Talented

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the talents.  A man gives three workers five talents, two talents and one talent respectively.  A talent was a common unit of measure in that time, probably about 75 pounds, and was used mainly to measure precious metals.  Before doing some research today, I thought a talent was a type of coin of marginal worth, but as it turns out, a talent could represent multiple years of wages for a worker.  The man giving the talents left for a long period of time, and upon his return, found that the workers who had received five and two talents had doubled their value while he was gone.  The man praised them saying "Well done, good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much."  But the worker who only received one talent buried it in the ground and earned nothing more.  The man scolded him calling him a wicked and slothful servant.  In the parable, the man giving the talents represents God, and the talents represent all of the gifts that we have been given by God.  The parable is about stewardship and our responsibility to use those gifts for the good of others.  Jesus echoes the instruction reported in Luke when he says, "to whom much is given, much is required."  Some may think, "I don't feel like I have that many talents to share".  Talents come in many forms.  Do some soul searching and think about what you are good at and what you love to do.  If you  need some help, ask close family and friends what they think your talents are.  Then find a way to do those things more, thereby creating an offering to God.