I recently revisited the Parable of the Talents—the story where a master entrusts his servants with five, two, and one talent, respectively. It’s a familiar lesson, often explained as a call to use our God-given gifts wisely and fruitfully.
But this time, I couldn’t stop thinking about the last servant—the one who buried his talent.
The image that came to mind was a grandmother hiding cash in the mattress. You know the idea: saving it for a rainy day or a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency moment.
That’s exactly what the last servant did. He treated the master’s gift as something to protect and preserve, just in case. But the talents weren’t meant to be stashed away. They were meant to be used—to bear fruit and bring increase, just like the other two servants demonstrated.
To use another analogy: this servant wasn’t playing to win; he was playing not to lose.
And that’s the real tragedy. God’s gifts aren’t given to be hidden, hoarded, or reserved for some distant “what if.” They’re meant to glorify Him and serve others. Our talents—whether they’re skills, time, resources, or opportunities—are entrusted to us so that we can build His Kingdom.
So, what are we doing with the talents God has placed in our hands? Are we using them boldly, even taking risks for the sake of love and truth? Or are we holding back, afraid of failure or judgment, and burying what was meant to bring life?
The parable challenges us to trust the Master’s goodness. To step out in faith and invest the gifts we’ve been given. After all, the reward isn’t in playing it safe but in hearing the words we all long for:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”