Begin With The End In Sight

Begin with the End in Mind

Matthew 25:14-30

January 6, 2019

This is the first Sunday of the year! It seems like we’ve been into 2019 for more than 6 days. I didn’t set new year’s resolutions. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t usually set them, and whenever I have, I usually don’t keep them for very long.

Instead of resolutions, I try to make goals, but simple goals don’t do a whole lot of good. I can’t make a goal, unless I have an end in mind.

To simply say, “I want to workout more” OR “I want to lose weight,” OR “I’d like to read the Bible or pray more,” or whatever it is, none of these get us there.

We need to be more specific with our goals. Really . . . it’s all about the end! We need to have the end in mind when we come up with a plan. Whatever it is, if we don’t know what our preferred outcome is, then we don’t know what we’re shooting at.

Today we’re going to look at a parable Jesus told, and the point of Jesus' parable — is this: Begin with the end in mind.

When we read through the New Testament, every book either alludes to or directly mentions Jesus' return. Do we know when Jesus is coming back? No, but we do know, we’re closer today than we were yesterday. We’re closer this year, than last year. We do believe Jesus is returning. So the question is, "Are we ready?" And as we wait for Jesus, what should we do in the meantime?

Jesus was asked this question in many different ways. Master, what should we do?

Most of the time, Jesus told the disciples a parable. He wanted them to understand what they needed to do and who they needed to be. He often spoke this way to the people as well, which sometimes left them confused. In the parable we’re going to look at today, Jesus told the people they need to live with the end in mind.

I want to read this parable and then we’ll kind of dissect it and see what Jesus wants for us. It’s a parable many of you have most likely heard before -

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying,

‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’

23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying,

‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’

26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant!

You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the 10 talents

29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance.

But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ – Matthew 25:14-30

So, what’s the point of this parable? Understand this is not so much about money and stewardship than it is about what to do with what you’re given. And if you don’t consider the end, then there’s trouble.