“Talent” is usually defined as a group of aptitudes useful for some activity, or talents may refer to aptitudes themselves. A “talent” may also refer to an ancient unit of mass and value as well as corresponding units of value equivalent to these masses of a precious metal. The heavy common talent, used in New Testament times, was about 130 pounds. A Greek Talent was about 75 pounds.
The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 says “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” (KJV) This story is sometimes referred to as the Parable of the Bags of Gold (NIV) or the Parable of the Three Servants (NLT) which refers to silver rather than gold. With the price of gold well over $16,000 per pound or even silver around $500 per pound, 75-130 pounds of precious metal is a lot of money. Regardless of the exact monetary value today, you might call the value of a talent a small fortune.
The first two servants doubled their money for the master. Do you remember the fate of the third servant who buried his talent for safe keeping? He was thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I find it interesting that the word “talent” has two different meanings. God-given spiritual gifts are of great value too! In the Greatest Commandment in Matthew 22, Jesus says to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.
What gifts do you have to love your God? Artistry, Craftsmanship, Giving, Music, Faith, Prayer, etc.
What gifts do you have to love your neighbor? Communication, Leadership, Pastor, Teaching, Wisdom, Helping, Hospitality, etc.
Are you using your talents and gifts to the best of your ability so you are a good and faithful servant?
David Robert Lambert 