Read the passage and respond to these questions:
            1.  What theme does the parable of the talents share in common with the Parable of the Ten Virgins (vs. 1-13) and the event depicted in vs. 31-46?
            2.  With what “talent” has God entrusted you to invest for His kingdom?  Is it earning interest or sitting in a safe place gathering dust?
As Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure, he is telling a series of stories to help them see Kingdom realities.  The most relevant one right now is that he will be leaving, entrusting some task to them, and returning at a later date.  He doesn’t leave his followers without resources, however; but it is up to them to use those resources cleverly and productively.  To those who make the most of the situation, he will reward with greater resources and responsibilities.  To those who squander their opportunity, he will withhold further resources.  It’s as simple as that.  So the moral of the story is, use what you have been given and make the most of your life until he comes again.  You snooze, you lose!
So why is this passage here, while we’re in suspense about this last week in Jesus’ life?  Because Jesus is preparing us, too, for a productive in-between time while we await his coming (or our own passing from this life to the next).  He is saying that this life has meaning, the present responsibilities are building blocks for future work, and he is interested in the outcome.  Dallas Willard, in both Divine Conspiracy and Renovation of the Heart, makes the point that if Christ’s life were interpreted mainly as a “sin management gospel,” the only important thing he did was die and the only thing meaningful to human beings is what happens to them when they die.  (If you know Jesus, your sins are forgiven, and you go to heaven.)  But Jesus lived a full life from birth to death for a reason: to redeem human existence and to give meaning to the work we are doing now, in this life!  So this parable is an encouragement to invest ourselves in Kingdom business, alert to the coming of our Master, and equipping ourselves for the work we will do in heaven. (What?  See Revelation 5:10.)
Prayer
Lord, I know there is plenty to do while I await your return.  Help me not to give up, but more than that, to be creative and clever with the resources you have given me, for the building of your Kingdom.