Interesting discussion!
At first, absolutely. But then, and this is the part that gets confusing, the master admits the accusation. Or at least, uses it against that servant. "You think I'm this and that, and yet you still disappoint me?"
seems like this is a frequent device that gets used...in other words, "you're afraid of me and you still persist in disregarding my instructions?" He's pointing out the hypocrisy or disingenuousness of his response to his master...if you really were concerned about your judgement, if you really had faith, he's saying you'd done something productive....?
In the context of usury (getting interest), it gets stranger. The master is saying, "Since I'm such a sinner, why didn't you use a sinful mechanism to achieve what I wanted?" Clearly, the use of a question by the master could be a rhetorical device, but I'm still frustrated at not connecting to what the intent of that passage is.
I think again, he's pointing out his disingenuousness--he chose to do nothing or chase after his own idols while His master (Jesus) was away and is making flimsy excuses, etc.
The only way it kinda makes sense to me (right now) is that even the sinful behaviors of those disconnected from Him can still serve His purposes. Temptation is the corollary to free will. Without temptation, free will is meaningless - if there were only good choices, free will doesn't matter.
Which also is an argument for the existence of God...we'd only know what evil is because we have a reference of what is good. If there was no such thing as God, bad/evil is just a matter of opinion.
I think of someone with a beautiful singing voice. Even if a sinner, and singing about sinful things, the transcendent beauty of the voice can still make people aware of the beauty of God's gifts. That person has been given a gift. They aren't serving God's will with it, but it can still serve God's purpose.
Absolutely.