God that worketh in you", that is the "one pound" aspect, "Thy pound has gained", with

no reference to the individual ability.  The word "gain" is an important word in

Philippians.

Once more gain or reward is the theme in the second parable (of the Pounds). In both

parables the unprofitable servant hides the money; the one in the earth, the other in a

napkin. His words that he knew his lord "reaped where he had not sown" was false as an

excuse, yet there was truth there, for the Lord reaps where He has not sown in the loving

service of His people, for they "work out" what He has "worked in".

The faithful servant in each case is rewarded according to the amount gained.  In

both cases they are made rulers and this is parallel to the reigning with Christ expressed

in II Tim. 2: 11, 12 for those who suffer and endure with Him. Living with Christ is one

thing;  reigning and ruling with Him is another, that associated with the faithful

overcomer which can be lost by unfaithfulness or slackness.

The punishment of the lazy servant is severe, like the one who is "saved so as by fire"

(I Cor. 3: 14, 15), the fire of God's holiness consuming all his service so that he has

nothing left to offer to the Lord.

The standard of judgment when the master returned was the same for each of the three

men, even though they were entrusted with differing amount of money. Each man

received an amount commensurate with his ability to handle it, and the judgment of the

master was how well he had done relative to that ability. The point here is faithfulness,

not just volume or quantity.

There is no substitute ever for faithfulness or loyalty. "It is required in stewards, that a

man be found faithful" (I Cor. 4: 2), not necessarily successful as the world counts

success. God is wanting servants on whom He can place complete reliance. Each of the

three servants received praise from his master, "Well done, good and faithful servant!".

We do not employ persons we cannot trust who prove to be unreliable. Why should any

expect God to do it?

In the parable, the lord wanted those to whom he had given the talents, to use them

and make them productive for him while he was away. The first two did this, the third

did not because he imputed to his lord unworthy motives, and even when he did this he

was not consistent, for if the lord was a hard man, then this servant should have invested

the money to have something to offer on his return. The real reason why he did nothing

was because he was basically lazy. He did nothing and therefore he had nothing to offer.

We do well to remember that we have nothing but what we have been given. Even

time is a precious gift. Oh to be concerned to use it primarily for the Lord's glory and not

our own! There will be a last day of service for the Lord for all of us. While we have

time and opportunity, may we constantly make it fruitful for Him!