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Since when was there a quota for showing love and kindness to your fellow man?

I love that parable, now that I understand it. Good one to bring up.

Notice, it said he gave to them according to their abilities. The only reason why the last dud didn't get to "share in the master's happiness" was because he did NOTHING. It wasn't that he did little, or didn't quite do enough, he did less than the least he could do. he just buried his gift. Returned it back to the master, dirty, unappreciated and not a twinge of increase.

It's not like the master gave him a bunch of stuff he could not handle, or asked too much of him. He gave him what he knew he could do. The servant just chose not to do it.

So in relation to this (not weird) question, there is not a quota to fill. We aren't to show our salvation by works, and works, that's a man made thought. It's usually the case that people like to compare themselves to each other by WHAT THEY DO. The master, however, looks more intently on how they did it. People make up christian quotas to make them selves feel better. to check off things on a list to fulfill their ritualistic needs, not really to be in relationship with anyone.

Bottom line, serving the master is really just doing what you love, taking care of whatever it is that the master has given to you. Family, gifts, friends, associates, school, etc....

I would not have said it if I was not sure. (or I would have at east prefaced it with a warning. I am really careful about that kind of thing. The interpretation is sure. It's pretty straight up. No weird spins or anything. Gave gifts, the last did nothing. The master gave according to their abilities. yeah. that's straight up. Check it out for yourself.

Matthew 25:14-27

The Parable of the Talents
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. (one version even says the least you could have done is...) He failed to even do the least.