The Parable of the Talents: Don’t Waste Your Gifts
Today, we’ll take a closer look at a parable that teaches us the importance of using our God-given gifts for his glory. After this Parable of the Talents summary, we’ll share practical applications as well.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you respond to God’s calling.
Let’s begin with a summary of the Parable of the Talents.
The Parable of the Talents
Jesus shared this parable in Matthew 25:14-30. In the parable, a business owner went on a trip. He called his servants to look after his assets while he was away.
One servant received five bags of silver. He invested the money and earned five more.
Another servant was given two bags. He earned two more.
A third servant received only one bag of silver. He dug a hole in the ground and hid the money.
When the master returned, he praised the first two servants for being good stewards of his assets.
The third servant—the man who hid the silver—declared, “‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back” (Mt. 25:24-25, NLT).
The master replied, “You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it” (verses 26-27).
Then he ordered, “Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away” (verses 28-29).
A Personal Application of the Parable of the Talents
Now that I’ve shared this Parable of the Talents summary, I invite you to join me as I share a personal application of this story—a time when I was the man who failed to be a good steward of the master’s assets.
Ten years ago, I sensed God calling me to write.
I’d always been a writer. As a child, I filled notebooks with fictitious stories about kids going on adventures in the wilderness. I continued to write creatively as a teen and into my twenties.
After starting my teaching career and having kids, time for writing became short.
I was in my early thirties, the mother of young children, when I sensed a strong call to return to writing. I sensed God calling me to write about him.
For several months, I resisted the call.
I studied the market and learned that traditional publishing companies wanted new writers to have 5,000 blog followers before they would consider working with them (this number has changed to 50,000 social media followers since that time).
I didn’t even have a blog!
Resisting the Call
In fact, I’d once declared that I’d never start a blog. The idea of putting my thoughts in writing—on the Internet—was something I wanted no part of.
It felt too vulnerable, too irretractable.
I decided to start working on a manuscript for a book, praying I might miraculously get published without a blog.
A few months after the manuscript was drafted, I started sending emails and query letters to literary agents and publishing companies.
They all replied in the same way: I needed an online following.
As I wrestled with the idea of starting a blog, I processed my thoughts with friend. “Online writing feels too public,” I confessed. “If my writing is terrible, everyone will know.”
“It sounds like God is leading you to do this, but you’re digging your heels into the ground. Maybe you’re too focused on yourself and not focused on his purpose,” she responded. “You’re not going to have peace until you obey.”
I knew she was right. I was being stubborn and self-centered. Behind the guise of false humility, I was more concerned about myself than honoring God.
This is the message we find in the Parable of the Talents.
The Lesson in the Parable of the Talents
This parable teaches us that we must not make excuses when God calls us to obey.
Our time, money, and abilities don’t belong to us; they belong to God. We are merely stewards, not owners.
Regardless of the reason—whether out of fear, self-protection, false humility, or doubt—when we delay obedience, we disobey God.
Our talents, gifts, and abilities are not our own. We are merely stewards of God’s gifts. #Godsgifts #trust #stewardship Share on X
God Blesses Our Obedience
I eventually obeyed God and started the blog you are reading today.
My vision was to write books, and I have written and published several books over the past decade.
Interestingly, my blog reaches much farther than my books and has received over one million views over the past decade. The blog was God’s idea, and God has used it to expand his kingdom.
I have a full-time writing career because of the blogs, not just the books!
Perhaps you can relate to this parable and my story.
Has God been prompting you to obey him I some way, but you have been putting it off?
He is calling you to be a good steward of your gifts.
What will that look like for you today?
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After you’ve reflected on this Parable of the Talents summary, I invite you to explore our devotional books and library of free eBooks below.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 7, 12, and 16, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. I also recently released a teen devotional called Anchored, designed to help teens learn key biblical narratives and apply them to their lives. You can find these books here or read more below. 
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Devotions for Boys by Boys
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
These Books Are Free on Kindle Unlimited: God Wants to Heal, Restore, and Refresh You
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. He also wants to help you establish a rhythm of meeting with him daily as you trust him with the hard parts of your life. Click here to explore two books that will guide you: Be Still and Trust and Lean Into Grace. They are free on the Kindle Unlimited program and for sale in print.
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Set Free: Let God Do What You Cannot explores ten realms in which most of us need God to work in our lives and bring deliverance. We’ll talk about finding freedom from fear, worry, insecurity, bad habits, emotional pain, and more. This short online devotional will bless you as you let God accomplish what you’ve been unable to achieve through willpower. Get your download for free with promo code GRACE or for a donation of 3.99 here. Thank you. This small gift helps keep this ministry running.
I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
