Bury Not Your Talent

Matthew 25:14-30 is one of the many teaching parables of our Lord Jesus Christ - each filled with unique lessons for every listener.

While praying, the Lord reminded me of two important truths:

• He is faithful and always rewards each person according to the quality of their service (Hebrews 11:6; Revelation 22:12).

• In our world today, some are getting richer while many are getting poorer—and the answer is hidden in this parable.

Lessons to Learn

1. Everyone has been given at least one talent (v. 15).

2. Your talent is given according to your ability. The Giver knew you before you were even conceived (Matt. 25:15; Jer. 1:5).

3. God expects profit on every talent given. He is passionate about fruitfulness, and anything short of that is unacceptable to Him (Luke 13:6–9; Mark 11:12–16, 20–21; John 15:2).

4. To whom much is given, much is required. The one with five talents and the one with two talents both received the same commendation—what matters is fruitfulness, not quantity (v. 15).

5. A day of reckoning will surely come (v. 19, 31–33; 2 Pet. 3:9–10). It will come faster than you think—like a thief in the night.

   • For the profitable: a day of joy, reward, and celebration.

   • For the unprofitable: a day of sorrow, regret, and punishment.

6. The minimum reward for fruitfulness is a hundredfold increase. The five-talents servant gained five more; the two-talents servant gained two more (v. 20, 22).

7. God is just in His rewards. He will give to each according to the quality of their work (Rev. 22:12). You sow nothing—you reap nothing.

8. God accepts no excuses for failure. He knows the gifts He has placed in you and has promised His presence and support (Jer. 1:5; Matt. 28:20b). With Him, failure is not an option.

9. The unprofitable will lose even the little they have (v. 28–29). This is why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer—burying your talent tells God you are unworthy of more.

10. Loss of talent is followed by punishment (v. 30). God created you with purpose, and failure to fulfill it brings judgment.

11. If you are unsure of your calling, ask God. He will guide you (James 1:5).

Note: In this parable, the profitable servants needed only two verses each to report their results and receive rewards, while the unprofitable servant took up nine verses with excuses. Failure wastes time and drains energy.

Why Do Some Bury Their Talents?

The Lord Jesus gave us this parable to not only highlight the reward of faithfulness but also to expose the reasons why some never rise to fruitfulness. Let us look closely at the common reasons why people bury their talents—so we can avoid these pitfalls.

1. Ignorance
Some do not understand the true purpose of the talent entrusted to them. They assume they are simply enriching the Giver, forgetting that the Giver already owns everything. The talent is given for their own growth, reward, and eternal account. The third servant in the parable acted out of ignorance. If he had truly understood the value of his gift and the consequences of neglecting it, he would have put it to work immediately. Instead, he wasted time “cooking up stories” to justify his inaction. Ignorance is not innocence—it is a thief of destiny (Hosea 4:6).

2. A Self-Limiting Mindset
Many bury their talent because they think too little of themselves. They look at their abilities and resources and conclude they cannot succeed. This is not humility—it is unbelief disguised as caution.

• No Faith – 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” They focus only on what they can see, instead of trusting God for what they cannot see.

• Forgetting God’s Promise of Support – “I will be with thee” is God’s assurance from generation to generation (Exod. 3:12; Matt. 28:20).

• Without Faith, It Is Impossible to Please God – Hebrews 11:6 tells us plainly that faith is the currency of heaven. Without it, you cannot access God’s reward—even if you have a talent in hand.

3. Lack of Contentment (1 Timothy 6:6)
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Some compare their talents with others’ and feel shortchanged. They forget that God distributes according to each person’s ability—and that He tests us with what we have before entrusting us with more. Instead of being faithful with their portion, they waste energy envying another man’s portion. This spirit of comparison turns gratitude into complaint, and complaint into unfruitfulness.

4. Laziness
Some simply refuse to work their gift. They hide behind excuses, claiming they are “waiting on God,” when in reality God is waiting on them.

• Proverbs 22:13 – “The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.” Laziness is often packaged as fear or over-caution.

• Proverbs 22:29 – “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings…” Fruitfulness comes through diligence, not wishful thinking.

• Proverbs 6:10 and 24:33–34 warn us that “a little sleep, a little slumber… so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth.” Laziness does not just delay progress—it invites loss.

5. Fear of Risk
Fruitfulness often requires stepping into the unknown. Some bury their talent because they are afraid of failure, criticism, or hardship. But Scripture is filled with examples of those who took risks for God’s glory—and were rewarded:

• Elisha and the Sons of the Prophets (2 Kings 2:1–9) – Elisha risked losing everything to pursue a double portion from Elijah.

• David vs. Goliath (1 Sam. 17) – David risked his life, but gained victory and a throne.

• Jonah (Jonah 1:1) – Jonah initially ran from his assignment because of fear, and it cost him dearly until he obeyed.

• Esther (Esther 4:14–16) – Esther risked her life before the king to save her people, saying, “If I perish, I perish.”

• Ruth – Ruth left her homeland, clung to Naomi, and stepped into the unknown, only to become part of the lineage of Christ.

The reasons people bury their talents may sound different on the surface—ignorance, fear, laziness, envy—but they all have the same outcome: loss of opportunity, loss of reward, and in some cases, loss of the talent itself. It is time to awake from slumber (Rom. 13:11).

As we conclude, let us take these Scriptures to heart, for they are not just closing words but a divine charge to live purposefully and fruitfully.

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Fill your heart and mind with what is wholesome and edifying. The right thoughts will produce the right actions. Guard your mind so that doubt, fear, laziness, and envy do not rob you of the boldness to use your talent for God’s glory.

1 Timothy 6:11–12 – “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called…”
Run from the traps that make men bury their talents—greed, pride, discontentment, and sloth. Instead, actively pursue the virtues that make a servant profitable to the Master. This is a fight, not a casual stroll. Grip your calling with both hands and refuse to let go until you finish your course.

2 Timothy 4:7–8 – “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness…”
Like Paul, aim to finish well. Do not merely start with zeal and end with excuses. Let your testimony at the end of your journey be that you fulfilled your assignment and are ready to receive your reward from the righteous Judge.

Galatians 6:7–9 – “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap… And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
You cannot deceive God; He sees how you have handled the talents He entrusted to you. Keep sowing faithfully, even when it feels unnoticed or unrewarded. Your season of reaping will surely come—do not give up before it does.

Beloved, set your heart on what pleases God, live out your calling with diligence, persevere until the very end, and remember—your reward is certain if you remain faithful. Let us go forward, determined not to bury our talents but to multiply them for His glory.

Bola Lasisi is a surveyor and geo-information specialist. He serves as a Senior Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Netherlands Missions. With a deep love for the Word of God, he is passionate about teaching life-transforming principles from Scripture, helping people apply biblical truths to everyday living. Known for his practical and insightful teaching style, Pastor Bola has become a spiritual father to many, guiding both his biological and numerous spiritual children with wisdom and compassion. He is happily married and continues to inspire lives through his ministry and dedication to God’s work. Check out more of Bola's posts here.

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