It is not difficult to make Christians feel guilty. Most Christians know they could do better at prayer, at telling others about Jesus, about being holy. And the parable of the talents, in Matthew 25:14-30
, makes most Christians feel like this. If Jesus was to come back and ask us what we had done with what he has given us, would we be happy to answer?
Despite how it seems to read, this parable is actually about the wonder of God and his grace to his servants. The master gives his servants a ridiculously large amount of money and entrusts them to look after it. They are only servants, yet they are trusted with so much and even get to work the family business! These servants are more like sons. Two of them respond well to this act of grace and put their money to work, while the third does not. He thinks badly of his master as mean and unfair and does not work at all.
So what should Christians do with what God gives them? It all comes down to seeing what their Master is really like – gracious and generous. He gives us resources, talents, money and we should use them well for Him. This is not about guilt, but about an appropriate response of hard work and thankfulness. It is not as if we get the huge gift at the end – we have already received it if we trust in Jesus! Let’s get to it, and work in the family business, building up Christians and reaching out to others.
(Based on ANPC Sunday teaching, 16 May 2010 
).