Parable of Investing

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man having gone to a far country. Earlier, he gathered his servants and distributed his assets to them. To one, he gave five talents; to another two; and to another, one. He gave them out according to each servant’s ability and left on his journey.

“The one that had received five talents invested it and made five more. So too, the one that had received two gained another two. But the one that had been given one buried his lord’s money in the ground.

“After a long time, those servants’ lord returned and called them to account for his assets. The one who had received five talents came and brought five other talents. He said, ‘Lord, you gave me five talents. Look! Here they are, plus five more.’

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done. You are a good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over this small amount. I’ll give you authority over a large amount. Accept the joy of my approval.’

“The one who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you gave me two talents. Look! Here they are, plus two more.’

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done. You are a good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over this small amount. I’ll give you authority over a large amount. Accept the joy of my approval.’

“Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow and harvesting where you have not scattered. So, I was afraid and hid your talent in the earth. Here is what you gave me of yours.’

“His lord answered him and said, ‘You are a wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I have not scattered. You should have at least deposited my money in the bank. Then when I came, I would have recovered my money and some interest.

“‘So, take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. Those who have will receive abundantly, but those who lack will lose even what they have.

“‘Throw this unprofitable servant into outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“When the Son of man returns in his glory with all the holy angels, then he will sit upon the throne of his glory and all nationalities will come before him. There, he will separate them, like a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep at his right hand, but the goats on the left.

“Then the King say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of my Father; inherit the kingdom that has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world. I was hungry and you fed me; thirsty and you gave me water. I was a stranger and you took me in; naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me; in prison and you came.’

“Then the righteous will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you—or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in—or naked and clothed you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visited you?’

“And the King will answer them and say, ‘I tell you the truth. Where you have done that to one of the least of my brothers, you have done it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Leave. You are cursed with everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Because, when I was hungry you didn’t feed me; and when I was thirsty you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you showed no hospitality—naked and you gave me no clothing; sick and in prison and you didn’t visit me.’

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick in prison, and didn’t care for you?’

“Then we will answer them, and say, ‘I tell you the truth. Since you did not minister to the least of these, you didn’t minister to me.’ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal.”