Life is not a competition that we have to win. It is not supposed to be a rat race. Life is a huge privilege and an opportunity. God has trusted us with gifts and abilities, which He wants us to use you. Use them or lose them. He is faithful to us and he expects us to be faithful to him.

God is so generous and kind. He gives us so much. A talent was a huge sum of money – probably equivalent to twenty years’ wages. Even the person with one talent was given so much. In the parable, the talent (this is the origin of the English word ‘talent’) represents not only your money but your gifts, skills, time, energy, education, intellect, strength, influence and opportunities.Be faithful with whatever we have been given.It is no good wishing that we had been given more. We are simply called to do the best we can with what we have.

To be faithful means to use the gifts and abilities that God has given us. Many of us are tempted to be like the third servant who said, ‘I was afraid’.  We hide our talents because we are afraid of failure and what others may think of us, or of the hard work and responsibility that may be involved.
It has been said that, ‘The greatest mistake we could make in life is to be continually fearing we will make one.’

The servant who received five talents and the one who received two talents must both have had to risk losing it all. Step out in faith, your gifts and risk failure. 

Jesus says, in effect, ‘use them or lose them. If we do the very best with what we have, God will give us more and say, ‘Well done, good and faithfulservant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put us in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’