Use What You Have

Use What You Have

Q: What did the servant with one bag of silver do with it?

• a. buried it in the ground
• b. invested it to make more
• c. gave it to the servant with 10 bags of silver to invest for him

Jesus told a parable to help people understand what they should be doing until he returns. In the story, a man was going on a trip, so he called his three servants and entrusted them with his money. He gave five bags of silver (some translations say “talents”) to one servant, two bags of silver to another servant, and one bag of silver to the third servant.

The servant with five bags of silver invested it and earned five more bags of silver. The man with two bags of silver also doubled the money. But the servant with one bag of silver buried it in the ground.

When the man returned from his trip, he called the servants together to find out what they’d done with the money. He praised the two servants who had increased the money, but he was angry with the third servant, who had buried it. He took the money from that servant and gave it to the one with the 10 bags of silver.

Jesus told this parable to show the people that God had given them abilities, money, and time to use for him until he returned or their lives were over. He told them, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” Even though Jesus told this story long ago, it’s still true today. God gives us abilities and resources to use wisely to do his work.

For You

Think of one thing you can do each day this week to use your abilities, time, or money for God. Ask a friend or sibling to join you in the challenge.

Answer: a

But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.   Matthew 25:18

(The Whole Story: Matthew 25:14-30)