Read: Matthew 25:14-17  |

What is the value of five talents?

The answers vary. According to New Nave’s Topical Bible, possessing five talents of gold or silver was equivalent to being a multimillionaire by today’s standards. Other scholars calculate one talent to be equivalent to 20 years of wages for the common worker. Conservative scholars estimate the current value of a New Testament talent somewhere between $1,000 to $30,000 dollars. In short, these servants suddenly had working capital available to be about their Master’s business.

Continuing our study of the servant who had a two-fold return on his talents in verse 17, it is likely that both he and the five-fold return servant were acting on Inspiration with their Investment in order to earn Interest.

This week. We are examining the importance of the “Investment” made in the life of every believer.

Identifying the Master’s investments in you

In the parable, the Master entrusts the servants with talents according to their ability. In our lives, God entrust us with “spiritual talents” according to our abilities. He also entrusts us with a number of natural gifts.

Our spiritual gifts are granted by God to each believer (Romans 12; 3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:28-31, 1 Corinthians 14:12-13 ). Spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7, 14:12). Most scholars assume that spiritual gifts are given at the moment of salvation. Additionally, as we work towards accomplishing God’s will and spiritual mature, He may grant us additional spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12:31).

God also entrusts us with multiple natural gifts. Our natural gifts are by-products of either our genetic makeup from our parents, training or aptitude. They include our appearance, strength, height, personality, talents and any other aspect that makes us unique.

God has deposited multiple investments in each of us that enables us to accomplish His plan for our lives. As we become aware of our gifts, we also must keep in mind that God does not give the same gifts or the same measure of gifts to each person. In His perfect plan, each of us has a different role and function in the body of Christ. Thus, each believer is responsible for finding and perfecting the gifts they have been given.

Invest your investments

With our investments, we can choose to be an active investor, passive investor or a non-investor. An active investor actively pursues maximizing their gifts for the glory of God. A passive investor is apathetic about understanding where God is leading them but will give when specifically prompted to invest in the Kingdom’s business. A non-investor is one who does not use their investments for the Kingdom, they only use it to benefit themselves.

The parable encourages us to be an active investor, for only they will hear, “Well done good and faithful servant”! Peter also encourages us in I Pet. 4:10, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Together, these verses note that we are called to proactively use our God-given abilities to fulfill the purpose for which He has called us (Exod. 31:1-3, 6; 35:35; Dan. 1:17; Eph. 4:7; 1 Tim. 4:14-15; Eph. 2:10).

We are gifted! We should use all of our gifts. We prepare ourselves to be used by God by investing our time, talent and treasure into stretching and growing our spiritual and natural gifts. Regardless of what we have been given, every believer’s stewardship is tested by the same standard – Faithfulness. What counts is what we do with what we have been entrusted!

Next week, we’ll cover the final point to verse 17 the “Interest”.

Questions:
1. Discover –
A. What are your spiritual gifts that God has entrusted within you? How did you discover them? (Romans 12; 3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:28-31, 1 Corinthians 14:12-13 )
B. What are your top 3 natural gifts? What have you done to develop them?

2. Develop –
A. Are you using your spiritual gift(s) for God? If so, share how you use them with a prayer partner. If not, what keeps you from using them?
B. Are you using your natural gift(s) for God? If so, share how you use them with a prayer partner. If not, what keeps you from using them?

3. Demonstrate –
A. Have you ever tried to develop your spiritual gifts through training or prayer? Has God granted you any new spiritual gifts as you grew in Christ?
B. Have you ever tried to develop your natural gifts through training or prayer? Has God granted you any new natural gifts as you grew in Christ?