The Child Talent

Matthew 25:14-30 is the parable Jesus told regarding talents. I have read and reread this parable many times over, each time gleaning a small amount more. This morning I didn't even read it, but as I sat and prayed regarding a conversation I had last evening with one of our children regarding their children, a very quick and extremely informative thought flashed through my mind regarding it. “Children are a form of talents.” Verse 14 says:

For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. ( ESV)

For it is like a man who was about to take a long journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his property. (AMP)

For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (ASV)

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. (NIV)

 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (KJV)

No matter which translation is used, it is His property (or goods in old English terminology) that is entrusted to the servants. Psalm 24:1 says:

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. (NLT)
The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. (NASB)

We are all God's goods or property, even as the animals, plants, air, earth, etc. The passage then goes on to tell us that He gave to one man five talents, another two and to another one according to their personal ability. (vs15 AMP) However many children we have, we must admit first of all that they are not our own, but God's and secondly that, even though they are His, they are our responsibility. This should instill enough fear in our hearts to get us moving in the right direction, but as can be seen with the third servant, all too often causes us to do the opposite. In fear of making a mistake, we give in to the false doctrine of allowing our children to choose if they will attend church, choose if they will participate in giving of themselves, etc. We think we are giving our children “freedom” and “blessings” when in effect we are placing them in bondage to the things of this world by giving them what they want rather than what they need.

The question then arises in my heart, “How well have I invested the children God has given me? Have I invested them in the Kingdom or the world? Did I teach them all they needed to know in order to continue the growth in talents by investing the children God entrusts to their care? Have I shown them how to go about it?” The answer that arises in my heart is that I gave it my best. I could have done better had I known how, but I did what I believed best at the time and have to trust God to bring about the increase. (I Corinthians 3:6) It would be easy for me to fall into a pit here, because I have grown much since my children were little. I can look back and see now what I could have done differently. This would not change a thing and God tells me not to dwell on negativity. (Philippians 4:8) So what can be done then to continue helping the investment grow as much as possible?

But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren ...Deuteronomy 4:9 (NLT)

Sharing with our children and grandchildren the things we have learned and witnessed about God in life is the answer. Sometimes this is difficult to say the least. We may have to point out an error they are making in the investments of their little talents. However, we must count the cost! Do we want our children and grandchildren to continue the investment or do we sit by and watch as the profits dwindle?

Ultimately it is our personal choice.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, Master, you entrusted to me five talents; see, here I have gained five talents more.
21 His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, [b]admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the [c]blessedness) which your master enjoys.
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you entrusted two talents to me; here I have gained two talents more.
23 His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, [d]admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the [e]blessedness) which your master enjoys.
24 He who had received one talent also came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a harsh and hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you had not winnowed [the grain].
25 So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is your own.
26 But his master answered him, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap where I have not sowed and gather [grain] where I have not winnowed?
27 Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. (Matthew 25 AMP)

In my heart verse 27 could cry out to us, “Then you should have at least taken your children to Sunday School and/or Children's Worship where they could learn about me from someone else!”

What God really wants though is for us to make the investment of our children by example, teaching and living for Jesus by not only taking them to church, but going and being the Church ourselves.

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27 (NAS)

Father, I am doing the best I know to do. Continue to reveal to me the things necessary to continue investing our children and grandchildren so they can become wonderful stewards of the children You entrust to them. May our entire family grow in wisdom, understanding, and all the luscious fruit of the Spirit, that our legacy might bring honor and glory to Your most holy name rather than our own.  Reveal to Your children the need to not only invest our children wisely, but to make right and godly choices that influence our children and grandchildren to invest of themselves for Your kingdom as well.