them?

Christ says that His kingdom requires diligent work, He expects us to work for God’s glory and the good of others (Matthew 25). This parable uses the comparison of a master giving his servants money to trade with for him. The purpose of this parable is to set everyone. Everyone is to work in advancing Christ’s glory and kingdom, according to their ability and calling.
One servant in the parable had received less than others and simply buried it and neglected it He excused this neglect with the argument that he did not have as much and did not think he could do enough to meet expectations. But this is no excuse, the less gifts we have, the less reason we have for neglecting them. Yet as Matthew Henry observes “those who have least to do for God, frequently do least of what they have to do”. The reality is that one talent was worth twenty years wages and so the very gifts that seem to have less comparative value have great intrinsic worth.

The slothful servant received everlasting punishment. But this not teach salvation by works. Everything is freely received, including the outward spiritual blessings of God’s Word and the gospel. Trusting Christ alone for salvation is to make the right us of such things. Perhaps we have not buried those gifts but are there others that we have not made full use of but rather neglected? We are also to demonstrate the reality of our faith and devotion by seeking to do all we can for Christ’s glory (James 2:18; James 3:13). We need to ready to be careful stewards of the grace we have received (1 Peter 4:10) as well as our time, abilities and other gifts. In this updated extract, David Dickson expounds the parable of the talents to show us how we may do this.

1. Christ Has Told Us How to Serve Him

The man in the parable travelling into a far country, disposed of his affairs and ordered all matters until his return. So, our Lord Jesus has given exact orders in His Word to all (especially His ministers), how His house should be governed, and how everyone should serve Him until His second coming again.

2. Christ Has Given Us Different Gifts

The master in the parable does not give the same number of talents to each servant. So, the Lord does not give the same measure of gifts to everyone. Rather He gives more to some and less to others as His heavenly wisdom thinks expedient.

3. Christ Expects Us to Make Best Use of Our Gifts

In the parable, some made use of their talents, some did not. So, in the visible church, some employ the gifts they have according to their calling so as to edify others and advance the kingdom of Christ. Others disregard the kingdom of Christ and do not care how it goes with Christ’s matters so long as their own particular concerns go right. Therefore, they make no conscience of advancing Christ’s kingdom in their calling although this duty is required of them and clearly set down in His Word.

4. Christ Will Take Account of Our Use of Gifts

The master in the parable had a reckoning with his servants. He took account of each man’s faithfulness. So, Christ will call all (especially ministers) to account one day. He will search into how faithful everyone has been in His service.

5. Christ Honours the Faithful Use of Gifts

In the parable the faithful servant (whether he had fewer or more talents) was accepted of his master and made partaker of his joy. So, everyone who in discharging their calling faithfully seeks the glory of Christ and increase of His kingdom) shall be accepted in the day of judgement and put in full possession of eternal life.

6. Christ Condemns Unfaithful Neglect of Gifts

In the parable no excuse would serve to save the slothful and unfaithful servant before his master. So, it will be with Christ in the day of judgment (no matter how much anyone deceives themselves and pretends what they like). All excuses will only serve to show their own condemnation and the unfaithful servant will be cast into hell.

In the parable, he that had one talent but did not use it for his master, is counted as if he had none and deprived of possessing what he possessed. So, any gifts anyone has that do not profit others or advance Christ’s kingdom are counted as if they did not have them (as if lost or taken away). Just as others were not profited by the gift, so they themselves will not be benefited by. But those who use their gifts well for the glory of Christ will be amply rewarded. Every one that has gifts and uses them for their Master (which is in effect to have them) will be given more. They will have increased gifts, graces, and rewards. But those who do not have what they have (do not use it for the Lord’s service) will be deprived of all good which they themselves might have of such gifts. They will be utterly deprived of whatever good they seem to have, and they themselves will also perish.

Conclusion

We may not have buried all of Christ’s gifts but are there some we have hidden and neglected? Christ has not given us our privileges and spiritual blessings as well as outward benefits for us to be comfortable and neglect the needs of others. Everything a Christian has received is for the good of others and the glory of Christ. They are not our own. Christians are to have communion in each other’s gifts and graces. To whom much has been given, much shall be required. How can we best make use of what we have received for Christ’s glory and kingdom? We might start by identifying the “one another” requirements of the New Testament; the various duties we can do for others. There are some challenges in the current climate where opportunities have been restricted. But perhaps other opportunities are now open also. We must not make the mistake of belittling limited ways and means. We need to pray for wisdom and grace to identify how we can advance Christ’s glory and kingdom in whatever way possible.

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