The Talents
A master entrusts servants with five, two, and one talents; on return he commends those who multiplied and casts out the one who buried his.
14For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them.15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.16Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.18But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth and hid his adonai’s money.19Now after a long time the adonai of those servants came, and settled accounts with them.20He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘adonai, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’21His adonai said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your adonai.’22He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘adonai, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’23His adonai said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your adonai.’24He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘adonai, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter.25I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’26But his adonai answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.27You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.28Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.30Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
What you have was given to you. The master is not asking the one-talent servant to match the five-talent — He is asking him to invest what was actually his. The buried talent isn't lost to theft; it's lost to fear. Faithfulness with what you were given is the whole question.