Article December 12, 1936 Issue

Using Our Talents

PIERREPONT E. TWITCHELL

Jesus often taught his followers in parables. Some of his most valuable messages are brought to us by these stories. Carefully sowing the seed of Truth, he knew that at the right time it would germinate and grow, and that his hearers would awaken to the vastness of Truth.

One such parable concerned certain servants who were entrusted by their lord with sums differing in proportion to their several abilities. At that time one talent constituted a large sum. Our word "talent," which means superior ability, originated from this parable of the talents.

The message in this parable does not rest in the difference in the amounts assigned to the individual servants, it lies in the differing success of the servants in causing these to multiply. Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 6), "The talents He gives we must improve." She also says (ibid., p. 323), "In order to apprehend more, we must put into practice what we already know," adding, "If 'faithful over a few things,' we shall be made rulers over many; but the one unused talent decays and is lost." "Must" is a strong word, indicating that we must use what we have.

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