Article May 5, 1956 Issue

USING OUR TALENTS TO REFLECT LIGHT

P. Lachlan Peck

In our modern and industrialized world one may well wonder how the simple teachings of Christ Jesus can ever apply to our daily life. These teachings extend over every phase of living, from the simple to the complex. His parable of the talents and his command that we should share our light, or spiritual understanding, hold especial meaning for each one of us. These spiritual teachings and admonitions offer the possibility for fulfillment here and today.

When Jesus told of the three men, each being given talents to invest for his master, as recorded in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew, he did not mean that the parable should apply just for that age. Its meaning was to extend through all time. Each of the three men in this parable had the opportunity of investing different numbers of talents for their master. Two of the men invested their talents and finally returned to their master twice the amount with which they started. He rewarded them with much good. The one to whom he had given one talent failed to invest it wisely. Instead, he buried the talent for fear he might lose it. And he did lose the talent by not using it; it was taken from him. This points up clearly the importance of using wisely and intelligently the various talents entrusted to us. In what we today call the Sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus said to those about him (Matt. 5:14—16): "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

What better or more practical way is there for letting our "light so shine before men" than to use the talents given to us for just that purpose? By doing so we are beacons of right spiritual thought and activity, and we are guiding our fellow men on and up to the way eternal. The radiant and peaceful glow of promise goes out to him who is lost or in doubt, in the night of darkness and sorrow, and leads him home to heaven, eternal harmony.

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