The Fourth Servant and the Copper Coin
The master of the estate called his four servants before him. He said to them,
“Tomorrow I must depart on my journey to the East. I don’t know how long I will be gone… so I have decided to split up my wealth with you all to invest for me. I am placing my trust in you to increase it considerably for me in my absence. I will give you according to your ability.”
Then he called each up to give then money for investment. The first came up and the master gave him five bags of gold. The first left struggling with the burden, as the second came forward. To the second, he gave two bags of gold. As the second left, the third came forward and was given one bag of gold. As he left the fourth servant came forward. The master gave him one copper coin.
The master wished him well, as he had the others, and was about to signal him to leave until he saw the look of pain on the servant’s face.
“What is wrong? You look disconsolate.”
The fourth servant responded, “Oh Lord, don’t fret yourself. I have no reason to be sad. It is your wealth… and you have no one for whom you need to justify your actions. But… you said you are giving to each according to his abilities, and you gave me just one copper coin.”
“Yes I did. What is your concern?” replied the master.
The fourth servant responded, “Is your opinion of my abilities really so low?”
The master looked at him in confusion for a moment. But then his face turned to a smile as he realized the confusion.
The master laughed and said, “I must not have made it clear. I suppose it is my fault, but why would you think that it is the one with the MOST ability to whom I would give the largest share?”
The fourth servant bowed and left the master. He had work to do.
This story draws from a parable of Jesus in Matthew 25. Although I did add an extra servant, I really did not change much else. I bring this up because readers I think just assume that the one given more wealth must be the one deemed to have more abilities. The text doesn’t actually say that. It would be equally valid to interpret the story as the master giving less to those with more ability. After all, those with less ability may need a little extra help. I am not saying that this is the correct way to view the story. Rather, I am just noting that perhaps we are a bit too quick to presume how God works.
We might too often connect God’s favor with money.
