Sermon at Petaluma, California, Campground
33
into your eyes, and nobility into your soul. In this light look at the
Christian’s race. Grasp the hand of the Infinite, reached down to save
you. He says, “I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying
unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Remember that in God you have
a mighty Helper.
Parable of the talents
In the parable of the talents, the servant who had five talents traded
upon them wisely, and in the day of reckoning was able to bring
double that number to the master. The one also who had two doubled
his talents. But the man who had one talent hid it in a napkin, and
buried it in the earth. And when the master returned and reckoned with
his servants, the sentence pronounced upon this slothful servant was
“Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath
ten talents.”
Brethren and sisters, what are you doing to prepare yourselves for
a home in glory? Do you realize that to everyone is given his work?
God has not given all the same work. Some have a greater number of
talents than others. Those who have five talents should faithfully trade
upon them. To those who have two talents the Lord says, “Trade upon
your talents, using and improving them to My glory.” We are to use
our talents according to our several abilities.
Remember that you have at least one talent. Resolve by the grace
[32]
of God to use your talent wisely, and see whether you can gain another
one. Thank God that He has manifested His great love to you by
entrusting you even with one talent. By word and action show that you
appreciate this gift, and that you regard it as a treasure greater in value
than anything else you possess. Put your talent out to the exchangers.
If you use it faithfully, you will gain another talent; and by a faithful
use of these two talents, you will gain two more.
One talent
If you have received only one talent, instead of burying it, say, “I
have but one talent, and I must make the most of it. I will be faithful
in the little things, because the Word declares, ‘He that is faithful in
that which is least is faithful also in much.’ I must use to the very best