His master answered him, “You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 25:26-30).

What’s the difference between the first two servants and the third servant? Faithfulness. The first two servants received their talents graciously, and they faithfully served their master by using those resources to do the work their master would be pleased in their doing. The third servant focused on himself rather than his master. He didn’t want to work; he didn’t want to take risks. So he did nothing. He was unfaithful.

One thing that the unfaithful servant does acknowledge is the character of the Master. You could say all three servants acknowledge the character of the Master. You might have read this before and thought, “What does this mean?” Consider this interpretation that brings out a meaning for us today that is very sensible. The wicked servant judged his Master based on a flawed understanding of GRACE. Some may think the Master was wicked and exploited the talents of others by robbing them of their hard earned fruit; however, what does the story reveal about the Master? He gives to those who have not themselves worked for it. I’m taken back to the Promised Land and the story of Israel. It says something of God’s grace when He gives to Israel all the fruitfulness of the Promised Land that comes from the toil of another. Some in Israel wanted the status quo to remain and refuse to share the wealth of their godly potential. Men like Joshua and Caleb took advantage of the grace of God and by sowing it’s promise found a future reward that would benefit generations to follow. When you think about it, all people have been given a chance to experience God’s grace (Romans 1:19, 20) and have opportunity to work for a return from it. The wicked of the world who stifle such grace accuse God as being a tyrant and a hard man continuing to “show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4) whereas others who benefit from God’s redemption will appreciate Him as a benevolent benefactor.