Hopefully you can’t tell the difference (‘cause everything still works?) but I’ve just upgraded my WordPress installation to 2.2.1… A little overdue considering I was way back on 1.5.something. I notice, of course, that my photos haven’t worked for a while. I’ll probably try to upgrade it to some sort of thing that looks at Picasa at some point, since that’s where I store my pictures these days. Does anyone have recommendations?
But re: Talents… This is one of the many things I’ve been thinking about in the past few days. You probably know how the parable goes, but roughly, some benevolent-master-type goes off to a distant country, but before he does, he gives his servants some money, each according to their ability. To person #1 (let’s call her Andrea), he gives five talents (which was a pretty hefty sum of money), to person #2 (Boris), he gives two, and to Chucky, he gives a measly one. He gave to each in accordance with their abilities. Well, they do various stuff with the money and then after a while he comes back. Andrea has made five on top of her original five, Boris has made two on top of his original two, and Chucky just buried his in the ground and gives him the original one back. The master is really happy with Andrea and Boris, but rips into Chucky.
So what have I been thinking about? Seems straightforward enough, doesn’t it? I’d never really paid a whole lot of attention beyond “Be like A or B. Don’t be like C.” As I’ve been thinking about it some more, though, I realized that that a lot of my angst has been trying to figure out whether I was A or B, and fearing that I was C. Let me explain:
The “problem” with this parable is that it’s too neat. A has 5 and makes 5 and the master is happy. B has 2 and makes 2. But what if A had 5 and made 2? What if A made 6? Would the master be more happy? Less? And as I asked above, are we A or B and how do we know when we’ve made “enough”? Perhaps that’s the wrong question, but I think it has to be asked.
Not to be arrogant or anything, but I’ve always considered myself to be A. Most everyone who’s reading this is A too… middle-class or higher in the U.S. and college educated. Yeah, we’ve been given a lot of “talents.” This, of course, means that I want to get A’s return on investment. But how do you define that? See the problem?
Part of why I’m on my current career path is because I’m trying to make sure I make my five more. As the VP (and eventually Prez or COO or some other similar title) of a growing business, I’m making a case for the next company that I work for. I think it’s honestly tough for an Asian American to get noticed in the workplace, and so I’m making the most of a place where I’ve already proven myself and been given some reward for it. The next place (hopefully somewhere like World Vision) or something, I’ll theoretically just get to execute rather than working myself up again from the bottom.
Since I don’t really know how God measures things, my best measure is the world’s standards where people who make money and have influence are considered “better.” And having money and influence and using them for God’s purposes… I find it tough to imagine that that’s not at least somewhat useful.
But is it five talents? That’s the question, and I don’t know the answer to that. I’ve probably already disregarded some career paths because I figured I couldn’t make the right ROI in them. I think (subconsciously), “Yeah, that might be an interesting career path, but I could make three, maybe four tops, there.”
But as we know, God’s measurements have always been upside-down, so someone like Mother Teresa, whose career path I probably wouldn’t have even considered (donation-supported caring for the terminally ill), has made a few thousand talents off what she was given. And I’m left to wonder, how do I really contribute the most to God’s purposes? How does my one small life make a difference for the poorest of the poor? How do I effect justice in an unjust world? Probably not by becoming some cog in the machine at World Vision (faithful as they are). But where? How?
As you might imagine, this becomes even more important now that I’m engaged. My fiancée has such talent and vision that if I don’t find my voice, I’m liable to get overpowered and subsumed in hers. Fortunately, I know that we both have the potential for even greater voices than we have right now, so I don’t worry too much about it… but I know that if I’m complacent and I stop looking, then, well, she’d be marrying the wrong guy. I don’t think she is. :) I think we’re very right for each other!
So… What do you think? How many talents were you given, and how do you measure the talents you’ve earned? (And I know that’s probably the wrong question, so what is the right question?) I know we’re all still figuring stuff out, but I’d like to think we know a little bit more than what we knew back in college…
It’s so wonderful that you are taking some time to jot down your thoughts on these very important issues! I think you bring up some interesting points that I had never thought about before. I do believe that God has given you many talents, and I have faith that He will direct you (and us) to the kind of work that will be meaningful not only to us but to others.
July 8th, 2007 | Permalink
This is a provocative post and here’s a rambling response. I never thought of the talents as having anything to do with actual money or career or class, at least not exclusively. I think that God is far less interested in our career paths than he is in how we live our lives, whether we love our neighbors and stuff like that. To me, the talents were always more about spiritual capital and how I’ve used the raw material God has given me as a unique human being. I doubt Jesus actually cared about specific amounts for the returns, but about the desire to bring a return. The amounts he gave just make the point clearly and are easy to remember. Chucky just stuck his in the ground and left it, hid it, repressed it. Ok so for example, like you said, I have advanced degrees, privileges, etc., that in a sense are “talents” that I need to leverage for the Kingdom. But I have other less lovely or obvious “talents”, such as singleness and depression. I wrestle with the gnawing suspicion that these are also things God has thrown into my life that I’m somehow supposed to use to his advantage and to bless others. How am I leveraging those for the Kingdom?
July 9th, 2007 | Permalink
I think you’re right that the talents don’t have to do exclusively with money/career/class, but I feel like the translation to that aspect is an obvious and legitimate one. And with all the injustice in the world, I think it is hard for me to imagine living a full life without my whole life (including job) being dedicated in some way to the bringing of justice. Now I guess that doesn’t necessarily mean that my job has to be in that space, but it’s highly likely, given the amount of time most people spend at work. Scale is a big question for me though… I sometimes hear things like, “Well, we invested thousands of dollars and countless hours into this effort, and if only one person was touched, it was all worth it.” That line of reasoning makes me mad… Thousands of dollars and countless hours can also affect thousands of lives… Isn’t that arguably better at some level? Now, granted, no one knows God’s heart and mind completely, and I won’t go so far as to say the numbers are all that God cares about, but still… Part of the problem of evangelical America is that we’re pouring all this effort into some problems, while totally ignoring others.
Sorry, I got off on a digression, and I certainly know that I wasn’t addressing your concern. Career is just something I think a lot about these days because I want to make sure I’m maximizing all of my time for God, and I spend quite a lot of it at work!
Your reply is intriguing, but I’m not sure that I totally agree. I think God brings good out of all things, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he causes all things. “Singleness” can arguably be a good thing (though many people who are single don’t think so), but it’s hard to make the case that “depression” is inherently a good thing. Nor do I think that depressed Christians should necessarily go and seek out other depressed people because they’re uniquely gifted in ministering to them or otherwise “leverage” their depression (note that I’m not saying they shouldn’t either!). I don’t really know the answer. Sorry.
Now as to my question of “What if A made 6? What if A made 4?”: the underlying question to my question is, “How much is enough?” And, “How do I know if I’m not giving enough?” The answer to the first is clear… your whole life. God is pretty clear that he’ll take no less than everything, though of course since he’s also the source of everything we’ll also always be “full”. But the answer to the second? There are no pat answers there… Generations of conditioning have led me to believe that I’m never giving enough… so how do I find healing there?
July 10th, 2007 | Permalink
I guess my perspective comes from a belief borne out of personal experience that God expects me to use all aspects of my personality and humanity to bring him glory. That includes both the good things we’d normally consider gifts, as well as the negative things we might usually consider problems that need to be prayed or healed away. And I don’t mean that you have to build a ministry based on your flaws or whatever. I just think that when I stand before God, he might say, Now you had issue X in your life. How did you live with it in such a way that it brought me glory or blessed others? And I don’t want to be stuck saying, Well, God, actually, nothing except I just tried to pray it away. Then I think I would be in the same position as C.
As for the whole justice issue… I’m doubtful. I’m doubtful that that’s where we’re supposed to be putting so many of our eggs. Not that Christians aren’t supposed to be doing justice, but I just don’t think it’s supposed to be primary. I honestly don’t think God is going to ask me, Kevin, did you do justice? (I’m not sure God will actually be asking any of these kinds of questions, but just in case…) I think I’m supposed to love him with all my heart, soul, and strength, and love my neighbor as myself, and for my shortcomings in that there’s all kinds of grace. Jesus said that the world will know us by our love, not our justice. Justice is a by-product of love. Any do-gooder pagan can do justice. Only followers of Jesus can express God’s love. Anyway, that’s becoming a tangent.
I can’t seem to formulate a response to your last paragraph that satisifies me, even though I’ve been trying. The interesting line in the parable is that each servant was given talents “each according to his ability.” And another interesting thing is that the Master would’ve been satisfied if C had only given him back the talent with a little interest, not doubled like A and B. So again, worrying about the amount is maybe missing the point of the parable. I’m not sure this parable is teaching what you are saying, that God expects everything. And I’m certain that God is not saying you are never giving enough. Isn’t Jesus just saying, be faithful with what you’ve been given and live always in a Godward way. Instead of asking, “How do I know if I’m not giving enough?” change the question to “How can I be faithful with what I’ve been given?” They are entirely different questions. The first produces worry, uncertainty, and self-abuse (ie, I’m so lousy. I’m no better than C). The other results in a God-focused, forward-oriented life.
Anyway, I guess you hit a nerve with me here.
July 10th, 2007 | Permalink
Although, having said all that, career is an important part of the mix. That’s why I’m in the career I’m in (if I actually am in a career. I’m not certain yet.) I want to be all for God. I want my whole life to be in his direction. And for the life of me, I can’t see any other way to do it other than through professional ministry. Believe me, I’ve tried to find another way and I just can’t see it working. This is just me, and I know it doesn’t go for most people. But maybe you and I are wrestling with the same issue, the same desire or need to give enough back to God.
July 10th, 2007 | Permalink
Boy. I’m actually having an interesting discussion on my blog! Who’d‘ve thunk? I gotta keep writing, and maybe eventually I’ll say something good and it won’t just be Kevin being profound.
But in all seriousness, I think it’s an interesting perspective to use the things in our lives that seem like flaws in ways to bring glory to God. I’m not convinced that that’s true, but I think it’s definitely worth thinking about. Hmm… In a manner of speaking, Larry Wall used his allergies to steer him on a path not of his own choosing, ultimately allowing him to invent Perl, which was arguably more useful to the kingdom of God than if he had been a missionary. Well… I’m taking a lot of liberties with that story, but I think it’s interesting so for those who care… Interview with Larry Wall
On the other hand, many of us have enough trouble trying to use the things in our lives that everyone would consider gifts/blessings in order to glorify God rather than to benefit ourselves. That’s where I’m going to start anyway.
As for justice, like Kevin and professional ministry, I think that I simply can’t fathom life/calling without it being centrally about addressing injustice in this world. I think it’s not enough for me to give money to the effort… I want to be in there 100%. But to Kevin’s point, that’s just me, and not necessarily for everyone.
As for C giving back just one talent plus interest, I think the strong implication is that the master would have been satisfied, but not pleased. In fact, now that I think of it, that might be why A made 5 out of 5… because she did give her everything to the effort. I think it’s hard to know for sure from this parable alone, but I suspect the sort of God who says “No other gods before me” wants us to give him 100%. And whether or not he really does want that, that’s what I want to give him, so it’s a moot point anyway.
Anyway, I think it actually does matter what the amount is. I just think that it’s difficult to measure the amount, which was the point of the original post: I might see 3 talents when there are really 2 or 4. I do think that Kevin’s right that the question should be “How can I be faithful with what I’ve been given?” but for a performance oriented Asian American, it’s hard not to ask the other question, whether or not it’s ultimately helpful.
But yeah… I think both Kevin and I (and hopefully some other of you readers!) are wanting to “give enough back to God.” I think I want that, not for God’s sake, but for my own!
July 13th, 2007 | Permalink
Time for me to be profound again. Right!
It’s funny, since you raised this, I think I’ve thought about this every day. I have been convicted by the feeling that I’m not giving enough back. I suppose if it were just a generalized conviction it wouldn’t be meaningful, but there have been a couple very specific things that have pointed to my need for growth in this.
How do we balance grace with responsibility? I mean, realistically, nobody is giving God a big enough return on his investment. We all fall short. We all fail in various ways. We all steal from him. So does God actually expect a large return, or does he follow the old evangelical line and see Jesus when he looks at us?
On a side note, I’ve been reading an incredible book by a left-wing liberal convert to liberal Christianity called Take This Bread. In it, she describes her really amazing journey of experiencing Christ through the communion bread and wine, and then believing that as someone who now “eats” Jesus, she has no choice but to extend the food of the communion table to the hungry poor. But she doesn’t give out of some sense of obligation to God, but rather out of a proufound sense of gratitude and union with Christ.
July 23rd, 2007 | Permalink
Though in some ways it might have been a side note, I feel like your last paragraph is at the heart of this discussion. Whatever we give to God is because he first loved us. I suppose one could read that as obligation, but I definitely believe that God desires us to give to him simply because it’s the best thing for us to do, that we couldn’t possibly do anything else, given the reality of sin and the profundity of grace.
You’re right, of course, that we will always fall short, but I just want to keep trying, not because God needs it, but because I need it! The question of responsibility/grace is an interesting one; it parallels (in some ways) the question I’ve always had about balancing prayer/action… It’s for wiser minds than mine to debate, but I will continue to act as though I’m responsible and rejoice that there’s grace!
As for Kevin’s feeling, I’m just praying that that’s really a message from God, and I’m not leading my Cardinal Captain astray!
July 24th, 2007 | Permalink