If this is true, why isn't recorded in Scripture that Christ commanded his Apostles and followers to teach people how to read? If its true that "each individual believer must read the scriptures" does this mean that illiterate people can never be believers?
I think the question are getting a little silly now.
The fact is where the Bible is, there is always a high literacy rate.
It is in countries that do not have Bibles to read (Catholic dominated countries, like Latin America and Mexico) that one has a high illiteracy rate.
Moreover, parents are commanded to teach children from the Bible (Deut.6:9).
American children were taught to read from the King James, that is why we had such a high literacy rate at one time.
When Jesus told the story of the three talents, the master did not teach all the three servants everything possible to do with the money - he merely entrusted them to do something with it. He rewarded those that put themselves into the task - the one that was lazy and didn't apply himself had his taken away. God doesn't expect us to be led by the hand. He expects us to accept responsibility for our charge. Pleading ignorance is not an excuse. And people know what it means to be judged by the word.
I had a friend that got into legal trouble once. He couldn't afford a lawyer and the court would not appoint one. He had to defend himself. He was responsible for that. He did not choose to ignore that responsibility and march into the courtroom ignorant of legal etiquette or of the law, he had three weeks to prepare, and he spent it in the local library dug in - educating himself that he may stand a chance before the judge. That was over a possible short stay in jail for something he claimed he didn't do. If people aren't willing to put forth a similar effort for something far more important (their soul), they are no less responsible for what they will be judged by (the word of God). And let's not forget, Jesus said we would be judged by the message He passed on from God. He required the Apostles to pass that on. If you have a red letter edition, everything you'll be judged by is in red if you want to be hyper literal. Arguing ignorance is not a defense before a secular judge - nor is it going to be a viable defense before God.
And it isn't a matter of how much I or anyone else cares. Feelings have nothing to do with it. Jesus was clear in what he said. It is incumbent upon us to deal with it and take responsibility for what we will be judged by. If you wish to be lazy, you might as well give the talent back now; because he'll take it later and give it to someone else.