The Story of the Master Gardener
- Kyla N. Wiebe
- 3 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Adapted from the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
Last week I spoke at Austin Christian Academy during their chapel time. I decided to share a retelling of the Parable of the Talents to encourage the kids to think about the gifts that God has given them, and how they might invest in them. I invited some of the students to help me tell the story by acting it out as I narrated, which produced many laughs from the audience! I had a sweet time sharing with them, and so I figured it might be nice to share the story with you as well!
(A quick aside, I challenged myself to illustrate this parable as quickly as possible. I think it took about an hour to do all the drawings! So if you're wondering why they look fast... that's why. )
Once, there was a master gardener. He had a fantastic collection of seeds. Some seeds produced plants that were strong and sturdy—perfect for building safe houses. Some produced plants that grew delicious fruit. Others helped people heal from illnesses. Still others blossomed into flowers so delicate and colourful they could make a person weep with wonder.
Whatever good thing you can imagine could be grown from the Master Gardener’s infinite seed collection: Food, shelter, wisdom, beauty, education, enjoyment, health, you name it!
Now, one day the master gardener went on a long journey. Before he left, he entrusted some of his precious seeds to his servants. To one he gave five, to another two, and to a third just one—each according to their ability and responsibility. Then he went away. As he shouldered his pack and strode off down the lane, he called to his servants, “Don’t forget me when I’m gone!”
Now, if you were given a seed, what would you do with it? That’s right—you’d plant it, water it, and care for it. That’s just common sense, isn’t it?
The servant who received five seeds waved goodbye to the Master Gardener, turned on his heel, ran to his garden plot and planted the seeds. They soon sprouted and grew tall and strong. He watered them, weeded around them, and tended them carefully. When harvest came, his five seeds produced wonderful fruit—tasty and nourishing. He sold some, gave some to the poor, preserved some for winter, and allowed the rest to go to seed. By the end of harvest, his five seeds had become twenty-five seeds.
“Next spring, the crop will be five times as large!” he thought joyfully.
The servant who received two seeds planted hers right away, as well. They sprouted in spring and grew steadily. She watered them, weeded around them, and cared for them with diligence. When harvest came, her two seeds produced fragrant, medicinal leaves. She used them to make a healing tea. Since there were only two plants there was just enough for her elderly grandmother, who was deeply grateful. The tea soothed her aching joints and brightened her long days. The servant thought, “If one old woman was so blessed by two plants, imagine what could happen with four!” So she harvested seeds from her plants, eager for next year’s garden.
But the servant who received one seed did not plant his right away.
“I only have one,” he thought. “What if it withers? What if a bird steals it, or weeds choke it out? I’d better keep it safe in my pocket and give it back to the master when he returns.”
After a long time, the master gardener came home. Several springs and harvests had passed. The first servant had faithfully tended his crops, feeding his community and preparing for each new season. By the time his master returned, he had five hundred fruiting plants!
“What have we here, my servant?” the gardener exclaimed.
“You gave me five seeds, master. Look—what began as five has become five hundred!”
“Well done! You are a good servant. You did exactly what I would have done with those seeds. You’ve done well with a little, so I’ll give you even more. I am delighted with you—and you can be delighted with yourself, too!”
The second servant came forward next. She had faithfully planted and harvested her seeds, sharing her healing tea with her grandmother and three of her grandmother’s friends. By the time the gardener returned, she had ten thriving plants.
“What have we here, my servant?” he asked.
“You gave me two seeds, master. Look—what began as two has become ten!”
“Well done! You are a good servant. You did exactly what I would have done with those seeds. You’ve done well with a little, so I’ll give you even more. I am so happy with you—and you can be happy with yourself, too!”
Then came the servant who had received one seed.
“Here you go, sir,” he said. “I didn’t let anything happen to it. I know you have many other seeds, and that you plant and harvest all over the world. You only gave me one seed, and I was afraid you’d be angry if I ruined it by planting it! So, I kept it in my pocket. Here it is, safe and sound.”
The master gardener’s face darkened. “Do you think it pleases me to see one of my seeds lying dead and lifeless in your pocket? Why would I give you a seed if not to plant it? Don’t you know me at all? A gardener wants a garden, not a seed collection!”
He took the seed from the servant and dismissed him on the spot. The servant left with empty pockets and a permanent frown, for he knew he had lost something he could never regain. The gardener gave the seed to the first servant, who planted it faithfully. It grew into an enormous tree that sheltered dozens of woodland creatures and housed multitudes of song birds. Children played beneath its branches, and old people told stories in its shade. But the fearful servant never saw it—and never knew what could have been.
What we can learn from this story of the master gardener:
This story, as you might recognize, shows what the kingdom of heaven is like, what God is like, and what he wants from us!
The Master Gardener represents God.
The seeds represent everything God has given us—His Word, our time, our talents, our work, our friendships, our families, our thoughts, our possessions, and our bodies.
The servants represent us, His people.
To plant a seed means to use what God has given us—to grow it, invest it, and share its fruit.
Take one example: God has given us the seed of His Word. To “plant” that seed means to obey it, and to tell others about it.
Or consider another example: our talents and skills. My talent is drawing. To plant that seed means to practice, to grow in skill, and to use it in a way that pleases God.
Each of you has a favourite thing to do—a passion, a gift, a skill. God gave it to you for a reason. He wants you to nurture it and use it for His glory.
Athletes: Care for your body. Feed it well, train it, and thank God for the strength He’s given you.
Academics: Exercise your mind. Learn eagerly about God’s world, and invite Him into your curiosity.
Creatives: Practice your art or music until it sings with beauty. God delights in beauty and wants to share His through you.
Friends: Practice love. Be kind and loyal. Let God’s friendship flow through you to others.
Let this story plant in your heart and ask the Master Gardener to nurture it into a fruiting plant. Who knows what may grow if you exercise God’s gifts in faith?
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.” (Colossians 3:23-24 )