I Knew You Were Hard! Don't Withhold The Little?

I KNEW YOU WERE HARD! Don’t withhold the little!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

FAITH CAN ALWAYS BE SEEN BY LITTLE DEEDS AND

ACTIONS OF LOVE!

I. DO WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEDICATION AND TOTAL COMMITMENT?

A. INTRODUCTION:

1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

B. FAITHFUL:

One that holds self accountable that you can trust and have confidence.

ONE WILLING TO DO THEIR DUTY WITH GREAT COMMITMENT.

Full of faith. Showing faith.

Loyal, trustworthy, constant.

Reliable, dependable.

C. One day the pig and chicken were talking near the barn. The pig asked the chicken: WHAT SHALL WE HAVE FOR BREAKFAST?

The chicken made a suggestion --- LET US HAVE BACON AND EGGS.

D. For the chicken to lay an egg was one consideration?

But for the pig to give BACON: would require total commitment!

E. DO WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEDICATION AND TOTAL COMMITMENT?

II. STEWARDSHIP IS PART OF LIFE!

I WAS AFRAID OF YOU! YOU ARE A HARD MAN!

A. BY EXCUSING YOURSELF --- YOU ARE ACCUSING YOURSELF.

B. The Master was fair, he never played favorites, the TALENTS were invested by ABILITY!

Matthew 25:15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

C. In my opinion, the ONE talent man was happy until he heard the Master gave another man TWO talents? The nerve of Him?

Then the straw that broke the camel’s back was when the ONE talent man heard that the Master gave his buddy FIVE TALENTS.

D. FROM THE MAN’S OWN LIIPS HE KNEW THE MASTER WAS HARD?

KJV

Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

NIV

Luke 19:21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

NASB

Luke 19:21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’

LIVING

Luke 19:21 ’because I was afraid [you would demand my profits], for you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and even confiscating the crops that others plant.’

E. Instead of admitting his idleness and laziness, the ONE TALENT man used some psychological tools.

1. DENIAL

2. BLOWING SMOKE SCREENS.

3. PASSING THE BUCK.

4. NO REPENTANCE, IT WASN’T HIS FAULT.

5. NO CORRECTION OF BAD ATTITUDES.

6. LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

F. YOUR OWN MOUTH WILL JUDGE YOU!

Luke 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up

that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

III. THE ACCUSATIONS OF MEANNESS AND HARDEST WERE FALSE AND SELF-EXCUSING!

The other parties involved in this story were treated fair and rewarded according to their efforts.

A. God’s word is very clear: God is a rewarder.

God pays His debts.

God restores. Prize, compensation.

B. SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE A PAY DAY AT THE END OF THE ROAD!

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

C. GOD ALWAYS REWARDS FAITHFULNESS! THE 5 TALENT MAN WORKED DILIGENTLY AND GOD HONORED HIS EFFORTS.

Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

D. The TWO talent man, DID ACCORDING TO HIS ABILIITY.

God honored him.

Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many

things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

E. BE FAITHFUL IN THE LITTLE!

JESUS LOVES LITTLE THINGS AND LITTLE PEOPLE! BUT HE DEMANDS FAITHFULNESS!

IV. JESUS LOVES LITTLE PEOPLE THAT ARE BIG ON BEING FAITHFUL. JESUS WANTED TO TEACH A LESSON ABOUT LITTLE, AND BEING WHO YOU ARE. SO JESUS PICKED UP A LITTLE MUSTARD SEED.