Failure Is A Choice

FAILURE IS A CHOICE

Text: Matthew 25:14 - 30

Matthew 25: 14 -30 14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents,[a] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter 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 replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in a seed. All he needs is a seed yielded to him”. (Michael P. Green ed. Illustrations For Preaching. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989. p. 269). If you were to gather am opinion poll from various people who neglected to invest the talent that God gave them, then what do you think you would find? God gave us our talents, but we have to follow through in developing the potential of those talents.

A teacher would say, a student failed because they did not invest time to study.

A coach might say, a player failed not because he wasn’t a good player, but because he did not invest in teamwork.

A boss might say an employee never advanced, because he did not invest in giving his best.

A counselor would say a client had talent potential that remained undeveloped because she never invested effort in exploring a God-given gifts. The one common thread that runs through all of those scenarios is undeveloped potential because of fear that Jesus refers to as laziness.

This parable tells us that God wants to bless us, bless others and to be fruitful.

BLESSING US

Do you see how God has equipped you with your talent(s)? There are five main things that we can gather form this parable. 1) Kingdom of Heaven: The kingdom of heaven in the here and now and it will also be in the hereafter.

2) Parable: Jesus is telling a parable which we often think of as an earthly story with a heavenly point.

3) Stewardship: Jesus is telling us that we have been blessed and entrusted with responsibilities in God’s kingdom here on earth.

4) Equipped: Ephesians 4:7 says But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 5) Responsibility: Luke 12:48 reminds us that to whom much is given, much will be required.

Do we ever operate from a selective obedience principle? 1) Providence: God provides us with all that we need if we will simply yield to Him. The Garden of Eden is an example of this.

2) Stewardship: Providence and stewardship are connected. God provided Adam and Eve all that they would ever need in the Garden of Eden and they rebelled. How well has rebellion worked out for us when we have rebelled against His love? Not only did God provide us with what we needed but He also made us stewards over His creation (Genesis 1:28) . God also entrusted with His Gospel to share with others because is not willing that any should perish (I Peter 3:9).