3 Excuses, 3 Expectations, 3 Promises
Matthew 25:14-25:30
Many Christians speak regularly of their desire to hear Jesus tell them, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” This is the passage that that phrase originates in and herein Jesus has a lot to
say about how we make sure those wonderful words are in our future.
We’re going to look at three excuses, three expectations, and three promises.
THREE EXCUSES:
I. “God hasn’t give me anything to do.”
- v. 14. 14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
A. Many talk as if God didn’t give them any spiritual gifts,
but this passage clearly indicates that each servant had
“his goods” “delivered” to them.
1. You were created for ministry (Eph. 2:10. 10 For we are
God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2. You were saved for ministry (2 Tim. 1:9). 9 who has
saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of
anything we have done but because of his own purpose
and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before
the beginning of time,
3. You’ve been gifted for ministry (1 Peter 4:10). 10 Each
one should use whatever gift he has received to serve
others, faithfully administering God's grace in its
various forms.
II. “I can’t do as much as So-And-So.”
- v. 15.
15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
A. Each one was given a different amount.
1. One was given 5 talents
2. One was given 2 talents
3. One was given 1 talent
b. God will not ask whether we did as much as the
person sitting next to us, only what we did with
what He entrusted to us.
1. God hasn’t given me anything to do.
2. I can’t do as much as So and So.
3. “God is asking too much.”
- v. 24 and v. 26.
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.
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?
A. Notice that ‘reaping’ and ‘gathering’ are the same in both
Statements
1. The servant wants to put the blame on his assertion that the
master is a ‘hard man,’
2.The master correctly places the blame on the fact that the
servant was ‘wicked and lazy.’
B. New Christians begin to read the Bible and see Jesus high expectations (like ‘Take up your cross. . .’), they feel ready to turn back because they think He’s asking too much of them.
EXPECTATIONS:
Every once in a while in the world of Chicago area high school boy’s basketball, a player will emerge with incredible talent and skill. He and his team become the focus of a great deal of media attention. He will become one of the most talked about high school athletes in the country. Recruiters from big-time colleges from coast to coast will attend games just to watch him play. They dream of his potential as a collegiate player, and how he could lead their school to the national championship. Recruiters have a term for high school players with this kind of potential – “CAN’T MISS.” Anyone who lands this prospect “can’t miss” having a superstar on their team.
But not every player who’s labeled as “can’t miss” seems to be able to steer clear from missing. Such is the case of a young man named Ronnie Fields. Maybe you’ve heard of him. Ronnie Fields played for Farragut Academy in Chicago. He and his “can’t miss” prospect teammate, Kevin Garnett, took Farragut to the High School state tournament in 1995. Garnett, a high school senior, turned pro and went to the NBA that year right out of high school. Fields had one more year left. And in his senior year, this 6’3” guard averaged 33 points and 12 rebounds per game. He was named Illinois’ Mr. Basketball for 1996.
Some predicted him to be the next Michael Jordan; because of the way he could seemingly defy gravity and float through the air effortlessly. He accepted a scholarship from DePaul University, and seemed to be heading for stardom.
But then life fell apart. In February of that same year, a serious car accident left him with a fractured vertebrae in his neck. In July, DePaul withdrew its scholarship offer when Fields failed to qualify academically, in September, Fields pleaded guilty to misdemeanor sexual abuse and was sentenced to 2 years probation and counseling. Then in December of ’96 Fields became a benchwarmer for the Rockford Lightning, a professional team that’s part of the CBA, a far cry from the National Basketball Association where the real stars play, and that is, where his high school teammate, Kevin Garnett in October of this year signed a $123 million contract, the richest in the history of sports.
Was Ronnie Fields the “can’t miss” prospect that so many felt he was? No. In fact it’s fair to say that his post-high school career has been pretty disappointing. It’s difficult to live up to expectations of absolute greatness. So many things can go wrong along the way.
C. THREE EXPECTATIONS:
1. Jesus expects fruitfulness.
- vv. 20, 22.20 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.'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
- It is not enough to be ‘faithful.’ Jesus expects us to bear fruit. In fact, He has promised to help
us to do that if we abide in Him. (We bear the fruit, not produce the fruit (John 15:16).) Saying
you’ve been ‘faithful’ when you haven’t been fruitful is an oxymoron.
2. Faithfulness is not just showing up; Jesus expects you to do
what He asks.
- vv. 20-23.
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.'
- See John 15:10.
10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
- Are you simply going through the motions, or are you seeking to obey all He’s asked of you?
Are you just opening your Bible each morning, or are you hungrily reading God’s Word? Are
you merely coming to service, or are you coming for worship?
3. Jesus expects you to get out there and take some risks.
- vv. 26-27.
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.
- As He speaks to the unfaithful servant, we see that the other two did more than pursue the route
of greatest safety (putting it in a bank); they got out in the marketplace and worked with the
master’s resources.
- Note also the word ‘traded’ in v. 16.
16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more.
THREE PROMISES:
1. The pleasure of hearing Jesus say, “Well done.”
- vv. 21, 23.
The 5 talent servant
21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!
The 2 talent servant
23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!
2. The honor of ruling with Christ.
- vv. 21, 23.
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.!'
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.
3. The invitation of entering into Christ’s joy.
- vv. 21, 23.
Come and share your master's happiness!'
Come and share your master's happiness!'
