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Matthew 25: 14-30 November 16, 2008 So how on earth do you double your talents? It is hard to double them whether you use the “modern” definition of talent or the “old” definition. The modern definition of the word “talents” is usually considered as abilities or areas of giftedness. And the truth of the matter is, even diligent practice or use of them will not double your talents. So what is the “old” definition, or the definition of “talents” in Jesus’ time? A talent in Jesus’ time was a measure of weight - sum of gold, silver or copper anywhere from 75 to 96 lb – you might say it was the ancient equivalent of a $100,000 bill – not too many of us have seen one and I suspect it was the same back in Jesus time – not too many would have seen a “talent,” especially of gold or silver. The master gives the first servant five talents which makes me wonder, was the master’s choice to give five talents to this servant based on the servant’s abilities or giftedness? Then the master gives the second two talents – also based on abilities or giftedness? The third servant receives one talent – still a large sum for the time. Was it based on the ability or giftedness of this servant? If so it certainly implies that this servant was lacking compared to the other two. Or perhaps it is because the master knew this servant as one who would not take risks, who did not want to accept any responsibility if it could be avoided. Now the master was gone a considerable length of time, but he eventually comes back and finds that the first servant has doubled his talents from five to ten, and along these same lines the second servant has doubled his talents, from two to four. But then the master finds that the third servant buried his talent. Now according to rabbinic law it was okay to literally bury something given one for safekeeping as opposed to investing it or taking a risk with it and that is what this servant did. Reminds me of some of the religious leadership of the time – given a great treasure but they “bury” and do not invest or share it. That treasure of course is the Kingdom of Heaven. Instead of teaching others how to live, by showing them by the lives they themselves lead, they lecture but do not practice what they teach and preach. So now the question comes for us, in our time. How do we invest our talents - our God-given talents? How can we double that which the Master has given us? Is there a safe investment? The way the economy, national and world, has gone, it certainly does not seem so. So let me tell you a story which might illustrate for you a way to invest your “talents” and let them grow. It is a true story, I know because I live it. It was back in the 90s, tough times, especially in the Sacramento area. There were base closings, both army and air force, gas prices were up, there was a housing meltdown (not as bad as that we face today but bad enough), companies including mine doing layoffs. Cindy and I had just bought a house, we had two car payments, a son in college, and we were working our way toward tithing at the rate of increasing a percent or half a percent each year. We were probably about 4 or 4-1/2 percent at the time. I was president of the congregational council and offerings were down. We met as a council to determine what to do – cut staff, cut programs, tighten our belts, turn off the lights, quit air conditioning, etc., etc. Well, at that point I became aware of Malachi 3:10 where we are told: “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse so there may be food in my house and put me to the test, says the Lord of Hosts, see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” I told the council that I saw no alternative but to go ahead, to plunge ahead, full steam ahead – we were considering a building program and we decided to recommend to the congregation that in spite of all the naysayers, those who said we could not build due to a lack of resources, that we do explore building anyway. And to their credit, the council did just that. When I got home that night I told Cindy I thought we needed to begin tithing that next Sunday. Cindy was already at that point and just waiting for me to catch up. So we decided what we would cut back, we would sacrifice buying books which was our major expense as far as our disposable income, we would cut back on going out to eat, cut back on movies, plays, concerts. So we started tithing that weekend. I can’t explain it mathematically, but Eric graduated from college, our cars were paid for, we put me through two seminaries paying as we went, I accumulated hundreds of additional miles of driving each week, and we all bought lots more books. Later we stepped out even further in faith when I quit job to finish my “Lutheran year.” We are still tithing. I tell you, brothers and sisters, that God has taken care of our needs. We invest of our talents in giving back to the Lord, responding to the graciousness of God, managing our resources according to God’s agenda, not ours. What God has done with our tithe, I do not know. But I do know that God gives the growth and I have no doubt that those “talents” we give have grown. And interestingly enough for both Cindy and I, our talents have multiplied, that is we have new talents, abilities, areas of giftedness that we didn’t have before, e.g., Cindy writing hymns, my style of preaching, among others. Now it was not our intent to put God to the test even though this is the only place in Scripture where we are told to put him to do just that - we were prepared to sacrifice so that we could tithe, but no sacrifice was or is necessary. We stepped out in faith, trusting in God, he has blessed us and continues to bless us. Now is the time, brothers and sisters, to for you to step out in faith, trust God, there is no better time for where your heart is, there is your treasure. Invest in God, not for his sake, but for your sake. God gives the growth, and your “talents” will grow. AMEN. Rev. Bruce Hannem,
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