Called To Serve

Called to Serve

Matthew 25:14-30

September 1, 2013

Morning Service

14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22 "The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23 "His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 " `Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 25:14-30

Christ has given great gifts (14-15)

Before there could be any spiritual gifts or acts of service on our part, there was first a sacrifice on the part of Christ. Jesus offers the gift of His blood. Sometimes it is difficult to think about but the reality is that Jesus forfeited His life as an innocent man and allowed His divine blood to be spilled for our benefit.

The greatest gift that Jesus has ever given to any of us is the reality of His shed blood on the cross. The fact that he came to this earth and died in our place on the cross is a gift that no one could ever deserve. The truth is that Jesus sacrificed Himself so that we might become His people. He gave His life so that we might experience what genuine life is. He died so we could be free. Nothing is greater than this and we often forget these things.

Jesus gave us everything we could ever need for eternal life. The truth is that we owe Him everything, all of our life, all of our heart and all of our service. Jesus is calling us to a lifestyle of no reserves. We hold nothing back from the service of the King because He gave us His all.

After Jesus gave us His sacrifice, He also gave us His Spirit. Jesus offers us a double presence of God in our lives. Jesus resides in the life of the believer and then He sends the Holy Spirit to give us power to serve and to accomplish great things for Him. Jesus did not just save us so we could get to heaven, Jesus saved us so we could help others get to heaven. The purpose of spiritual gifts and the abilities that God blesses us with is to point people to the cross. We are called to share the good news that Jesus saves. The way we do that depends on the gifts and abilities that God blesses us with.

The way that God uses you and your life is through those abilities He has blessed you with. No one has the same mixture of giftedness and that makes each of us unique and God has a unique plan for our lives. The truth is simple: Jesus gives us the gift of eternity so that we would share it with others. How are you using those gifts for the service of the one who gave them to you?