Have you heard it said that those who have much will receive more and those who have little will lose the little they have? What’s up with that? For years I’ve heard this story about three men receiving talents (or money) – one got ten, another five, and the third one. The first two invested what they received and doubled their money. The last one hoarded the seemingly little he had and eventually had it taken away. At first blush, this seems unfair. Why should those blessed with abundance be even more blessed and the one with little lose even that?
The key to understanding the story is to dig deeper. The first two men recognized what they had. We don’t really have something until we know we have it. Imagine a bank account in your name with a million dollars in it – only you have no idea it exists. It’s yours, but do you really have it? Once you recognize it as yours, you can be grateful for it, appreciate its value, and put it to use. Only then do you have it, and only then can it grow. The man who received one talent didn’t appreciate the gift. In fact, the story says he was afraid of the one who gave it to him. Gratitude multiplies and fear diminishes.
With this new understanding of the story, we can stop the next time we feel fear, and look for something to feel grateful for. As Americans, we can certainly find something to appreciate, no matter what our current circumstances. That will shift us from the constriction of fear to the openness of abundance, setting us up to receive with grace and ease, just like the two men in the story.