In these parallel passages, Jesus tells parables to illustrate the fact that we're accountable to God as stewards. The master leaves three servants in charge of a portion of his wealth. When the master returns from his journey, he finds that two of the servants have been faithful with what was given to them and rewards them with more. However, the last servant has done nothing with his portion, which the master angrily takes from him. Similarly, God has given each of us a stewardship that we can use to serve Him (lasting in reward) or self (ending in loss).