Mat 25:14-30, Luk 19:12-26, Rom 12:6-8, 1Th 5:19, 2Ti 1:6, 1Pe 4:9-11 | ESV | STEP | For it will be like a man going on a journey , who called his servants and entrusted to them his property .

14 ^a“For ^bit will be like a man ^cgoing on a journey, who called his servants ^{▼▼Greek bondservants; also verse 19} and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five ^etalents, ^{▼▼A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer} to another two, to another one, ^gto each according to his ability. Then he ^hwent away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and ⁱdug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now ^jafter a long time the master of those servants came and ^ksettled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and ^lfaithful servant. ^{▼▼Greek bondservant; also verses 23, 26, 30} ⁿYou have been faithful over a little; ^oI will set you over much. Enter into ^pthe joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be ^qa hard man, reaping ^rwhere you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, ^syou have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You ^twicked and ^uslothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 ^vFor to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And ^wcast ^xthe worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place ^ythere will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Luke 19:12-26

12 He said therefore, ^z“A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ^aaten of his servants, ^{▼▼Greek bondservants; also verse 15} he gave them ten minas, ^{▼▼A mina was about three months’ wages for a laborer} and said to them, ‘Engage in business ^aduntil I come.’ 14 But ^aehis citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! ^{▼▼Greek bondservant; also verse 22} Because you have been ^agfaithful in a very little, ^ahyou shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in ^aia handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are ^aja severe man. You take ^akwhat you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ^al‘I will condemn you with your own words, ^amyou wicked servant! You knew that I was ^ana severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘I tell you that ^aoto everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Romans 12:6-8

6 ^apHaving gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if ^aqprophecy, ^arin proportion to our faith; 7 if ^asservice, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; ^atthe one who leads, ^{▼▼Or gives aid} with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with ^avcheerfulness.

1 Thessalonians 5:19

19 ^awDo not quench the Spirit.

2 Timothy 1:6

6 For this reason I remind you ^axto fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

1 Peter 4:9-11

9 ^ayShow hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 ^azAs each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, ^baas good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks ^bboracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves ^bcby the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything ^bdGod may be glorified through Jesus Christ. ^beTo him belong glory and ^bfdominion forever and ever. Amen.