29 For unto every one that hath I 30 And cast ye the unprofitable shall be given, and he shall have servant hito outer darkness :_ there abundance: but from him that hath shall be weeping and gnashing of not shall be taken away even that | teeth, which he hath.
The parable of the talents which we have now read is near akin to that of the ten virgins. Both direct our minds to the same important event, the second advent of Jesus Christ. Both bring before us the same persons, the members of the professing Church of Christ. The virgins and the servants are one and the same people,— but the same people regarded from a different point, and viewed on different sides. The practical lesson of each parable is the main point of difference. Vigilance is the key note of the first parable, dihgence that of the second. The story of the virgins calls on the Church to watch, the story of the talents calls on the Church to work.
We learn, in the first place, from this parable, that all professing Christians have received something from God. We are aU God's "servants.'' We have aU "talents" entrusted to our charge.
The word " talents" is an expression that has been curiously turned aside from its original meanmg. It is generally apphed to none but people of remarkable ability or gifts. They are called " talented" people. Such an use of the expression is a mere modern invention. In the sense in which our Lord used the word in this parable, it appUes to all baptized persons without distinction. We have all talents in God's sight. We are all talented
people.
Anything whereby we may glorify God is a talent,
337
Our gifts, our influence, our money, our knowledge, our health, our strength, our time, our senses, our reason, our intellect, our memory, our affections, our privileges as members of Christ's Church, our advanta- ges as jwssessors of the Bible, — all, all are talents. Whence came these thimis ? What hand bestowed
o
them ? Why are we what we are ? Why are we not the worms that crawl on the earth ? There is only one answer to these questions. All that we have is a loan from God. We are God's stewards. We are God's debtors. Let this thought sink deeply into our hearts.
We learn in the second place, that many mcike a had use of the lorivileges and mercies they receive from God. We are told in the parable of one who " digged in the earth and hid his Lord's money." That man represents a large class of mankind.
To hide our talent is to neglect opportunities of glori- fying God, when we have them. The Bible-dcspiser, the prayer-neglecter, and the Sabbath-breaker, — the unbe- lieving, the sensual, and the earthly-minded,^ — the trifler, the thoughtless, and the pleasure-seeker, — the money- lover, the covetous, and the self-indulgent, — all, all are alike burying their Lord's money in the ground. They have all light that they do not use. They might all be better than they are. But they are all daily robbing God. He has lent them much and they make Him no return. The words of Daniel to Belshazzar, are strictly applicable to eveiy unconverted person : " the God in whose hand .thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified." (Dan. v. 23.) V We learn in the third place, that all professing Chris- lb