Use Your Gifts and Talents Wisely
(Matthew 25:14-30)
Jesus told his disciples another parable. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a journey. Before he left, he called his servants to him and entrusted his wealth to them. He gave one servant five bags of gold. To another servant he gave two bags of gold. And to a third servant he gave one bag of gold, giving each servant an amount according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey."
The first servant who had received five bags of gold went right away and put his money to work. He invested it wisely and earned five more bags of gold. The second servant who had received two bags of gold did the same thing. He invested his money and earned two more bags. But the third servant went off, dug a hole in the ground, and buried his one bag of gold. He did nothing with what the master had given him.
The master was gone for a long time. While he was away, his servants had to decide what they would do with what he had entrusted to them. The first two servants took risks. They invested the master's wealth, believing that they could make it grow. They did not know if they would be successful, but they tried. The third servant, however, was afraid. He thought, "What if I lose the money? What if something goes wrong? It is safer to just bury it and keep it safe." So that is what he did.
Finally, the master returned from his journey. He called his servants together to see what they had done with his wealth. The first servant came forward and said, "Master, you gave me five bags of gold. Look, I have gained five more." The master was very pleased. He said to this servant, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness."
Then the second servant came forward and said, "Master, you gave me two bags of gold. Look, I have gained two more." The master said to him also, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness."
But then the third servant came forward. He said, "Master, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. I was afraid and went out and buried your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you." The master was very disappointed. He said to this servant, "You wicked and lazy servant. You knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest."
The master took the one bag of gold from the lazy servant and gave it to the servant who had ten bags. "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance," the master said. "Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Jesus was teaching his disciples that God gives each person gifts, abilities, and opportunities. We are responsible for using them. We cannot hide our gifts and do nothing. We cannot be afraid to try and use what God has given us. Those who use what they have been given faithfully will be rewarded and given even more responsibility. But those who waste their gifts or refuse to use them will lose even what they have.
A Curious Question
What gifts, abilities, or opportunities has God given you right now, and how are you using them to make a difference in your family, school, or community?
Old Testament Connection
Throughout the Old Testament, God gave people gifts and called them to use those gifts for his purposes. God gave talents to people like David, who used his gifts as a musician and a leader. God's stewardship is a theme that runs through the entire Scripture. Even in the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve the responsibility to care for creation and use it wisely. The prophets warned people about wasting the gifts God had given and about being faithful with what they had been trusted with. Jesus's parable connects directly to this Old Testament principle that God expects us to be faithful stewards of what he has entrusted to us, whether that is money, talents, time, or opportunities. We are not owners of what we have, but managers of God's gifts.
Discussion Questions
Why do you think the third servant buried his talent instead of investing it like the other two servants, and what was he afraid of?
The master said he gave each servant "according to his own ability." What does this mean, and how is it fair that different servants received different amounts?
If the talents represent gifts and abilities that God gives us, what are some ways you can invest your own gifts and talents rather than hide them?
So What? What Can I Do?
Think about the gifts and abilities God has given you. Maybe you are good at sports, music, art, making people laugh, helping others, or solving problems. Maybe you are smart at math or reading, or maybe you are a good friend. These are your talents. This week, look for ways to use at least one of your talents. Do not be like the third servant who buried his talent in fear. Be brave. Offer to help someone using your abilities. Share your gift with others. If you are artistic, create something. If you are athletic, teach someone a new skill. If you are kind, show kindness to someone who is lonely or sad. Use what God has given you. Do not hide it or waste it. When you use your talents for God and for others, you are being a faithful servant, and that makes God happy.
Memorize God's Word
Matthew 25:29: "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance."
• For everyone who has point to different people around you with your hands, as if pointing out all the people in a group.
• will be given more hold your hands open and palms up, then bring them together and expand them outward to show increase and growth.
• and he will have point to yourself and then sweep one arm out in a wide arc to show possession and abundance.
• an abundance spread both arms wide open as far as they will go to show something very full and overflowing with plenty.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank you for giving each of us gifts, abilities, and talents. Help us to see what you have given us and to use it wisely and faithfully. Give us courage to try new things and to use our gifts to help others and to serve you. Help us not to be afraid or lazy, but to work hard and make the most of what you have entrusted to us. When we use our gifts, help us to remember that they come from you and that we want to use them in ways that honor you. Thank you for believing in us and giving us the chance to grow and become more. We want to be faithful servants. Amen.
Craft or Activity
Gifts and Talents Discovery Box
Create a personalized box where you can list and decorate your own gifts and talents, and brainstorm ways you can use them this week.
How to Make the Gifts and Talents Discovery Box:
- Decorate your box with markers, stickers, and construction paper. Draw pictures or write words that represent talents and gifts, like musical notes, paintbrushes, sports equipment, or helping hands.
- Cut strips of index cards or small squares of paper.
- On each strip, write one gift or talent that you have. For example, "I am good at drawing," "I am a kind friend," "I am fast at running," or "I am good at making people laugh."
- For each talent, write one way you could use it this week. For example, if you are good at drawing, you could draw a picture for someone. If you are a kind friend, you could invite someone new to play.
- Put all your talent strips into your decorated box.
- Each day this week, pull out one strip and do the activity you wrote. Track how many talents you use by putting a sticker or check mark on a chart.
- Keep your box in a place where you will see it as a reminder to use your gifts and invest them wisely.
Effective Teaching Techniques
This parable teaches about responsibility and productivity, which can feel abstract to younger children, so use concrete language and examples. When you say "talents," explain that in Bible times, a talent was money, but you can also talk about talents as gifts and abilities. Help kids understand that "investing" means trying to make something grow or better. For younger elementary students, emphasize the simple message: use what you have, do not hide it or waste it. For older students, discuss the concept of risk and faith, and how the first two servants trusted the master enough to take a chance. You can have kids role-play the three servants to help them understand the story better. Before telling the story, ask kids to think of a talent they have. After the story, have them pair up and tell their partner one way they could use that talent. This helps make the lesson personal and actionable. The tone of the story might seem harsh to some children because the third servant loses his talent, so frame it compassionately. Explain that the master wanted all his servants to try and to grow. The goal is not to make kids fear being wrong, but to encourage them to be brave and use what they have been given. Emphasize that every person has talents, even if they are different from other people's talents, and that God values all of them.