Inclusivity and the Church [3]: Another Another Parable of the Talents

‘Please tell me why you put glue on your shoulder.’

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them. To one he gave five valuable coins, and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left on his journey.

After the man left, the first two servants began to leave the household in order to do business with them. But the third servant called to them. ‘Look here,’ he said. ‘Our master has given each of us some of his fortune to do business while he is away. He has given to one of you five valuable coins, and he expects you to gain at least five more because you are quite able to do so. And our master has given to the other of you two valuable coins, and he expects you to gain at least five more because you are quite able to do so. But our master has given to me just the one valuable coin, and I expect he thinks I am more likely to bury it in the ground for safekeeping than to gain at least another valuable coin.’

The two servants looked at the third, and the first said, ‘Our master’s behaviour is not unusual. He knows that I have served my previous masters well in this regard. I used my gifts and my skills, and my business acumen proved fruitful for them. And so our master expects me to use my gifts and my skills in the same way for him. It is the way of things.’

The second servant said, ‘I, too, have gifts and skills that have served my previous masters well, and this is why our master expects me to use my gifts and my skills in his service. It is the way of things. But you—you have no gifts and skills, you have had no previous masters, and so our master doesn’t expect anything from you. Ha!—you may as well go and bury your valuable coin in the ground, as you certainly haven’t the entrepreneurial spirit to double it.’

And the first and second servants left the household and began to do business. The third servant watched them leave and then pondered the valuable coin in his hand.

Now after a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five valuable coins came forward with five additional coins. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained five more.’

His master replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’

The second servant also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained two more.’

His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’

Now the one who had received one valuable coin came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew that you trusted my fellow servants here and expected little from me in comparison. I even contemplated burying my valuable coin in the ground so that at least you would not return to a loss. But—and forgive me for saying this, master—I wanted to prove you wrong. I wanted to show you that even without the appropriate background and training that my fellow servants have, I, too, could do good business with the single valuable coin you gave me.’

His master listened to the third servant and then said, ‘Show me what you have done.’

‘Master, here is the valuable coin you gave to me,’ the third servant replied. ‘And see—I have more than doubled the amount, for here are three additional coins.’

His master looked very surprised. He said, ‘I am very surprised. Tell me, how did you gain three valuable coins without any experience or training? This is not the way of things!’

‘I may not have experience or training,’ the servant responded, ‘but I am not unintelligent or clueless. I talked to people who have experience, and I talked to people who give training, and they taught me how to invest wisely. And now, with your permission, master, I should like to take two of the four valuable coins you hold in your hands and do further business with them for you.’

‘Certainly not!’ exclaimed his master. ‘Your achievement is down to beginner’s luck, not to business acumen on your part. It is not the way of things! While I appreciate the three additional valuable coins you have procured, I cannot ask you to do the same again, lest you lose them all. I shall give two of the valuable coins to my first servant, and another valuable coin to my second servant. In time, you will see that their experience and training will reap greater rewards than those Serendipity has chosen to bestow upon you this once.’

‘Forgive me, master,’ the third servant said, ‘but tell me: why did you give me a valuable coin if you had no expectations of me?’

The master stood quietly for a moment, pondering his answer. He replied, ‘Whatever gifts and skills you may have are of little interest to me. But in my kindness, I thought I would give you a different role to undertake while I was away on my trip. It was simply that. I never expected you to achieve anything. My other servants here are the ones who have trained to be successful, and I will make sure they are successful. You—well, you were just lucky.’

And so the master scornfully confined the third servant to the kitchen, while he ushered the first and the second servants to the banquet hall.