Parable of the Talents

The Lord acts like a man who, upon having to make a long journey outside his country,  called his servants  and placed  his property  in their hands. And having given five talents to one, two to another and one to another, according to each one’s different abilities, he departed immediately. Then, the one who had received the five talents went out, did business with the money and gained five more. The one who had received two gained two

You cannot serve both God and mammonmore the same way. But the one who had received only one talent dug a hole in the ground and hid his lord’s money therein. Some time later, the servants’ master returned and called them to give an accounting. The one who had received five talents came and presented him with five more, saying, “Master, you placed five talents in my hands; here are five more that I have gained.” His master responded to him, “You good and faithful  servant, since you have been faithful in a small matter, I will entrust you with many others; share in the joy of your master.” The one who had received two talents soon presented himself, saying, “Master, you placed two talents in my hands; here are two more that I have gained.” His master responded to him, “You good and faithful  servant, since you have been faithful  in a small matter, I will entrust you with many others; enter into the joy of your master.” Next, the one who had received only one talent  came and said to him, “Master, I knew that you are a hard man, who reaps where you have not sown and gathers where you have not scattered. Thus, since I was afraid of you, I hid your talent in the ground. Here it is. I am returning what is yours.” The master, however, answered him, “You evil and lazy servant; you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered; thus, you should have at least put my money in the hands of the bankers so that, upon my return, I could have withdrawn  with interest what was mine. Therefore, let his one talent be taken from him and be given to the one who has ten, for to those who already have more will be given and they shall have in abundance, but for him who has nothing,  even what he seems to have will be taken from him. Let that useless servant  be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mt. 25:14-30)