FAITHFULNESS YIELDS FRUITFULNESS (Outline)
November 18, 2007 -
END TIME 3 / SAINTS TRIUMPHANT -
Matthew 25:14-30
INTRO: Jesus uses another parable to teach us about the seriousness of his judgment on the Last Day. Last week the parable of the ten virgins taught us to be prepared by waiting and watching. Today’s parable reminds every believer to be prepared by being fruitful. Fruitfulness takes faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Thankfully faith is God’s free gift to us and then for us to use. Our Christian faith yields faithfulness, which then also yields fruitfulness. These blessings all begin with God’s free of faith to us. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other"(JOHN 15:16,17). Fruitfulness is tempered with love. Our theme:
FAITHFULNESS YIELDS FRUITFULNESS!
I. Always use God’s gifts.
II. Never abuse God’s gifts.
I. ALWAYS USE GOD’S GIFTS
A. Verse 14 the master leaves on a journey. He entrusts his property to his servants.
1. This master is Jesus. His journey will to be to the cross to death – and resurrection.
2. Forty days later Jesus’ journey will take him to heaven at his ascension.
B. The servants are given different gifts, each according to their ability, verse 15.
1. The servants with 5 talents and 2 talents waste no time, verses 16,17.
2. These two servants put the money to work. Both gain double what they were given.
C. The master returns to settle accounts, verse 19.
1. Verse 20 the servant with 5 talents happily returns with 5 more (verse 22 repeats 2 talents).
2. These two servants faithfully used the gifts. They rejoice and so does their master, vs. 21,23.
3. The “few things” (talents) were valuable things. One talent = 75 pounds of money!
a. Heaven is far, far greater than any money.
b. “Come and share…happiness!”
D. Jesus wants us to understand and appreciate that no amount of money can compare with the joys of eternal life. This teaching takes work for us to fully appreciate. Our society almost always considers everything with an assessment concerning cost. What will this disaster cost? What will the war cost? How much will high fuel prices cost our families? We get caught up in this mindset. We see sports superstars hold out for more and more money. We see them endanger their lives for more money, fame, and glory. Yet, the Lord always wants us to remember the joy that is ours by faith. "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand"(PSALM 16:11). This is God’s gift of faith to us and for our faithfulness to yield fruitfulness.
E. We notice that there were different gifts for different servants. It is still the same today. Even in society we note that everyone has different gifts for various occupations. The church is no different. Some can teach. Some can preach. Some can play piano and organ. Some can sing. All these gifts of all these believers are for a singular purpose. "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up"(EPHESIANS 4:11,12). God’s gifts build up the body of Christ.
F. There are different lists of different gifts in Scripture. Each one of us has at least one gift. Rest as-sured that you likely have even more than only one gift from God. In Romans we have what we might consider as foundational gifts of faith. "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer"(ROMANS 12:11,12). These are gifts from God for our faith and faithfulness. Even sick in bed or in a care center we can always pray. During those times we can especially pray for those who may have been too busy to pray. Value these gifts – zeal, fervor, serving, joy, patience, prayer. Faithfully using them will mean fruitful Christian lives.
FAITHFULNESS YIELDS FRUITFULNESS
I. Always use God’s gifts.
II. Never abuse God’s gifts.
II. NEVER ABUSE GOD’S GIFTS
A. There was a servant unlike the first two, verse 18. This servant abused the gift of his master.
1. The time came to settle accounts and he gives back the talent with his excuse, verse 24.
2. This servant judged his master to be hard and cruel harvesting where he did not sow.
B. The judgment of the master is swift and severe. Verse 26 labels this man as wicked and lazy.
1. This servant took time to dig a hole and bury the talent. Then he had to dig it up.
2. All of this was more work than taking it to the bank and receiving interest, verse 27.
C. This unfaithful servant has no need for God’s gifts anymore and the one talent is taken away, v. 28.
1. The talent is given to the one with ten talents. The master explains, verse 29.
2. Those who are rich toward will continue to grow richer toward God – fruitfulness.
3. This is not the case for those who abuse, misuse, and do not use God’s gifts, verse 30.
D. Some may say this is unfair. Those with little lose even that. Of what use are God’s gifts in hell? In hell there is no longer any need for God’s gift which were rejected on earth. This is God’s just judgment. God gives the believer faith. The believer is to be faithful on earth. Faithfulness yields fruitfulness. The opposite is also true. In another parable a man had a great harvest. He believed himself to be rich. He was to build bigger barns and granaries. He was ready to eat, drink, and be merry. But his life was demanded from him. He was not ready. "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God"(LUKE 12:21). Greed is a dangerous desire lurking deep within our hearts.
E. Our society looks at those with great wealth or possessions as role models. Many are held up as ex-amples of success. Worldly success does not always translate into eternal blessings. In fact, the opposite is often very true. Satan uses the things of this world to attract and distract many from the eternal joys of everlasting life. Jesus will return looking for faithfulness that yields fruitfulness. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life"(GALATIANS 6:7,8). May we always strive to sow to please the Spirit!
F. Why do some reject Christ? Why do so many love this world above all things? It seems strange to our thinking that anyone would not want to worship the Lord. After all, the answers are simple and clear. God’s word is truth. God’s word directs us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Yet…yet…so many look only to what is appealing and pleasing in this world and this life. In another parable Jesus taught about the sowing of the seed and the different kinds of soil. Jesus explained the meaning. "Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them"(MARK 4:15). Satan desires souls to follow him rather than listen to Jesus.
CONC.: God’s judgment is to be taken seriously. One day Jesus will return. There will be those wise who are waiting and watching. There will be those faithful who have been fruitful. Truly the attractions of this world can lead to disastrous distractions. Remember God is on our side. Our loving Father in heaven is always willing and able to hear and to help. "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God"(COLOSSIANS 1:10). Notice that by growing in the knowledge of God our faithfulness will yield fruitfulness. We grow in the knowledge of God by hearing God’s word, reading God’s word, and studying God’s word. In these last days we are reminded to stay close to God. We are reminded to remain faithful unto the end. May your FAITHFULNESS YIELD FRUITFULNESS by al-ways using God’s gifts and never abusing God’s gifts. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
WORSHIP SER.: SAT – 1:00pm @ NCF Min., &
SUN – 9:30am @ Church & 12:00pm @ NCF Medium
3RD END TIME readings:
ISAIAH 52:1-6; 1 CORIN. 15:54-58; LUKE 21:5-19
(PSALM 150)
