What the Parable of the Talents Teaches Us About Inequality

The preoccupation in our day with inequality - of wealth, power, influence, and ability - could benefit greatly from a careful reading of what Christ says the kingdom of heaven will be like in Matthew 25:14-30. 'The Parable of the Talents' is the story of a master who gave different amounts of money to his three servants before going away for a while. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to the third he gave just one. But when the master returned, two servants had doubled his money, and the third had lazily buried it in a field. And what was the master's response? Did he take the talents from the two servants who had wisely invested to give more to the servant who hadn't? Of course not. One might say then that the kingdom of heaven will be like free market capitalism. To those who have been faithful with a little, more will be given. And those who have squandered rather than stewarded what the Lord gave them, even what little they have will be taken away and given to those who were faithful. So much for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity. And so much for Socialism.