Matthew 25:14-30 

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25:14-15

Jesus was telling several parables describing the Kingdom of God. He said, "It’s like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one servant he entrusted five bags of gold, to another two bags, to a third one bag, depending on their abilities. Then he left.

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25:16-18

Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single bag of gold dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.

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25:19-21

After a long absence, the man came back and settled up with them. The one given five bags of gold showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on you’ll be my partner.'

 

25:22-23

The servant with the two bags of gold showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on you’ll be my partner.'

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25:24-25

The servant given one bag of gold said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and you hate carelessness. You demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place to keep your gold. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last ounce.'

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25:26-27

The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do nothing? The least you could have done would have been to invest the gold with bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

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25:28-30

Take his one bag of gold and give it to the one who risked the most. As it’s often said, ‘Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And let’s be done with this "play-it-safe" person who won't go out on a limb. He might as well be tossed into the outer darkness.”