Talents
Words have interesting connections, sometimes. In the Old Testament, a ‘talent’ was a small bar of precious metal. Think silver or gold. King James’ English simply used the transliterated word, rather than alter it to “hunk of gold.”
So when Jesus told the parable about the Master who goes on a journey and gives some of his wealth to his servants to look after while he is gone, Jesus says that the Master gave them talents. The servants used those talents with a range of intentions and results. But it is clear that he did NOT give those talents to his servants for their own benefit.
Those talents were not for them.
While perhaps not the most theologically profound application, the parable touches home when we use the word, ‘talent,’ instead of ‘talent.’
The Master has given to us a talent or two, too.
And we use them with a range of intentions and results.
But He didn’t give them to us for our own benefit. He gave them to us to expand His kingdom.
Burying them in the backyard is not really an option. (Even if your particular talent IS digging holes…)