The Parable of the 21st Century Talents

A man going on a journey divided $3 million among his three servants. The first took his million and converted it into cryptocurrencies. The second took his millions and bought shares of an IPO. The third dug a hole the man's backyard and buried it until such time as his master came back.

A year passed, and the man returned.  He asked the first servant what came of his money.  "Well, sir, by the end of a month, the crypto was worth 10 million," he replied. 

 "Excellent," the man said. "So, naturally, you got out while the price was so obviously unsustainable and took the money."

"Well, Sire," the servant answered sheepishly, "you are right that the price did not remain so high, but I did not recognize that eventuality; I thought the currencies would continue to appreciate and held them. The currencies were worth half that in another month."

"I see.  Still, your initial investment had increased by five, and you had learned an important lesson. What did you do with the five million?"

Sweating now, the servant spoke. "Sir, I was confident that the price would yet rise, so I held."

"And? What is your share worth today?"

"Well, today, those holdings would be worth $400,000."

"Would?"

"Um...yeah.  I got hacked. It was all stolen."

"Fool! You might as well have set the money ablaze, at least you would have warmed yourself.  Bah!"

He turned to the next servant.  "Your luck could only have been better than his.  Tell me what you did with your million."

"Well, I played the market.  I invested in a start up in the Silicon Valley.  Things were great until the CEO got involved in a Me Too thing, I ended up getting pennies on the dollar. I have $90,000 left to show for it."

"Idiocy.  You should have diversified.  But at least you were smart enough to get out at all.  That leaves just one left.  You, my faithful servant, what did you do with your share?"

"Buried it."

"Pardon?"

"Yeah, what do I know about investment? Nothing, that's what.  So I dug a hole, threw a suitcase full of money in it, covered it up. I can take you to it whenever."

The master started to upbraid the third servant for his sloth but, reconsidering, shrugged and embraced him instead.  From the second he reclaimed his remaining 90k and cast him along with the first into the darkness.