In The Service Of The King

In the Service of the King

Matthew 25:14-30

September 6, 2009

Morning Service

Introduction

Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources rep asked a young accountant who was fresh out of school, "What starting salary were you thinking about?" The Accountant said, "In the neighborhood of $100,000 a year, depending on the benefits package." The interviewer said, "Well, what would you say to a package of five weeks vacation, full medical and dental, Company Retirement Fund to 50% of salary, Executive Share Option Scheme, Profit-Related Pay and a company car leased every twoyears - say, a 5-series BMW?" The Accountant sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?" The interviewer replied, "Yes, but you started it."

Someone has written that there are four kinds of bones in the world. The WISH BONES who spend their time wishing someone else would do the work; The JAW BONES who do all the talking, but very little else; The KNUCKLE BONES who knock everything that anyone else is trying to do; The BACK BONES who shoulder the load and do the work.

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.'

The requirement of the master (14-15)

The master leaves on a trip and calls for his servants. The master entrusts each servant with a specific responsibility. Each servant is given a specific amount of talents. A talent is not an amount of money but a measure of weight. Various values were given to different kinds of talents. A talent of gold would be worth more than a talent of silver. The specific substance is not given but there is an understanding of great value on the part of the master.

The master we serve is Jesus and the work is not for us but for His kingdom. In fact, the work has little to actually do with us other than we have the responsibility to serve and do the work of the master. Our work is both a sacred and holy task. We have the honor of serving the living God of the universe. Jesus loves the world through His people and by serving Christ and joining in His work, we share His love with others. Serving is a choice we can either serve Jesus or we can serve ourselves.

We have different tasks and responsibilities. Sunday School teachers prepared the lessons. Sharon Wilson prepared the bulletin. Pam prepared the music. Jeremy runs the sound system. Trustees mowed the grass. I prepared the message this morning. We have different tasks and different responsibilities but all of those tasks matter. Each person has a specific role to play and a function to perform.