What are you doing?
Matthew 25:14 - 30 (NIV)
Sunday morning we talked about counting the cost. What are you willing to pay to not only enter but also to expend the kingdom? Then Sunday Evening I talked about if someone wanted to make an impact on the world that we must view ourselves as servants of God with a distinct message about Jesus. Now if we are servants it will be important to know what is expected of a servant
Well what is the expectation of a servant?
I. THE MASTER WHO DISTRIBUTES THE TALANTS
14. Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability
a. He owned the servants
i. Our very lives are his
b. He owns the property.
i. The talents
ii. God owns everything we have.
c. He distributes them fairly
i. This shows no favorites
ii. This shows equal responsibility
iii. The master will never ask more than can be handled
II. We all have been given gifts according to His will
1 Corinthians 12:7 - 11 (NIV) 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
a. We have all been given gifts to expand the kingdom and the common good.
i. No one is left out
ii. Healing. Wisdom, faith, knowledge
1. Distinguishing between spirits. (Discernment)
b. They are given according to our ability
i. We will never be given more then we can handle.
c. God is fare in giving what he gives
i. It all come out the same because it to ability. So everyone is full
ii. God knows everything so no excuse he given me too much.
iii. Everyone has the same amount.
III. WE ARE TO USE THESE GIFTS TO EXPAND HIS KINGDOM
16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So 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.
1. The two servants that where profitable
a. Left at once, immediately
Illustration: We talked about this at men’s breakfast. All should work right away, according to their ability.
b. Put their talents to use
i. They we using them the best they knew how
ii. They were (Purposeful)
Their efforts were rewarded with Gain or increase.
2. It can be done because it requires nothing beyond our ability,
3. It requires only what we are defiantly able to do.
There for the only way to fail is to deliberately disobey and do nothing as did the third servant.
Too many time we use our gifts but not to good use. We aren’t purposeful about what we do.
18But the man who had received the one talent went off dug a hole in the ground and hid his master¡¦s money.
4. Its important to understand a few things about this man
It’s not because he doesn’t expect the master to return.
5. He knew his master would return. He was told He would return
a. Just like those today know that the master is coming back
6. It’s not because he doesn’t think he can do any thing
a. It was given according to his ability.
So why didn’t he do anything?
7. Because he was selfish.
8. He didn’t think it was fare.
a. Listen to what he says.
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. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”
1. Basically saying listen God you take more than is yours.
2. You are harvesting where you have not sown.
3. You are gathering where you have not scattered seed
4. It’s my life not yours
5. You want me to go to the highways and buy ways and sow so you can gather?
6. Not in this life
7. You are asking me to do stuff that isn’t fare.
8. You mean sacrifice my time to reach the lost?
9. You mean miss my favorite show so I can evangelize the lost?
10. You mean sacrifice my comfortably so you can save your people?
11. You want me to do all the work and you get the glory?
12. You want me to do this for you?
13. No way. It’s my life
You have to understand God I work all week trying to pay my bills,
Sunday is the only day I get to sleep in.
I get home from work at such and such a time,
I have kids to feed,
I have a house to clean and you want me to somehow find time to scatter seed?
No way!..You are a hard man
All the while forgetting that our very life belongs to God
Forgetting that the only reason we exists is because of God.
Forgetting the only reason we have a house and a TV and children is because of God.
1. He didn’t fear the master
2. Had he really feared the Master he would have done something with the talent
We are turned inward instead of on reality like the first two.
1. They used their gifts and time to do the best because they knew who was their master
A Day of Reckoning of our stewardship
2. You know regardless of how long it may be we will all give a reckoning of our account in life to the master. The matter will all be settled.
3. We must give a strict account of our stewardship.
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? 27Well 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.
IV. Ok so you knew that I wanted you to sow so I can reap.
V. So you knew that I would gather were you scatter
VI. So you knew I wanted you to work for my kingdom
VII. Then you should have done something!
VIII. But you didn’t because you are wicked and Lazy! You are not about me. You are not even saved.
Illustration: This is tough stuff. It points to the question “can someone be a Christian and not intentionally be working for His kingdom?”
We enter into a covenant with God through faith in Christ but this covenant includes our faithfulness to Him and His Kingdom.
It includes the faithful use of our time and gifts as we intentional use them to build His Kingdom.
THE PUNIHSMENT
28 Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For 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. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
1. What we have will be taken.
2. Thrown into darkness weeping and gnashing of teeth.
POINT: Habitual unfaithfulness will not only be excluded from the feast in the kingdom but will come with punishment
SAY;
1. The vigilance the lord requires is more than just sounding creeds,
2. And agreeing with God or gazing at the sky.
3. It goes way beyond just a warm touchy feely thing that you get when you think about him and his grace.
4. It putting feet to the mouth.
5. I think God is saying in this parable “Put up or shut up”.
To many think that just coming to church is all it takes.
1. Too many think that all that church should include is a time of nice worship
2. Get our touchy feely moment,
3. Have a nice time in Sunday school,
4. But that we don’t have to pour our lives into this fellowship, learn and grow and train the saints
5. And equip everyone for acts of service.
Intentionally, with purpose, not on a whim.
It can’t be any work. It has to be done for God and his glory
I’ve been in ministry long enough to know that most people only want to serve in ministry that they like. Most want the spotlight. You know how you can tell? Take the spotlight away and see what happens.
As soon as it cost something!
THE REWARD
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!
My question today is: What are you doing?
