Getting Busy Doing God's Work Series

Series: Stories from the Kingdom

Text: Matthew 25:14-30

Title: “Get Busy Doing God’s Business”

Introduction

• This parable follows the one of the ten virgins; Jesus is pouring the idea into His disciples that His return was not as soon as they had believed.

o We must understand at this point the disciples still did not understand fully what Jesus was teaching them or even His purpose in coming this time.

Luke 22:24 -- 24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

o They still were thinking that Jesus was coming as a King who was going to overthrow the Roman occupation and set us His earthly kingdom.

• Even after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection they still did not understand anything about the NT Church and the role believer’s would play in God’s redemptive purpose.

Acts 1:6-8 (NKJV)

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

o However Jesus had promised them in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit would bring back to their memories all that He had taught them.

• Read Illustration: When the wind blows (Sermon Central)

I. Entrusting of Resources (14-15)

Vs. 14

• “For the kingdom of heaven…to a far country.”

o Jesus again is teaching them that He was going away and that His return may not be as soon as they think (vs. 13).

o However while Jesus tarries He has not left His followers empty handed.

Vs. 15

• We have all been left with valuable resources.

o Notice these resources are only left for his servants.

John 12:26 -- 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

o We can’t serve Him unless we have made Him our King.

• Here in the parable the servants were left with money, but God has entrusted us with so much more.

o Spiritual Gifts (Administration, Giving, Mercy, Discernment, Leadership, Hospitality, Faith, Preaching, Teaching)

o Passions

o Time

o Money

o Knowledge

o Experience

o Anything that can be used to glorify God.

• It is recognizing that it all belongs to God; we are merely just trusted stewards of everything God has given us.

o Think of what we could do for God if we stopped acting like it all belonged to us and started treating it like it all belongs to God.

• Not only have we all been left with resources, but notice that we have not all been left with the same resources.

• “to each according to his own ability.”

o The reality is we are all given resources by God that are unique to us, however each part is vital to the function of the entire church.

1 Corinthians 12:18 -- 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

II. Stewardship of Resources (16-23)

• Once we recognize that we have all been given differing resources the question is what does God expect us to do with them?

o The business answer is: to get a return on His investment.

o In other words using what God has entrusted us with (gifts, talent, time, money) to build His Kingdom one soul at a time.

• That may seem like a daunting task but the good news is that it’s God’s work and not ours.

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 -- 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

• It all belongs to Him both the resources and the labor.

• Paul said that each will receive his own reward according to his own labor, so what is the reward?

o We know that we are promised a crown of righteousness, but I believe there is even a greater reward.

o Hearing those words “well done good and faithful servant.”

III. Neglect of the Resources (24-30)

Vv. 24-25

• This servant recognizes the kind of man his master is, but he failed to do anything with that knowledge.