This is the story of a man–a master who went on a long trip.

Fill in the blanks with one of the following nouns as it pertains to Malia’s summer.

The man called together his servants and entrusted his _____  to them while he was gone.  He gave five measures of _____ to one, two measures of _____ to another, and one measure of _____ to the last–dividing it in proportion to their abilities.  He then left on his trip.

The servant who received the five measures of _____ began to invest the _____ and earned five more.  The servant with two measures of _____ also went to work and earned two more.  But the servant who received the one measure of _____ dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s _____.

After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his _____.  The servant to whom he had entrusted the five measures of _____ came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five measures to invest, and I have earned five more.’

The master was full of praise.  ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.  Let’s celebrate together!’

The servant who had received the two measures of _____ came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two measures of _____ to invest, and I have earned two more.’

The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.  Let’s celebrate together!’

Then the servant with with the one measure of _____ came and said, ‘Master, I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth.  Look here is your money back.’

But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant!  Why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank?  At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with ten measures of _____.  To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.  But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken.

Matthew 25: 16-29

Note:  All 3 of the listed nouns actually work.

—–

What I learned over my summer vacation:  Investing entails spending, wisely and purposefully, that is.