THE parable of the talents supplies a concise summary of the teachings of Christ Jesus as to individual responsibility and achievement. Fulfillment is to be measured on the scale of opportunity; and the performance of each task will determine the greatness of the reward. The opportunities and the rewards which others may appear to enjoy will cease to tempt us through envy or disappointment, as we become alert enough to recognize that under God's self-fulfilling law of justice and love our present need is always satisfied.
In human experience, as Solomon perceived when he attained to king ship, our need is primarily for a more spiritualized discernment of our actual opportunity and of our capacity to possess it. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God," declared the Master. And on page 213 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy says significantly, "No risk is so stupendous as to neglect opportunities which God giveth."
According to Luke's account of the parable, the one who allowed his "pound" to lie idle excused his neglect on the ground that he feared lest his lord should expect a greater return than he might be able to earn for him. "Fear was the first manifestation of the error of material sense," Mrs. Eddy writes on page 532 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," unveiling, in the language of inspiration, the inward meaning of the Bible story of Adam's failure to make good his opportunity.
