Profit From God’s Gifts

“A man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“The master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. To the ones who had made more talents, their master said to them, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slaves; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

“Then the one who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’

“His master replied, ‘you wicked and lazy slave! You ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.’

“So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’

The meaning of this parable may be confusing, given all the times that Jesus speaks out against wealth. But here the coins that the master gives away are gifts from God, specifically the gift of knowledge that comes through Jesus. The moral is that once you hear the truth about God, which has been freely given to you, you can’t bury it inside yourself but must act on it to make it grow.

Adapted from The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore, by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2008).

Read more: Spirit, Deepak Chopra's Tips, gifts, invest, parable, wealth

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Teresa C.

6:13AM PST on Feb 23, 2012

That parable has always confused me, though I knew it didn't refer to money or wealth. I'm glad to finally have it explained.
Thank you for a great article.

send a green star

Jennifer C.

4:25PM PST on Feb 15, 2012

Thanks for posting.

Sandy E.

2:23PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

I don't recall Jesus ever speaking against wealth. He did say something about a rich man but what he was speaking of wasn't the weath its self but the LOVE the man had for the wealth. It is waht we love the is the biggest factor of our lives. That's what Jesus speaks of all the time is love. God is love.

Danuta W.

12:40AM PST on Feb 10, 2012

thanks for the info

Elaine A.

8:56PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

Great article and of course Biblical! We need more lessons (Parables) so that those who are not aware of the enormity of God's grace, Love and power of provision, would draw more to him!

Kat H.

4:50PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

Thanks!

Amber B.

9:34AM PST on Feb 9, 2012

awesome, thanks.

KS G.

4:26AM PST on Nov 21, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Carole R.

9:37PM PDT on Oct 29, 2011

Thanks for your point of view.