Elvis Presley is known as the “King of Rock-n-Roll.” Perhaps there’s been no greater music entertainer in the past 100 years that has used his talents to shake up the crowd, like Elvis. Thinking over the latter years of Elvis’ life and his drug overdose, do you think he would do things differently if given another chance? Do you think he would have invested in a different way?
Our Heavenly King has given each of us the awesome opportunity to invest our lives, using the gifts and talents He’s invested in us to minister. The best investment of your life is investing back into the King’s service! We will give an account one day of our faithfulness or unfaithfulness… The King of Kings will say, “Well done!” or “Wicked, worthless, wasted.” Which will it be for you?
Distant Journey (14) – The Lord Jesus Christ is in heaven right now, yet He has gifted every single child of His with various gifts (Eph. 4:8). He gives each of us ample time to make use of those gifts and we simply must be obedient to His call upon our lives. This is no time to be goofing off, wasting time, doing our own thing, rather we should be saying, “Lord, how have you gifted me?”
Delegating Talents (15) – God is the One who gives the talents to His people. To one servant, He gave five. To another, He gave two. To yet another, He gave one. We must always remember God is the One who has given us what we have. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “…not your own, bought with a price, glorify God!” Our ultimate accountability is to the Lord.
Differing Talents (15) – Not everyone has the same talent, and that is completely fine. The call is not for us to get jealous about the one who has more talent, rather to be faithful with what God has invested into our own lives! For example, I look at Billy Graham, Dr. James Dobson, Dr. James Merritt, or Dr. Charles Stanley and say, “I will never be as talented as they, can’t preach/teach, have as big ministry or church.” It’s easy to think they are more special in God’s eyes because of what’s been accomplished through them. However, God gives each of us a gift (some five, two, or one). If we are a five, be the five. Two, be the two. One, be the one. He’s not asking for us to become someone else, but to be the unique person He’s created us to be. Also, He’s not looking for our church to be like the mega church down the road, yet, He is looking for us to be faithful with what He’s invested into our lives – to touch others, minister, serve, reach out. We need to take His call upon our lives with all seriousness. The gifts we have belong to the Lord and are to be used for His glory.
Dependable Servants (16 & 17) – These two servants of the Lord did exactly what God had intended for them to do. Both of them used their God given time, talent, treasure, testimony, etc. faithfully. The man with five talents, gained five more. The man with two talents, gained two more. Both of these men doubled their talent treasury. Both of these servants knew they would give an account one day of how they invested their Master’s talents. They could have chosen to say, “Well, thank God, I’m gifted, and that’s enough.” Instead, they took the attitude of, “My Master has invested into my life. Just as He’s invested in me, I will invest into others.” Both servants did not waste time, but immediately began to invest their talents. Some say, “I will get on board with God, one day.” “When the economy gets better, then I’ll give.” “When I’m retired, I’ll begin to think about being a witness for the Lord, etc.” “When I began to feel a little better, I’ll start taking this whole call to serve God a little more seriously.”
Disloyal Servant (18) – In Jesus’ day, to dig a hole and put your valuables in the ground was normally a safe thing. However, the Master had not called His servants to bury their talents, rather to use those talents to gain more. Why did this one talented man do that? Perhaps he saw that others had more and felt like his didn’t really matter. Perhaps he got busy doing so many other things that he forgot about His Master’s purpose? Maybe he said, “Well, my Master is not returning for a long time, I’ll be about His business after taking care of my things first.”
Day of Reckoning (19) – We will give an account to God one day with what He’s given to us – 2 Corinthians 5, Hebrews 9:27, Romans 14, etc. Thinking of that day ought to motivate each of us to faithfulness to the Lord.
Disciple’s Praised (20-23) – It ought to be the desire of our heart to hear the Lord say of us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Even in this life, the greatest thing we can do is give back with a grateful heart for all God has given us. The one who had doubled to ten talents was told the exact same thing the one who had doubled to four, “Well done, enter into the joy of your Lord!” If we are faithful with what God give us, He can entrust more to us. If we are not faithful with the little things, how can He entrust us with more?
Distorted View of God (24-26) – This third servant had the same opportunity as the others, but did not have the proper view of his Master. He said the Master was a “hard man.” Look back at how kind the Master had been to each of the three. He blessed them with what they didn’t naturally have, He gave them plenty of to invest, He praised the first two for their faithfulness. Many people don’t believe God is good, kind, faithful, giving…because of their distorted view of God, they don’t serve Him! The servant also tried to blame the Master of bad character (many people blame God) as the reason for their unfaithfulness. The servant also said, “I was afraid, went and hid your talent in the ground…” The servant is simply full of excuses as to why he could not be found faithful. This is a very selfish way to live. This is a life turned inward, instead of a life lived upward to God in thanksgiving and outward to others in service, ministry.
Description of the servant (26) – “wicked” and “lazy.” Do you understand that you don’t have to be involved in some massive sin, yet the Lord could still say of you, “wicked, lazy servant.” Some people come to church week in and week out, yet never do anything with what they’ve heard. They think they please God simply because they warm a pew.
Devotion Rewarded (27-29) – This is the call of God upon our lives. Wholehearted devotion to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Faithfulness to God and His kingdom is rewarded, unfaithfulness to God and His kingdom is punished. How many of God’s people choose to be the third servant? How many churches bury the gifts in the sand that God has given them to share with their community.
Darkness Demanded (30) - God is light, in Him there is no darkness. Away from the Lord's presence is beyond terrible. What a wake up call!
Decisions Must Be Made – Will I use what God has given me to His glory and the benefit of others? Will I anticipate the day and the joy of hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Will I take what the Master has given me and bury it in the sand? Will I come up with every excuse in the book as to why I couldn’t and wouldn’t be faithful to my Master? This parable could also serve as a wake up call to Colonial Woods Baptist Church. God is the Master of this church and deserves, demands faithful and loving service until He returns.
My challenge to God’s church tonight is: Will we be found faithful or fearful? Will we have a vision to grow, be renewed, use our gifts, or live for self alone? Perhaps it is time to focus more of our time and efforts into hearing God speak to our hearts clearly about what He’d have done…and then get on board with His plan.
How can I best invest my life in service to the King of Kings?
Spend Time Getting to Your Mater and King Better
Use what God’s given you to advance His Kingdom…now
Refuse to compare yourself with the more talented…be faithful with what He’s given you.
Anticipate hearing the King say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Have a healthy fear of God’s judgment on the unfaithful servants
Our Response:
1. May we be reminded that God is the King and He has richly blessed each of us with the ability to invest our lives in His kingdom.
2. Let go of things that are keeping you from truly knowing the Lord better and being about His business.
3. Understand that we have nothing to boast or brag about on our own – His amazing grace is what motivates us to faithful service.
4. Put your gifts into practice this week. God gave you gifts for the building up of believers right here at CWBC.
5. May we praise God that our King is coming, our salvation is secure, He is faithful!
