Matthew 25:14 says, For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  Jesus is still teaching His disciples, and that would mean any who follows Him by faith, about the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus was returning to heaven, a far country, and He was leaving His disciples in charge of everything, especially His gospel message, while He was gone.  This has not changed.  Verse fifteen states, And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.  Not everyone has the same talent, or ability, to do the work of God's kingdom, but all are given a responsibility to serve according to their ability and calling.  These servants did not determine how many talents they would have, but their lord did, just as God determines our capability to serve Him.  Verse sixteen states, Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.  The one with the five talents begin to use them and doubled them for his lord.  When we use the talents that God gives us, it is always for His benefit and glory and not for our own.  Verse seventeen says, And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.  Though he wasn't given as much, the second servant likewise used and doubled what he had been given.  We can only use the talents that God gives us, and we should never be concerned with how many talents someone else has.  Verse eighteen says, But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. The last servant did not use his talent, but buried it.  We should never be guilty of burying, or not using, the talent, or talents, that God gives us.  Verse nineteen says, After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.  No matter how long Jesus tarries in His return, He will return.  These talents never belonged to the servants, but always belonged to their lord, just as everything in the universe belongs to God.  Verse twenty states, And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  This servant faithfully used what his lord had entrusted him with and doubled it.  He was ready for the return of his lord.  Verse twenty-one states, His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  The servant was rewarded for his faithfulness and given even more to rule over.  Notice he was not set free to do whatever he wanted.  He was still responsible to his lord, just as followers of Christ we are always responsible to Him.  Verse twenty-two says, He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.  Then verse twenty-three continues, His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  Though having fewer talents, this servant also doubled them, and was rewarded the same as the servant who started with five talents.  The main point was not the number of talents given, but the wise use of them.  Verse twenty-four says, Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:  Continuing in verse twenty-five, And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.  The servant with one talent came to his lord, not with an increase but with an excuse.  I believe that their lord knew their ability when he entrusted them with the talents, just as God knows our ability when He entrusts us with our talents.  We can only gain things for God if use what He entrusts us with for His glory, and we must never be so afraid of God that we do nothing.  Verse twenty-six declares, His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:  Then continuing in verse twenty-seven, Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.  Just like this servant and his lord, we should know what God wants of us when He becomes our Lord.  God expects us to faithfully use our talents for His glory, and not to be wicked and slothful.  This does not mean that we have to earn our way into heaven, but only that we should use our Goal given talents for His benefit and glory.  Verse twenty-five says, Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.  This unfaithful servant lost what he had, and it was given to the servant with five talents.  Again, this was not about the servants gaining more, but about faithfully using what their lord had entrusted them with for his benefit.  Verse twenty-nine says, For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  I believe that this is a reference to our faithfully using what God has entrusted us with to advance His kingdom.  The servant with one talent did not really know his lord at all, but was only concerned with his own safety.  When we truly know Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we will serve Him with joy and not fear.  Verse thirty declares, And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  As stated already, I believe that this was due to a lack of knowledge of who the lord was, and not because of a lack of material gain for the lord.  We must know Christ and put our faith in Him, or we will likewise be cast into utter darkness when He returns.