Comparing Matthew 25:14-30 to Luke 19:11-27, which are parables of entrusted wealth, I see possible linkages with how it may be in the Kingdom of God. Matthew's Gospel depicts Jesus, telling the story of a man going on a journey and entrusting his servants with differing amounts of money, according to each one's ability. Luke's Gospel depicts Jesus, telling the story of a noble going to his coronation as king and entrusting his servants each with the same amount of money. In Luke's Gospel the servants are told to put the money to work, but there is no such instruction in Matthew's Gospel.
In both gospels two of the servants overcome their fears, take risks, and leverage the money entrusted to them to make even more money, and in both gospels one servant yields to his fears, takes no risk, and returns the money to his master upon the master's return. In both gospels the master returns and calls his servants to account for the money previously entrusted to them. He praises the servants who added to his wealth during the master's absence. (I wonder about servants who take risks and fail; but that is another parable.) In both gospels the servant who fails to add to his master's wealth is punished. The master indicates that he would have been satisfied with whatever interest the bankers would have paid.
My "take aways" are to receive gratefully all that I am given in the Kingdom of God, to overcome my fears, to risk losses, and to put everything I receive to work in the hope of making gains for God and God's Kingdom.
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