"For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.  The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents.  In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents.  But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.  After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.  Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.'  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'  And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.'  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'  Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed;  so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'  But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter?  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.  So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.  For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.  As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Every area of our lives is to be examined for signs of stagnation and to ensure that all aspects of our personhood are aligned with Christ and concerned with growth and development for him.  Yet after all this effort we must dismiss anxiety and worry from our minds that we are not measuring up before God.  After all our efforts at making a return to God we must prostrate ourselves in humility before him, trusting that he will help and accept us.  After all, can anyone make a return to God for his goodness?  And so our ultimate return to God is the return of his Son back to him by accepting him in our bodies.  Christ is the only perfect gift.

"How shall I make a return to the Lord for his goodness to me?  The cup of salvation I will raise, I will call on the name of the Lord."  (Psalm 117.12-13)