Jesus told the parable of the bags of gold as a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our own abilities. The parable doesn’t concern natural gifts; it concerns the gift of the Holy Spirit. We must not measure our spiritual abilities by our natural abilities. Spiritual capacity has nothing to do with intellect or education; it is measured by the promises of God.
If we get less, spiritually speaking, than God wants us to have, sooner or later we will slander him. We will say to God, “You expect more of me than you’ve given me power to do.” Or, “I can’t be true to you where you’ve placed me.” Never say, “I can’t” when it’s a question of God’s almighty Spirit. Never let your natural limitations factor in. If we’ve received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be manifested in us, no matter what.
In the parable, the unworthy servant tries to justify himself at every turn. He slanders his master, complaining that his master’s demands are too high and expressing doubts and worries about what he’s been asked to do (Matthew 25:24). Have we been slandering God by daring to worry? Have we forgotten Matthew 6:33: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you”? Worrying means exactly what the unworthy servant implied: “I know you intend to leave me high and dry.” The person who is lazy is always full of anxious self-pity, always saying, “I haven’t been given a decent chance.” The person who is spiritually lazy is like this with God.
Never forget that your capacity in spiritual matters is measured by the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill his promises? How you answer depends on whether or not you’ve received the Holy Spirit.
