If you’ve been around Hillside Church of God lately, you’ve probably noticed that we have received many blessings from God. God’s people have been busy. Many improvements have been made to both the facility and the service experience. We have seen volunteers stepping up. God has been very generous toward Hillside.
There is a parable in Matthew 25:14-30 called the Parable of the Bags of Gold. It’s a story about servants, money, and a master who expects results. It’s about something we need to do at Hillside, namely, being faithful with what God has given us.
Jesus describes a wealthy master who’s going on a journey. He entrusts his property to three servants: five talents to one, two talents to another, and one talent to the last. In Jesus’ day, “talent” had nothing to do with America’s Got Talent. It was not about juggling flaming swords or doing acrobatic dancing. It was a unit of money. Each talent is worth about 20 years of common labor wages.
The practical application of the talent in this parable is more than just money. They represent anything God has entrusted to us: time, relationships, opportunities, money, and skills. So, if you can organize a pantry, fix a squeaky church door, run copies for the bulletins, or even have extra downtime that you can give to support a ministry in the church, you’ve got talent.
The first two servants get busy. They invest, trade, and double their master’s money. The third servant, worried about messing up, digs a hole and buries the cash. When the master returns, he’s thrilled with the first two and rewards them generously. The third servant, however, gets a sharp rebuke. His “safe” strategy turns out to be the riskiest of all.
The most significant difference between the servants was not how much they were given but how they responded. The first two servants acted in faith. They took what they had and put it to work. The third servant acted in fear. “I knew you were a hard man,” he says. “So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground” (v. 24–25).
It’s easy to read this parable and think, “Well, if I had five talents, sure, I’d invest them. But I’m just a one-talent person.” But Jesus’ story makes clear that the issue isn’t how much you have but what you do with it. We don’t see the servant with two talents envying the servant with five talents. They work with what they have. Even a friendly smile can make a newcomer feel at home.
One of the most beautiful lines in the parable is what the master says to the faithful servants: “Well done, good and faithful servant! … Come and share your master’s happiness!” (v. 21). This isn’t just about earning a pat on the back. It’s about entering into the joy of the Master.
Have you noticed that volunteers often seem happier than the people they’re serving? That’s the Master’s joy leaking out. We were made to invest, to serve, to multiply God’s gifts. It’s fun. It’s fulfilling. And it’s contagious.
So what does this mean for you and me?
- God gives different gifts to different people. Not everybody will receive the same amount and type of talents.
- God expects us to use what we’ve been given. Take inventory of your talents. What time, skills, or resources has God entrusted to you? Don’t underestimate them. Even a smile or a helping hand to open the door for someone else can be a gift to lift someone’s day.
- Burying is not an investment strategy. Fear is understandable but unfruitful. Instead of saying, “I’m too busy” or “I’m not talented enough,” ask, “What small step can I take?”
- Celebrate faithfulness, not flashiness. God’s “Well done” isn’t reserved for the five-talent folks. It’s for the faithful. Faithfulness leads to greater blessings and rewards.
- We will all be held accountable for how we use God’s gifts. From this story, the two servants give a 100% ROI (Return on Investment) to their master.
- All our earthly wealth has an expiration date. There will be a time when the Master will come to settle accounts with all his servants.
So, Hillside family, let’s keep going. Let’s keep investing. Let’s keep leaking the Master’s joy as we serve. After all, we’re not just moving money or minutes around; we’re building God’s kingdom—one faithful step at a time.
Your servant,
David Gunardi