New Testament Stories

A Story About Money

For it is just like a man to go on a journey, who called his own slave, and entrusted his possessions to them.   Matthew 25:14

                              This is a story Jesus told.

     A man called all his servants together and said, " I am going on a trip. I will give each of you some money to take care of for me."

     Then he gave each one as much money as he thought they could take care of. To the first one he gave five coins. To the second he gave two gold coins. To the third he gave one gold coin.

     Then he went away for a long time. When he got back he called his servants. "How have you taken care of my money?" he asked.

     The first one said, "Master, I took the first five gold talents to earn five more." Then he gave his master the ten coins.

     "Well done!" said the man. "You are a good and faithful servant. A person who can be faithful with a little bit will be put in charge of more." And he made the servant one of his managers.

     The second one said, "Master, I took the two gold talents you left with me and used them to earn two more."

     "Well done!" said the man. "You are a good and faithful servant, too!" And he made that servant one of his managers.

     Then the third servant came and said, "I know you are a very careful man. You try to get every cent you can out of anything you do. So I was afraid. I took the money you gave me, and wrapped it up, and buried it in my yard. Here it is."

     He thought his master would be pleased.  But the man said, " You lazy, wicked servant! You know I like to get every cent out of anything I do. So you should have taken the money to the bank, where it could have earned more money.

     And with that, he took the one coin from the lazy servant and gave it to the one who had earned five. Then he threw the lazy one out of the house.