In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus tells the fascinating story of “The Parable of the Bags of Gold.” (Matthew 25:14-30 NIV). In this story, a wealthy man gathers his three servants to put them in charge of his wealth before leaving.” To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” (Matthew 25:15)
The bags of gold were not randomly distributed; these were given according to each servant’s ability or productivity. Productivity is defined as “the quality, state, or fact of being able to generate, create, enhance, or bring forth goods and services.” The master invested, knowing how much value each servant could add to his wealth.
The story continues, telling that two of the servants, using their abilities, duplicate the invested money; on his return, the master congratulates them, promises to put them in charge of many things, and shares his happiness with them.
However, one of the servants “dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” (Matthew 25: 17). When the master asked for the money, he returned it unchanged and presented an excuse based on fear, the fear of risking toward gain. The master got angry at him and said, “You wicked, lazy servant!” (Matthew 25: 26) “You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” (Matthew 25: 27) and then he fired him.
After reading this story, it is natural to ask ourselves: What kind of servant am I? Is the “bag of gold” under my responsibility growing? What will the Master say if He returns today?
This parable touches the nerves of somebody working hard to achieve success but is dealing with a lack of resources which diminishes productivity. How to make something grow without the resources to do so? Indeed, many are struggling in life, feeling like the servant with one bag of gold in the hole, and even if they are trying to pull that bag of gold out of the hole, they just can’t. And help may not be coming.
If you are doing your best, then don’t stress. You are not the “bad servant”. In this story, the servant with just one bag of gold hides it and relaxes. He was lazy and didn’t use his resources because he was wicked. But I understand, by experience, that horrible feeling of inadequacy and frustration when something isn’t done better just because of a lack of resources.
Remember that in this story, the master knew how much each servant could handle and gave accordingly. So, ask yourself: How many bags of gold can you take with your current resources? Have you thought that maybe overboard expectations are making you feel like your bag of gold is hidden in a hole?
Recently, I heard about a software developer who developed a hospital management system, which is a great accomplishment. However, he was a “solo developer.” Sadly, he passed away, and now the hospital is running a system they depend on without a developer to provide support or enhancements.
For some, this situation can be a clear example of why an organization or business should never have “solo developers” running projects, that the priority should be to engage with big teams or to acquire proven commercial software. And they may start working on a policy to prevent such a “solo developer” situation from happening again. And this is a fair thought.
Having been a “solo developer” in some periods of my professional life, hearing the story of this “solo developer” brought me back to “The Parable of the Bags of Gold” from a different perspective as it is usually analyzed.
When I see the situation of our “solo developer” friend, I have to ask: Why was our friend left to be “solo”? And let’s be clear, I am not asking: Why did the institution use a “solo developer”? Not at all. The question focuses on who was responsible for caring for him, providing advice, and helping him protect his legacy for the institution’s good.
The dictionary defines responsible as being “answerable or accountable, as for something within one’s power, control, or management.” A person can’t be responsible for something out of their control. Their domain is limited only to the things under their control. And within their “control area,” they should do their best.
Our “solo developer” created something using what was “under his control,” a hospital system solving existing operational needs. Could he have done more if more resources were given? We don’t know. However, in my limited perspective, the “solo developer” was a “good servant,” putting to work the resources he had and building something beneficial. So, if the master returns and asks what he did with the “bag of gold,” he may say “I made a hospital system.” And I do believe the master would say: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25: 21 NIV)
But thankfully, things don’t end here. The expectation of “responsibility” toward the master’s bag of gold does not stay here; it scales up.
Let’s not ignore that in this situation, somebody received the resources and benefits the “solo developer” created. In other words, the “solo developer” was a BAG OF GOLD in somebody else’s hands! And this bag of gold was kept “solo” and hidden until we sadly lost it. What would have been the outcome if the “solo developer” had been in the hands of the servant who knew how to duplicate the bag of gold’s worth?
It is fair to see the negative consequences of losing a “solo developer.” However, are not all the current big companies we know the result of “solo” initiatives allowed to grow to the level we now see? Think of the many great companies we don’t have because a “solo initiative” may have been in the hands of the “wrong servant.”
When you feel stressed and disappointed because you know you can do more, but the lack of resources or time pushes you down, you must remember that YOU ARE A BAG OF GOLD given to somebody else to make it grow. Be assured that God knows that you are doing your best, but He also knows how much you could do if you were in the hands of a “good and faithful servant.”
So, stop stressing. Remember that being “responsible” means doing your best with the resources “under your control” no more than that. Don’t feel bad for things you can’t do because of resources you don’t have. Learn your limitations, and enjoy doing good work with what you have. And have the courage to say “No” when something you can’t handle comes your way.
When the master returns, he will not talk to the “bag of gold”; he will confront the one who received the bag of gold and ask: What have you done to make MY BAG OF GOLD grow?
Copyright Italo Osorio 2024
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
