28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
30 “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:26-30.
The statement that God reaps where He does not sow and gathers where He scattered no seeds can be puzzling. It does not mean (as some Arminians may contend) that God is not active to sovereignly accomplish His purpose but rather lets man’s free will determine whether or not God recovers anything. In truth, God is sovereign and accomplishes all of His purpose. Rather, the statement means that it appears as if God does not sow nor scatter seeds. We all have considered “The invisible hand of God”. Man works hard and grunts loud and stirs up dust to do his work. God works silently, effortlessly, and invisibly. Man proceeds step by step from A to B to C. God lays A to Z out at once. Man is proud and immediately boasts of every little accomplishment. God is humble and patient and lets His own works boast of Him.
The statement that “everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away” can also be puzzling. It does not mean that God randomly and arbitrarily gives and takes away. God does reward and punish as this parable teaches. Rather, the statement means that it appears as if “the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer”. Life may seem unfair, but this parable makes it clear that God does reward and punish both in this earthly life and thereafter. Again, we all have considered “The “invisible hand of God”. But, God’s purpose will be established. God will accomplish all of His good pleasure.
Consider Isaiah 46: 9-11:
“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘ My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure‘;
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”
“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9: 23-24.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 