Jesus told a parable about a man who was going on a journey.  So he called his servants, and entrusted his money to them according to their abilities.  To one he gave five talents (a talent is a lot of money).  To another he gave two talents and to a third he gave just one talent.  The man then left on a long journey.

If someone gave you a whole pile of money, what would you do with it? (Let the children respond).

Well, the man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work (probably in a business) and gained five more talents.  And the one with the two talents did the same and gained two more.  But the man who had received only one talent went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

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

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

Then the man with the two talents came and reported.  "Master," he said, "you entrusted me with two talents, and now I have gained two more."

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

Lastly, the man who had received the one talent came before his master.   "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.  So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.  See, here is what belongs to you."

His master replied, "You wicked, lazy, unprofitable servant!  You knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed.  You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest!"

"Take the talent from him," the master ordered, "And give it to the one who has the ten talents.  For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.  But, whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

"And throw that worthless servant outside," he ordered, "Into the darkness, where there will be weeping, pain and torment!"

Jesus was talking about taking good care of God's property.  We are made in God's image and need to belong to Him as one of His children.

It is those people who reject Jesus as their Saviour who will be separated from God forever.  They are the ones who are like the unprofitable servant who just had the one talent.

But, you have accepted Jesus as your Saviour, you belong to God and are His child.  God now wants you to serve Him and seek to please Him in all you do and say.  God wants you to do more that just going to Sunday School or Church.

God has given every boy and girl different talents.  A talent is a skill or something special that you can do well.  God wants to use your talents to do His work.  What work you ask?  In spreading the Gospel, the Good News that Jesus Saves, and telling people what God has done for you, and in winning other children for the Lord.

There are many things that you can do at Sunday School or at Church.   You could be a helper, read the Bible out loud, play a musical instrument, sing a solo or in a choir, pray for the sick and those that have needs, visit and encourage those who are sad, disappointed, discouraged or grieving, and invite children to Sunday School or special meetings, and in many other ways!

Everyone has talents that he or she can use for the Lord.  Think about what you can do and ask God to show you where you could serve Him.   It does not matter how young you are, because God can use anybody.   The most important thing is to want to serve, and to be keen to do anything that God wants you to do.

Don't be like that useless servant who just buried his talent in the ground.  Rather, go and start to using your talents for God!

God bless.