In Matthew 24 and 25 Jesus teaches about the end times. The disciples asked some questions and so Jesus answered them; and focused on what His followers need to be doing to be found faithful on His return.
In the story of the ten virgins (vs. 1-13), He says we must be vigilant. Then in this parable, He says we must be diligent. We’re expected to make a return for Christ on His investment in us. There are four things to make note of as we work through this passage.
1. The Responsibility - vs. 14-15
It wasn’t an uncommon thing for a wealthy Romans family to live in Italy half the year and the other half somewhere else. While away, servants would be entrusted with care of the master’s investments, his business, or his household. So the people in Jesus’ day could relate to this story. There are four things we are told here.
A. What was entrusted to the servants was owned by the master.
This truth is expressed in what God says throughout the Bible, like, for example, when God is explaining to His people about how He wants them to manage and farm the land given them, He says:
“You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me.” - Leviticus 25:23b (NLT)
God owns everything. What we’re blessed to enjoy has been entrusted to us to be managed for His purposes and his glory.
B. The ones given this responsibility were owned by the master.
This is especially true for us as Christians.
“You don’t own yourselves. God paid a very high price to make you his.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a (Easy to Read)
Salvation is free but it isn’t cheap. A great price was paid at Calvary. Now we belong to God, who is our Master. And He has the right to tell us what to do with our lives and with the things He entrusts to us.
C. Each servant was given what they received for a reason.
The master determined who could handle what, and gave assignments accordingly. He had different expectations of each servant, but as each would fulfill those expectations faithfully, the master’s work would be done as he desired for it to be done.
God has entrusted different things to each of us, based on what He has in mind for us to do with our life. And as each of us does our part, God’s work is accomplished through His church and for His kingdom.
The equalizer in the master’s distribution to the servants was found not in the amount given to each one, but in the fact that they each had the same responsibility - to make the most of what the master had given.
Jesus has given us gifts to be used for His church and His kingdom’s sake. He’s making an investment in us, and as we each do our part, we can bring glory to God by doing His will and work in this world.
Each of us has just what we need to do God’s will for our lives. The question is not, “Do I have enough ________ to do God’s will?” but “Am I managing what God has given me in order to accomplish His will?” It’s all in how we’re managing what He’s given us.
D. The value of what was entrusted to the servants by their master.
A talent is a unit of measurement for weighing precious metals coins, usually made of gold. So it is difficult to say exactly what a talent was worth, because a talent of gold would be worth more than a talent of silver. But whatever the coin was, one thing that scholars tell us is that 1,000 talents worth of any coin would take the average worker 20 years to earn. So the one servant received 20 years worth of salary to invest, the second, 40 years, and the third servant received 100 years worth! Now doubt, these servants must have been in awe of what the master had entrusted to them.
We, likewise, should be in awe of what it means to have been gifted with all that we have received from our Master.
2. The Response - vs. 16-18
The man given five got five more. The man given two got two more. Despite different assignments, they each got the same results - a 100% return. Likewise, no matter who we are or what our Master has given us, if we will manage it for His glory and for the growth of His church and His kingdom, we can each fulfill what He expects of us.
Now, there’s a lot of us who’d like a 100% return on our investments. But Jesus’ point isn’t on the percent of return. As we’ll read later, He indicates the master would have been happy if the third servant had put the money in the bank to draw interest.
The point here is that pursuing the Master’s agenda is evidence of love for and loyalty to the Master. And failure to pursue the Master’s agenda is, at best, evidence you don’t love and aren’t loyal to the Master; and at worst, an indication that you don’t even know Him at all.
3. The Reckoning - vs. 19
One day, the master returned, and there was a reckoning. Likewise, one day, our Master will return, and all will have to give an account to Him concerning what we did with what He has invested in us.
“. . . wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” - 1 Corinthians 4:5b
4. The Results - vs. 20-30
Let’s begin here by considering the third servant. From the rest of scripture, we know that no one can earn eternal life by their good works, nor can anyone who has truly received eternal life through faith in Christ ever lose it. So we know the third servant doesn’t represent a person who failed to earn his salvation or a Christian who lost his salvation. No, the third servant represents all who refuse to acknowledge Christ as Savior and Lord (another word for Master).
God made man for the purpose of managing all He created. Genesis 2:15 tells us God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to tend (manage) it. The arrangement was that God was creator and owner, and man was the manager. And when man rebelled, it involved refusing to play the role of manager any longer. Satan said if they rebelled, they’d be like God - they could be like the owner, and they could decide what was good and what was evil, in other words, they could do whatever they wanted with what God had created. So they rebelled, and man began acting as if it all belonged to him, and has made a terrible mess.
“These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness.” - 2 Peter 2:17 (NLT)
The purpose of a spring is to produce water. The purpose of a cloud is to produce rain. In Peter's description here, he says that unbelievers are like a dry spring or a whip of a cloud, they are not fulfilling their god-given purpose in life, and in death are further condemned to be separated from God for all eternity.
The servants represent the human race as who we’re intended to be - managers and servants. But the third servant represents one who has no personal relationship with the master (vs. 24-27), which is why he
mismanaged what the master had given him.
You see, when I give my life to Christ, I acknowledge Him as Savior and Lord (Master, Creator, Owner), and I accept the role of manager.
I’ve given my life to Christ. Now I look to Him and I listen to Him and I seek to manage my life in a way to honor Him. That’s what it means to be a Christian and that’s what it means to live as a Christian.
One indicator that a person really knows Christ personally is that they seek to honor Him with the investment He’s made in them.
“A true Christian is forgiven, forgiving, and for giving.” - Anonymous
This brings us the reward given to the true servants of the master.
A. Commendation - “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
B. Responsibility - “I will put you in change of many things.”
C. Happiness - “Come and share your master’s happiness.”
Conclusion: In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul says to build a solid life on the foundation of Christ by investing in things of eternity. Some will invest in a life of wood, hay, and straw, while others will invest in a life of gold, silver, and precious stones. Those who invest in eternal things will be rewarded, but those who don’t, will be saved with no reward at all. That’s why Paul told the Corinthians: “I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving,” (2 Corinthians 8:7b).
This month, let’s seek God’ direction on managing His investment through our giving. When’s the last time you prayed about your giving? My prayer is for this to be a year of generosity, where we’ll surpass our budget, provide for building needs ($25,000 by Easter Sunday) and give more to missions than ever (around $1,500 to Lottie Moon in 2018). So we want to pray about our giving to the budget, building fund, and World Missions (see offering envelope).
We can practice Reason giving or Revelation giving.
Reason giving depends on human calculation to determine the amount given.
Reason giving figures from me to God. Therefore, my concerns come first and whatever is left (if anything) is given to God.
Revelation giving depends upon divine revelation for the amount to be given.
Revelation giving figures from God to me. Therefore, God’s concerns come first as all I have is given to God and used as He supplies and directs.
Reason giving is giving by sight, as I take into account my resources.
Revelation giving is giving by faith, as I take into account God’s resources.
Reason giving determines the amount to be given by counting pennies.
Revelation giving determines the amount to be given by committed prayer.
Today, I want to invite you to join me on a journey of seeking God’s revelation for our giving!
