It was the one with the smallest gift who left his talent unimproved. In this is given a warning to all who feel that the smallness of their endowments excuses them from service for Christ. If they could do some great thing, how gladly would they undertake it; but because they can serve only in little things, they think themselves justified in doing nothing. In this they err. The Lord in His distribution of gifts is testing character. The man who neglected to improve his talent proved himself an unfaithful servant. Had he received five talents, he would have buried them as he buried the one.... {FLB 163.5}

Det var den med de mindste gaver, som efterlod sit talent ubenyttet. Heri er givet en advarsel til alle som mærker småligheden i deres evner, undskylde dem fra Kristi tjeneste. Hvis de kunne gøre nogle store ting, hvor gladelig ville de så ikke påtage sig det; men fordi de kun kan tjene i små ting, mener de at de selv er retfærdiggjort ved at ikke gøre noget. Heri går de galt. Herren prøver karakteren når han deler Sine gaver ud. Det menneske som ikke udnytter dette talent, viser sig som en upålidelig tjener. Havde han modtaget fem talenter, kunne han have gravet dem ned, som han gravede det ene ned. . . .