Eight Bags Of Gold

EIGHT BAGS OF GOLD

Matt. 25:14-30

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: AWKWARD WEDDING COLORS

1. A little girl got to attend a wedding for the first time. While in the church, the girl asked her mother: “Why is the bride dressed in white?” The mother replied to the girl: “Because white is the color of happiness, and it’s the happiest day of her life.”

2. After a little bit, the girl looked up at her mother and said: “But then why is the groom wearing black?”

B. SETTING

Jesus’ discussion in Matthew 25 is centered around His Second Coming. Verses 1-13 tell the Parable of the Ten Virgins, teaching us to be watchful and to keep our hearts on fire as we await His return. Verses 14-30, Parable of the Talents, teaches us about using our abilities, resources, and opportunities to advance His Kingdom, for we shall give account to Him when He returns.

C. TEXT (abbreviated)

14 “[God’s Kingdom] is like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag 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. 20-23 The men who had received five bags and two bags of gold brought them and said, ‘Master...I have gained five more...I have gained two more.’ [The] master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servants! 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 one bag of gold 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 gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!...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, 30 ‘So take the bag of gold from him....and throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Matt. 25:14-30.

D. THESIS

1. This parable represents how we’ve all been given talents, how we’re supposed to use our gifts & abilities, and that we’ll give an account to God about how we use them & be rewarded accordingly.

2. The title of this message is “Eight Bags of God.”

I. EVERYONE GETS A TALENT

A. SYMBOLS INTERPRETED

1. The MAN = Christ

2. Far Country = Ascension to Heaven

3. Servants = Christ’s Disciples/ US

4. Talents = bags containing 75 pounds of gold (each worth $2.7M.) The English word “talent” is derived from this passage. It means time, money, opportunities, abilities, spiritual gifts, potential

deeds.

B. “TO EVERY MAN” – Vs. 15

1. To ALL are given some grace or faculty; 1 Pet. 4:11, “As EVERYONE has received the gift, so let him minister.” Eph. 4:7; “Unto EVERY ONE of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

2. No one can say that he/she was neglected; whatever we have is our gift from God.

C. UNEQUAL GIFTS? It may seem unjust that God gives some 5 talents and others only one, but God 1). Knows our abilities, and 2). Only expects us to use what we have, not what we don’t have.

D. WE SHOULDN’T COMPARE OURSELVES WITH OTHERS

1. We’ll feel inferior, and as a result, do nothing.

2. Or we’ll feel superior and be guilty of pride.

3. Either attitude must make God sad – think of your own kids with either attitude.

II. DILIGENCE OF APPLICATION

A. “STRAIGHTWAY TOOK HIS JOURNEY”

1. Left each servant uncontrolled & undirected;

2. To use the property assigned to them.

3. This shows the free will of humans to do as we choose – for now.

B. FIRST & SECOND SERVANTS

1. Doubled their talents. The first, from $13.8M to $27.6M. The second, from $5.4M to $10.8M.

2. It didn’t matter about the size, each did 100%.

C. THE SLOTHFUL SERVANT

1. He thought his amount ($2.7M) was so small that it didn’t matter; It wasn’t worth the trouble of investment.