Have you ever tucked a gift away because you were afraid you'd lose it if you used it? The parable we read today slaps against that temptation: we are given resources—not primarily to hoard, but to steward, risk, and multiply. That truth presses on the deep longing in every heart to matter and to be trusted, while also confronting our fear of failure and judgment.

In Matthew 25:14–30 Jesus tells a story about a master who entrusts three servants with different sums (“talents”) before going away. Two invest and double what they were given; the third buries his and returns only the original sum. The master commends the faithful and condemns the fearful servant. Luke 19:11–27 contains a similar story (often called the Parable of the Minas): a nobleman leaves to receive a kingdom, gives his servants money to work with, and later rewards those who produced gains. The two versions share the theme of stewardship and accountability, though Matthew focuses on three servants and the metaphor of talents, while Luke stresses the political context—a noblesman and citizens opposing him—and presents different amounts and responses. Mark does not record this parable.

This story tells us something essential about Jesus and the kingdom: God entrusts us with real authority and real resources and expects fruitfulness, not fearful preservation. It is a sober parable—there is assessment and consequence—but it is also gracious: the master rewards initiative and entrusts more to those who prove faithful. Don’t miss the weight here: this isn’t merely about money; it’s about what you’ve been given—time, influence, gifts, opportunities—and how you use them for the kingdom. The gospel’s grace doesn’t remove accountability; it empowers us to act.

Today, name one gift or responsibility you’ve been hiding—an idea, a relationship, your time, or a skill. Pray for a simple, concrete step you can take in the next 24 hours to invest it (a phone call, a short volunteer shift, offering your skill to a colleague, or mentoring someone). Start small, be faithful, and trust that God admires risk taken in service of his kingdom.