Begin with the End in Mind
Matthew 25:14-30
January 6, 2019
This is the first Sunday of the year! It seems like we’ve been into 2019 for more than 6 days. I didn’t set new year’s resolutions. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t usually set them, and whenever I have, I usually don’t keep them for very long.
Instead of resolutions, I try to make goals, but simple goals don’t do a whole lot of good. I can’t make a goal, unless I have an end in mind.
To simply say, “I want to workout more” OR “I want to lose weight,” OR “I’d like to read the Bible or pray more,” or whatever it is, none of these get us there.
We need to be more specific with our goals. Really . . . it’s all about the end! We need to have the end in mind when we come up with a plan. Whatever it is, if we don’t know what our preferred outcome is, then we don’t know what we’re shooting at.
Today we’re going to look at a parable Jesus told, and the point of Jesus' parable — is this: Begin with the end in mind.
When we read through the New Testament, every book either alludes to or directly mentions Jesus' return. Do we know when Jesus is coming back? No, but we do know, we’re closer today than we were yesterday. We’re closer this year, than last year. We do believe Jesus is returning. So the question is, "Are we ready?" And as we wait for Jesus, what should we do in the meantime?
Jesus was asked this question in many different ways. Master, what should we do?
Most of the time, Jesus told the disciples a parable. He wanted them to understand what they needed to do and who they needed to be. He often spoke this way to the people as well, which sometimes left them confused. In the parable we’re going to look at today, Jesus told the people they need to live with the end in mind.
I want to read this parable and then we’ll kind of dissect it and see what Jesus wants for us. It’s a parable many of you have most likely heard before -
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying,
‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying,
‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant!
You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the 10 talents
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance.
But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ – Matthew 25:14-30
So, what’s the point of this parable? Understand this is not so much about money and stewardship than it is about what to do with what you’re given. And if you don’t consider the end, then there’s trouble.
This parable is usually called the "Parable of the Talents." It’s a story about a man who is going on a journey. Two important points to understand as we begin -
This man is really, really wealthy! And this really wealthy man is going on a journey. He calls over 3 of his trusted servants and he is entrusting them with his money. The man hands over his wealth to these servants. He wants them to care for his property and wealth as he would have. Do what I would do.
Now, understand how much a talent is worth! One talent is equal to about 75 pounds of gold. As of yesterday,
1 ounce of gold = $1,291
1 pound of gold = $20,656
75 pounds of gold = $1,549,200
So, the guy getting 5 talents. Oh my! He’s getting about $7.5 million. The 2 talent guy is getting $3 million and the 1 talent guy is getting $1.5 million.
Now, the people listening would say, "Wait a minute, Jesus — no master would ever give that much money to his servant!'" Jesus would tell them - "I know, this is a parable: It didn't really happen. Chill out. There's a point to this.” The text says that at once, or immediately, the servant knew exactly what to do. He immediately invested the money. He put it to work. He didn't keep it safe or locked up; he used it and managed that money so it could grow. And he gained five more talents.
The second servant did the same: He doubled his master's money. "But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money." We might think, “Who would do that? Who would take a shovel, dig a hole in the ground, and bury all that money?” Well, nobody would, it's a parable.
When the master returns from his trip, and understand this was a long trip. The word in Greek stands for someone who is taking a trip to a distant land. So, after a long time, he comes home and asked his servants what happened to his money.
The first guy comes up and says -
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me 5 talents; here, I have made 5 talents more.’
When this guy received his talents, he began with the end in mind. He knew that one day his master would be coming back, and he would have to give an account for what he did with his money.
The 2nd guy, who received 2 talents tells his master he also doubled his money and the master looks at both of them and exclaims -
21, 23 ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
Now, if this were a movie, the music would change. You’d notice a deep, dark tone to the music. You know what happens next - - - - The guy with the one talent, who dug a hole in the ground and buried his talent, is up next.
He tells his master -
24 ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
Now, this didn’t want to take responsibility for his lack of action. He simply blamed the master. He accuses him of wrongdoing. Maybe all the more reason to do something with the money.
His master looks at him and says -
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
Ultimately, the master sees the servant as lazy, slothful. He dug a hole, that was it. He had a great opportunity, but wasted it.
So, the master says -
28 Take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance.
But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Now, I’ve got to tell you when I first read this, 35 years ago, I didn’t understand this parable. On the surface it’s pretty understandable, but this was deeper than I could comprehend. You see, I read it and I felt bad for the guy who hid the money. Then the master says, the one who has, will receive more, and the one who doesn’t, even that will be taken away. I thought . . . this is crazy! I don’t like that!
But we have to understand this parable is not about fairness! That’s not the point Jesus is trying to make with the people.
The point Jesus is trying to make is NOT that whoever has a lot of possessions will be given even more possessions. And whoever doesn’t have much is going to lose much. That’s not the point!
The real meaning of this parable - - - is that whoever uses the opportunities God gives them will be given more opportunities. And whoever doesn’t use the opportunities God gives them, then those opportunities will be taken and given to someone else.
Jesus ends the parable by saying -
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ – Matthew 25:14-30
This servant would have been considered part of the master’s inner circle. The master gave him an amazing opportunity to use what God had given him, but he wasted that opportunity. Now he was going to be banished from this inner circle and would have to live on the outer circle.
Why is this important to talk about on the first Sunday of the year?
After today there are only 359 days left this year! Yes, I say only. Before we know it, we’ll be looking at 2020. As the year progresses, we’re going to be given opportunities, the question before each of us is - - - What are you going to do with those opportunities God places before you?
The question is not to look at fairness . . . Why did they get more than me? That doesn’t matter. Don’t compare yourself to the next person. The real question is what will you do with those God given opportunities?
It doesn’t matter if you receive 1 talent or 10. If you receive 1 talent, make it into 2. Ultimately, it will grow to 4, then 8 and so on.
How will you use the gifts God has entrusted to you? Will you take each opportunity and begin with the end in mind?
Every day we have new opportunities placed before us. Some are a fraction of a talent opportunities. Some are big time situations where the potential is to do something great through God’s power. It’s easy to miss them, it’s easy to throw the little ones away. We’re waiting for the big opportunities, but God may be telling us
“Hey Deutsch, you’ve already thrown out the huge opportunities, so I’m giving you a 100th chance, here’s a 1/4 talent, what will you do with it?”
Don’t miss the opportunities, even the little ones, can turn into something big! But if we don’t consider the end, if we don’t look at these opportunities ultimately as an opportunity to bring glory and honor to God, then we’re going to miss out.
It’s opportunities to serve your spouse, to serve your kids, to serve your friends, to serve your church. It’s an opportunity to give of your time, yes, to give of your money. Maybe God blessed you financially, but now you’re hoarding that money ... maybe that was your opportunity, but you’ve been greedy and keep it for yourself.
What about that great talent and skill you have, but you decide not to use it. You’re not looking at God’s big picture. Begin every opportunity - - in fact begin everyday with the end in mind. So when the day ends, you know you’ve given it all you have.
Maybe there’s something you need to stop doing this year. Maybe you’ve got an addiction issue, or something is going on at home, at work, at school . . . whatever it is, begin with the end in mind. What do you want the end results to look like? Then how will you get there.
Maybe it’s to start reading the Bible, or praying, or giving money to the church, or coming to Sunday School or Bible Study, or simply being a volunteer. Begin with the end in mind. When December 31, 2019 rolls around . . . what do you want your year to look like? How will you go about it to bring glory to God?
In the end, Jesus will be returning. The master is coming back. He’s coming back to settle accounts. He's coming back to see what you did with all the opportunities He gave you.
In Revelation 22:12-13, Jesus said -
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” – Revelation 22:12-13
Imagine that day when you have the joy of standing before Jesus. When He goes over your life with you. What do you want his reaction to be? Wouldn’t it be great to have Him look at you and have a great big smile on His face. He puts His arm around you and says
Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Our master wants nothing more than to share His joy with each of us. Let’s begin with the end in mind.
