BACK TALENTS 5'2m0f The parable of the talents ED -- And now, sit down, put your feet up, relax and listen to another edition of... Parables on Parade. Tonight's parable comes from Matthew chapter 25 beginning at verse 5. "Again , it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money." FRED -- Okay, I'll take if from here. ED -- You again. Alright, I'll bite, why are you wearing a three-piece suit? FRED -- I am thinking about becoming a certified investment counselor. ED -- Oh, don't tell me. You're taking another night school class at the Junior college. FRED -- Well, not exactly. ED -- You're taking a correspondence course? FRED -- Well, no. ED -- Correspondence school? FRED -- No. ED -- A one-day seminar? FRED -- Well, alright, I read a pamphlet. ED -- A pamphlet. FRED -- But is was a thick pamphlet. ED -- Oh, brother. What does a pamphlet have to do with the parable of the talents? FRED -- Well, if this guy had had good investment advice, he wouldn't have had to just buried his money. ED -- And I'm sure you're going to tell our listeners all about it. FRED -- As a matter of fact, I am. That's why I brought this flip chart. (paper noise) ED -- You realize, of course, that our listeners can't see your flip charts? FRED -- But they're in color. ED -- Oh, then I'm sorry I interrupted. FRED -- (paper noise) First, the small investor can get a pretty fair rate of return on a 6-month CD. ED -- They didn't have CDs in Jesus' day. FRED -- (paper noise) Then, an annuity is just the thing. Very secure and it also has a fair rate of return. ED -- No, annuities either. FRED -- (paper noise) Then, no-load mutual funds are just the right solution. ED -- Try again. FRED -- (paper noise) Commodity futures are a little risky but the upside potential is... ED -- Sorry. FRED -- Are you sure? Pork Bellies are definitely on the rise. ED -- Try again. FRED -- (paper noise) Then, I am pleased to present limited partnerships. ED -- Nope. FRED -- Well, what DID they have to invest in in Jesus' time. ED -- They could either loan their money to someone who they knew would pay it back with interest, or they could deposit it with a broker, who would combine several deposits and loan the money to other businessmen. FRED -- (paper noise) We still haven't talked about T-bills. ED -- Sorry, there were no T-bills. FRED -- Tune in next time for another edition of Parables on Para... ED -- Wait a minute. YOU started this discussion. Tell our listeners, how SHOULD the man with only one talent invest his money? Should he loan it to a friend or deposit it with a broker? FRED -- Tune in next time for another edition of Parables on Para... ED -- Not so fast. Answer the question. FRED -- Well, if his friends are anything like mine, I wouldn't trust them to pay back a drachma, let alone a whole talent. ED -- So, as his investment counselor dressed in a three-piece suit, you wouldn't recommend that he loan it to a friend? FRED -- No way. ED -- So, what about a broker? FRED -- What do we know about this broker joker? No way. But, right here on my full color flip chart (paper noise) we have municipal bonds. ED -- Sorry. FRED -- They're tax exempt with an excellent interest rate. ED -- No such investment in Jesus' time. What about the broker? FRED -- I don't trust brokers. The first part of the word BROKER is BROKE. No thanks. ED -- So, doesn't that bring us back to burying the money? FRED -- That may not be so bad after all. What's the worst that could happen? ED -- According to Jesus, this parable is not about investments at all, but about rewarding those who take risks to invest the gifts God has given them. No risks, no rewards.. FRED -- No rewards, huh? On the other hand, maybe a broker wouldn't be a bad way to go. I'll have to think about that. ED -- Too late! The master has already returned and is asking for an accounting. You lose! Tune in next time for another edition of Parables on Parade. FRED -- (afar) You sure they didn't have pork bellies in those days? ED -- (afar) They were Jewish. What do you think? FRED -- (afar) Oh. ©2001 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.fea.net/bobsnook email: bobsnook@fea.net BACK |