Fidelity and Recompense.
I. The teaching of this parable, although addressed at first to the disciples, is not to be limited to them, nor to any who, like them, are charged with the fulfilment of a special duty; it is teaching for us all. It implies a common responsibility for the use of talents which have been universally distributed, although not in equal measure. Talents have been given to us, and they are neither to be hoarded in fruitless avarice nor squandered in unprofitable waste. They are to be laid out, used for God, and so laid out that in wonderful usury they may double themselves in their returns, bringing for this blessed service the gold of holy character and the precious stones gathered from the world's dark mines, and gathered by our hands, to sparkle in the Redeemer's crown.
II. The second thought which I wish to put before you is that this responsibility is all-pervading, it extends to the whole man and to the whole life. It takes in the uncounted trifles, "the thoughts of the heart," the subtle and delicate springs of action, the things done in secret as well as the prominence of characters and circumstance; the tremendous issues of our lives, our crisis, the things which come with observation, and flaunt and flower before the eyes of men. With God the motive determines the value of the action. He takes no account of the great things in man's life asgreat things, nor of small things because of their smallness. He taketh pleasure in great and small equally when they are worthily done done from the same all-pervading, habitual, and almost unconscious desire to make His will the law. It is in the single-hearted obedience, in the fulness of the loyal love, that He rejoices even with exceeding joy.
III. The recompense of fidelity. Faithfulness, though it may have embraced but a little, is not suffered to go without its reward. It is inseparable from the idea of responsibility, and its consequent idea of judgment, that there should be the sanctions of reward and penalty, the rendering to every man according to his deeds. God is certainly not less righteous than man; and if we, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto those who serve us faithfully, how much more shall He in whom eternal justice and infinite compassion blend, both praise and recompense the service which is done for Him! Faithfulness is rewarded: (1) By increased power every duty performed makes future duty easier; (2) by increased responsibility found faithful in a farthing, the man is made "ruler over many things." And this is God's law of recompense, to reward work well done by more and greater work.
W. Morley Punshon, Christian World Pulpit,vol. vi., p. 104; see also Sermons at Union Chapel, Islington,p. 191.