The use of the word talents in this story allows a beautiful double meaning. We are all blessed with talents and yet not equally, or at least not equally in our eyes. This story tries to keep to the idea that a talent was an actual sum of money and that is how Jesus’ listeners would have heard it, only bringing in the double meaning at the end.
This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.
Main Passage : Matthew 25:14-30
Have you ever imagined what you would do if you were given a lot of money? That’s what happened in a parable Jesus told…
“There was once a rich man, and he was going on a very long trip. He wanted to keep his money safe, so he decided he would split it up and put it in many places. He called his three top servants to help.
The rich man had 8 bags of gold. Each bag measured one talent worth, that’s the same as 10 years’ wages. He gave the first servant 5 bags, the second servant 2 bags, and the last servant 1 bag, to look after. Then he left to travel.
The three servants looked at their money. What would they do with it? When the master returned, would he be pleased?
The first servant took his talent of money and went to work. He worked hard, using the money to make more money, the second servant did the same.
A long time passed and the master returned. He called the three servants and asked what they had done. The first presented the master with his five talents of gold and five more he had made.
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
Along came the Second servant. He returned the master’s two talents and two more he had made.
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
In came the third servant, carrying his one talent. He returned it to the master. He explained that he had kept it safe by burring it in the ground. The master was furious that the servant had not even tried to use the talent. He took the money from the servant and threw him out of the house.”
Perhaps we don’t have a talent for money, but what talents do we have? How can we use them?
