Collection of Talents
Take €1,000, add the talents of the people gathered for worship in St. Andrew’s on Sunday 27th June, throw in the Parable of the Talents, and what do you get?
The answer is: we’ll find out on Sunday 17th October, at our Harvest Service, when we gather in and celebrate the harvest of our talents. In Jesus’ day, a talent was a sum of money - and here’s the story he told:
Jesus said:
It’s like this. A man was going on a trip. He called his servants and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to a third, one. The first went to work and doubled his master’s investment. So did the second. But the third dug a hole and buried the talent he’d been given.
Then the master came back. He was pleased with what the first two had done, doubling his investment, and he said to both ‘Good work. You did well. From now on, you’ll be my partners.’
The third one said to him “Master, I know you don’t suffer fools, that you demand the best. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I hid your money. Here it is, safe and sound.”
The master was furious. “That’s a terrible way to live! You’re right I don’t suffer fools - and that’s exactly what you’ve been! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least” Then he said “Take this man’s talent and give it to the one who risked the most.”
Someone said ”But he already has double…” And the master replied “That’s exactly what I mean. Risk your life for me, and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and you end up with an empty bag.”
TIME… TALENTS… MONEY…
The €1,000 we gave out was donated by a number of people as a gift for the work of the church. It’s already an answer to prayer. Already we’re hearing of interesting things being done with it… an interior designer in South Africa producing designer “inspiration” cushions… a football coach in Malta producing “Keep Fit” leaflets for sale… an 80’s Christian band in Scotland using the money to produce fliers for a reunion concert… across the island, there’ll be a series of coffee mornings, bakery sales, and quizzes… original artwork for sale… and so it goes on.
It’s inspirational. It’s fun. It’s what happens when we take Jesus literally at his word. Words become actions - and the multiplication of these talents will make so much more possible in our mission and ministry!