the master of those servants came back
and settled accounts with them.
This will happen suddenly and surprise everyone. The way these "accounts" are now is the way the master finds them. There is no more time for investing or trading. When the cry goes up that the bridegroom is coming there is no more time to get oil for our lamps (cf. Mat. 25:1-13).
For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come
like a thief at night.
So, should we be afraid? Isn't that the whole point of a warning like this? Isn't it God saying, 'I'm coming and I better not find you slacking off', like some sort of Restaurant Stakeout show?
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
When the master returns there is no problem is the restaurant is in good order. And the master has given us all we need to ensure that it is.
"A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
He isn't expecting a dramatic rebranding. All he asks is that we put to use the resources with which we are entrusted. Even if the gifts he give us seem small our reward will be the same as those who receive much more as long as we all put them to good use. The only one who should be afraid of the master's return is the one who "went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master's money." It is as though he was going to run the restaurant with his own resources only. How can the master be anything but offended if we bury the gifts he gives us?
This is especially true since even the smallest gifts the LORD gives us have a huge return on investment when we use them. Even if we are the "wife" who feels hidden away in the recesses of our home we can still do immensely important things to build the kingdom. We need to embrace the gifts the LORD gives us so that we can be "like a fruitful vine". We can't do this without his gifts because, as Jesus tells us, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." A woman who stays united to Jesus and bears much fruit deserves "a reward for her labors" and praise at the city gates. When the master settles accounts with her she will hear the same praise and receive the same reward as all the faithful:
Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master's joy.’
So she has much to teach us. She is humble, hard-working, and generous. She can practice these virtues because she fears the LORD and walks in his ways. Even if her gift seems small in the eyes of the world she does not bury it in shame. This even more important than it seems. In fact, the blessing of the man who fears the LORD is made contingent on the woman's fidelity.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
Even if we feel like we have only been entrusted with little we shouldn't let that justify laziness in using it. Even if it doesn't seem like enough and we're afraid we can't make a difference we're are called to put it to the best use we can. If we are called to bear fruit in hidden ways and small matters let us nevertheless be faithful. If we are called to use our gifts in unglamorous ways let us still use them and not bury them.
Are we buried with our talents this morning? Are we in hiding in the darkness out of fear or laziness? Jesus calls us forth from this burial into new life as children of the light.
When we heed the call we do not need to fear "sudden disaster". We hear the master praise us at the city gates. Before the entire city he invites us to enter into the joy of his kingdom.
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