Jesus used parables to teach us life lessons. We learnt in primary school that parables are heavenly stories with earthly meanings. How many of us have actually read a parable in the Bible? How many of us understand them?

This week we turn to Matthew 25:14-30. The parable of the talents is taught to us in these verses. In brief, a master was travelling far into the country and entrusted his property to three servants. To one he gave five talents of money, to the next he gave two talents of money and to the other, only one talent of money. The man with the five talents went at once, invested his money and gained five more. The one with the two talents did the same and gained two more. However, the man with one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

Upon returning, the master summoned them and learnt what they did with the talents of money. He congratulated the first two servants on being ‘good and faithful’ and promised them charge over many things. To the third servant he cursed him and accused him of being ‘wicked and lazy’. He took his one talent of money and gave it to the one who had previously gotten five. He also threw the ‘worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

This simple story is one that we could link to not only personal development, but to the pursuit of happiness. Seeing that the story alluded to talents of money, let us focus on that first. We were all born into money. Whether abundantly (five coins) or scarcely (one coin). It doesn’t matter that you are the son of a queen or the daughter of a peasant. What matters is how you use what you are given. Burying it out of fear of losing it will only guarantee that you’ll never move from the position you are. Is that what you want? God defines wealth as stretching way beyond material possessions, though and so he bestowed a wealth of talents upon us.

Many of us are afraid to use our talents and so when we are given the chance, we hide our faces. Whether you are a great singer, a fluent speaker or a talented artist, you’ll never be recognised if you bury your talent as the last servant did. We must remember that God gave us talents so we can glorify him. Therefore, we were not the only ones who got the talent of singing, drawing or speaking. If we fail to use our talents to glorify God, and better ourselves, He’ll use someone else. Just like the master used the first servant.

There is the possibility that the first two servants could have made a loss. However, take note that the master commended them on being ‘good and faithful’ and cursed the other of being ‘wicked and lazy’. That signifies that whether we lose or win, being ‘good and faithful’ in what we do will make us ‘good and faithful’ servants. Sitting down on our talents and not developing it makes us ‘wicked and lazy’ and we should never strive for that title.

So crawl out of your shell. Take a risk. Show your talent to the world. There’s a reason you were gifted with it.