Burying Fear

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 is a familiar parable, but something new hit me this time that I never considered. In verse 24-25, when the master returns and asks for an accounting of the talents he gave to each servant, the man given one talent told him he buried it in the ground. Why? Because he was afraid. Why was he afraid? “Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed (24, NASB).”

Fear. It stopped this man from multiplying his talent for his Master. He was intimidated by his Master’s ability to harvest and gather where he did not sow or scatter seed. As believers in Jesus, we have a responsibility to multiply the talents and resources God gives us, but here’s where the new thought occurred to me: How much fear and intimidation do we inflict on other people that causes them to freeze with fear? To what degree are we a hinderance to helping others multiply their talents?

Ultimately, we will be held responsible for what we did with what God gave us. That is the other part of this parable. The Master takes the talent the servant returned and gives it to those who multiplied their talents. Then he throws his servant “into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” It’s a strong reminder that we should fear God, not people. We need to trust God and overcome our fears.

Yet we also need to ask ourselves how much fear we are creating in people that hinders them from multiplying their talents? Remember that while you may be harvesting for the Kingdom of God, you may be reaping from seeds others have sown or scattered. Be humble and encourage others in their work. Spread the seeds of the gospel, not fear. Remember, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).”

“Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children (Revelation 21:7).”