Parable of the Talents

[jack]

http://www.discipleship.net/parable/talents.htm (Link chosen at random)

What I never realised when I was told parable of the talents was that a talent was a lot of money. I had the impression of coins, not of nearly someone's weight in gold. Though estimates vary a lot.

Of course, it's hard to establish any kind of comparison because everything would cost different amounts relative to everything else. And gold would be rather differently valued itself.

I hadn't hitherto realise banks were so well established then. Lots of fantasy worlds have some sort of banking, but they generally seem based on english banking as of 17th century.

Apparently you could *lodge* your money somewhere since forever, but I'm not sure when paying interest became the norm. Or how reliable banks were -- from 17th century times there were still "The king takes all your gold" problems :(

Comments

[angelofthenorth.livejournal.com]

The thing is that if we read it as a metaphor, most people who go with the whole of who they are will succeed.

So if someone who is brilliant with money goes into counselling, they won't get very far, compared to someone who goes into business, banking or accountancy.

The point being self-development, rather that just hiding and sticking to what we have and what we know and not adding to it, if you see what I mean.

The other thing is that we have to trust in other people. To gain interest, you have to invest in other people's stuff. Jesus sends people to belong to a community, rather than to live as ascetics a la John the Baptist. Jesus was a sociable so-and-so who liked wine, parties and doing what his mother told him...

Burying would be what a few people did, but not many people would have had cash. In effect, Jesus is saying "don't keep what you have to yourself" - it's not that investment/effort is rewarded in a 1:1 correlation, but that in general good things happen to those who put their heart wholly into something...

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

The thing is that if we read it as a metaphor, most people who go with the whole of who they are will succeed.

That's what I was asking. Some people despite trying what they think is their best, fail by some people's definition. Are we saying that if you try your best, and try to use your best skills for your and everyone else's benefit, and are satisfied with yourself, but external events ended up screwing you over, God will be ok with that? People hearing the parable might not think of success like that, they might think they have to achieve a lot of good stuff, in which case being told they should be able to succeed can actually be intimidating them out of it.