“For [the kingdom of heaven is] like a man traveling to a far country, [who] called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 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. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who [had received] two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well [done,] good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well [done,] good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, [there] you have [what is] yours.’ But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give [it] to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away’” (Matt. 25:14-29).
1. Because God called us, we have an opportunity. “A man . . . called his own servants” (v. 4). “Faithful is He who calls you” (I Thess. 5:24).
2. What we have is not our own but belongs to God. “Delivered unto them his goods” (v. 14).
3. We all have different opportunities/gifts. “To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one” (v. 15).
4. God gives us opportunities according to our abilities. “To every man according to his several abilities” (v. 15).
5. No one has just one talent; we all have more than one. “Several” (v. 15).
6. The Lord trusts us with His “goods” because He believes in us. “Delivered unto them his goods” (v. 14).
7. We don’t know when He will come back. “Watch therefore for ye know not . . . when the Son of Man cometh” (v. 13).
WHEN TO BE FAITHFUL
• Be faithful every moment
• Be faithful with every ability
• Be faithful with every opportunity
8. We are responsible for our talents, not what others have. “He that had received five talents went and traded with the same” (v. 16).
9. We should get results proportional to our abilities. “Began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it” (v. 16, LB).
10. God has many purposes why He has left us on this earth and He is not physically here. “He was gone” (v. 14). “After a long time their master returned” (v. 19, LB).
11. We don’t get rewarded as we work; we get rewarded when He returns. “After a long time, the lord . . . cometh and reckoneth” (v. 19).
12. We may work for a boss on this earth, but we get rewarded by God.”
13. God wants an accurate account of what we have done. “Called them to give an account of how they used His money” (v. 19, LB).
14. We are not judged with how much we are given, but how faithful we are with what we have.
15. We are not faithful if we are selfish or embarrassed. “I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent” (v. 25).
16. What we refuse to use in life is God’s gift to us. “Hid his lord’s money” (v. 18).
17. God rewards us when He returns. “I will make thee ruler over many things” (v. 21).
18. God thanks us for our faithfulness. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (v. 21).
19. God rewards us for both: who we are and what we have done. “Thou good and faithful servant.”
20. God doesn’t accept excuses. “I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth” (v. 25).
21. You can’t butter up God when it comes to rewards. “I knew thee thou art an hard man, reaping when thou hast not sown” (v. 24).
22. Knowing the master is not enough. “Lord . . .” (v. 24). God forgives our sins, but not our laziness. The Cross Judgment is different from the Bema Judgment.
23. Some will lose everything but their souls. “Take therefore the talent from him.” “If a man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (I Cor. 3:15).
24. God always expects growth. “At least put my money into the bank so I could have some interest” (v. 27, LB).
25. Our greatest reward is not money. “Enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (v. 21, 23).
Translated “into the place of joy.” You enter into the place of joy and joy enters you.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
To receive this lesson, log on to www.elmertowns.com. You will find it under Sunday School lessons. To email Dr. Towns, eltowns@liberty.edu.
For more information on the class, log on to the Internet for TRBC Home page
at www.trbc.org/pbc.
