Series: Stories from the Kingdom
Text: Matthew 25:14-30
Title: “Get Busy Doing God’s Business”
Introduction
• This parable follows the one of the ten virgins; Jesus is pouring the idea into His disciples that His return was not as soon as they had believed.
o We must understand at this point the disciples still did not understand fully what Jesus was teaching them or even His purpose in coming this time.
Luke 22:24 -- 24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
o They still were thinking that Jesus was coming as a King who was going to overthrow the Roman occupation and set us His earthly kingdom.
• Even after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection they still did not understand anything about the NT Church and the role believer’s would play in God’s redemptive purpose.
Acts 1:6-8 (NKJV)
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
o However Jesus had promised them in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit would bring back to their memories all that He had taught them.
• Read Illustration: When the wind blows (Sermon Central)
I. Entrusting of Resources (14-15)
Vs. 14
• “For the kingdom of heaven…to a far country.”
o Jesus again is teaching them that He was going away and that His return may not be as soon as they think (vs. 13).
o However while Jesus tarries He has not left His followers empty handed.
Vs. 15
• We have all been left with valuable resources.
o Notice these resources are only left for his servants.
John 12:26 -- 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
o We can’t serve Him unless we have made Him our King.
• Here in the parable the servants were left with money, but God has entrusted us with so much more.
o Spiritual Gifts (Administration, Giving, Mercy, Discernment, Leadership, Hospitality, Faith, Preaching, Teaching)
o Passions
o Time
o Money
o Knowledge
o Experience
o Anything that can be used to glorify God.
• It is recognizing that it all belongs to God; we are merely just trusted stewards of everything God has given us.
o Think of what we could do for God if we stopped acting like it all belonged to us and started treating it like it all belongs to God.
• Not only have we all been left with resources, but notice that we have not all been left with the same resources.
• “to each according to his own ability.”
o The reality is we are all given resources by God that are unique to us, however each part is vital to the function of the entire church.
1 Corinthians 12:18 -- 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
II. Stewardship of Resources (16-23)
• Once we recognize that we have all been given differing resources the question is what does God expect us to do with them?
o The business answer is: to get a return on His investment.
o In other words using what God has entrusted us with (gifts, talent, time, money) to build His Kingdom one soul at a time.
• That may seem like a daunting task but the good news is that it’s God’s work and not ours.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 -- 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
• It all belongs to Him both the resources and the labor.
• Paul said that each will receive his own reward according to his own labor, so what is the reward?
o We know that we are promised a crown of righteousness, but I believe there is even a greater reward.
o Hearing those words “well done good and faithful servant.”
III. Neglect of the Resources (24-30)
Vv. 24-25
• This servant recognizes the kind of man his master is, but he failed to do anything with that knowledge.
Vv. 26-27
• The least he could have done with what he was given was to put it in the bank and get interests, but he took it and buried it.
o This servant represents those who know about Jesus and yet never do anything, never act upon that conviction, never respond to that calling, they never receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, they just bury it.
Vv. 28-30
• For those all will be taken away and they will be cast out of God’s presence forever.
• Back to our illustration, can you sleep well when the wind blows, knowing you have been faithful with what God has given you?
