Six Golden Coins

Some thirty years ago I came across a poet named Martin Buxbaum. He wrote quite a few books of poems. He did not focus on just one theme. He would write about God, war, eastern thought, relationships, and much more. There was one particular poem that became one of my favorites. According to his daughter Kate, Six Golden Coins was Buxbaum’s favorite poem too. I liked it so much that I memorized it and I can still quote most of this poem today word for word. It is titled: Six Golden Coins.

The first few verses of this poem delivers a message that would certainly be supported by many biblical principles. It says: Within the hidden pocket of a baby’s tiny soul, God’s Hand reached in and gently placed six coins made of gold. I give to each some gold said He and he who does not spend, will find that only lead remains upon his journey’s end.

In Matthew 25:14-29, we read about the Parable of the Talents. These verses could very well be Martin Buxbaum’s inspiration to write Six Golden Coins.

In this parable Jesus tells the story of a man who goes on a journey and entrusts his wealth to his slaves to watch over while he was away. After a long time he returns. He finds that two of his slaves had taken the wealth they were entrusted with and doubled its value. Their hard work had paid off handsomely and they were rewarded by their master.

The third servant, fearful of his master and of losing what he had, buried it and only returned the original amount. He didn’t even invest it at interest that would have taken no effort and would have returned some yield. He wasn’t productive with what he was given. What he did have was taken away and given to the most productive of the other slaves.

The question to us is are we being productive with what God has given us? Do we know what our gifts are and are we using them to glorify Him? What will we have to show when our Master returns?

In the closing verses of Six Golden Coins, Buxbaum sums up my point nicely. Through the life depicted in the poem five golden coins are spent. Then………….When I spend the last He gave me It’s then I know I’ll see The Kingdom of the One who gave Those precious gifts to me.