TEXT: MATTHEW 25:14-30
Mat 25:14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
Mat 25:15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
Mat 25:16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
Mat 25:17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
Mat 25:18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
Mat 25:19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
Mat 25:20 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.'
Mat 25:21 "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!'
Mat 25:22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
Mat 25:23 "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. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Mat 25:24 "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.
Mat 25:25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
Mat 25:26 "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?
Mat 25:27 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.
Mat 25:28 " 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
Mat 25:30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
TITLE:
GOD HAS INVESTED IN YOU!
PRAYER
I. INTRODUCTION
- Magandang umaga mga kapatid at higit sa lahat sa ating Diyos na buhay.
- (say something about the passage)
- When we say parable, mga kapatid, it means, a short story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle or moral lesson.
- And the same thing as per the meaning na binasa natin, the Lord is also conveying a message, a principle, a lesson, a truth sa pamamagitan ng parable na ibinahagi Niya sa Kanyang mga alagad na applicable din po sa buhay natin sa kasalukuyan.
- *Literal points/meaning of the parable
a. A certain man (master) owns properties.
b. The man (master) entrusted his properties to his servants, each according to their abilities.
c. Upon receiving, each servant went on his way, and did what he decided to do with the properties.
d. After a long time, the master returned and asked his servants to report on what happened to his properties.
e. The master took away the property that was not invested and threw the servant who did nothing, out of his house.
II. MESSAGE
- There are two things we can do with our life, we can invest it or we can waste it.
- It is up to us kung paano natin gagamitin ang buhay na ipinagkatiwala ng Panginoon sa bawat isa sa atin.
- And through this Parable of the Talents, mabubuksan ang ating kaisipan patungkol sa mga bagay na tinanggap natin mula sa Panginoon.
- Nabanggit po dito sa parable ang word or yung object na talent.
- What is a talent?
- Sabi po, it is a commercial weight or a unit of mass or timbang and it is usually use sa timbang ng mga precious metals during ancient times.
- Example: a talent of gold or a talent of silver.
- Depende ito sa bansang gumagamit pero it could be equivalent from 26 to 60 kgs.
- Pero ang malinaw ay ang isang talent ay katumbas ng napakalaking halaga.
- But for this particular message, a talent symbolizes many things.
- And if we are going to carefully study and spiritualize this Bible passage/parable, there are several truths/principles tayong makikita.
1. GOD OWNS EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE
- God created and made everything therefore He owns it. Siya ang gumawa at lumalang ng lahat ng nandito sa mundo, kaya sa makatuwid, Siya ang nagma-may-ari.
- Wala po tayong pag-aari ni isa man sa mga naririto sa mundong ito.
- Sabi nga po sa 1 Timothy 6:7 (read verse)
- Kung ano man ang meron tayo, it is simply given to us para magamit natin habang tayo ay nabubuhay sa mundong ito.
- All these things (examples of creations/objects) are simply given for us to use for 60 or 70 or 80 or 90 or even for 100 years, depende sa itatagal natin sa mundong ito.
- Ang sabi po sa Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it. The world and all its’ people belong to Him.” (Ang buong daigdig at ang lahat ng naroon, ang may-ari ay si Yaweh na ating Panginoon.)
- Malinaw po sa verse na ito kung sino ang nagma-may-ari sa atin at sa lahat ng bagay na mayroon tayo. Ito po ay ang ating Diyos.
- In our passage, sa verse 14, sabi po dun (read the verse)
- Dito po sa verse na to, makikita natin ang dalawang character, yung master (man) at yung mga servants plus an object na sentro ng parable - yung properties (talents).
- The master symbolizes God and His servants symbolize us and the properties na ipinagkatiwala Niya ay nagsisimbulo naman ng lahat ng bagay na meron tayo.
- Kung paanong ang master ang totoong may-ari ng mga properties na ipinagkatiwala niya sa kanyang servants, ganundin naman na lahat ng bagay dito sa mundo ay pag-aari ng Diyos at ipinagkatiwala lang sa atin.
- We are not owners, we are merely stewards or tagapamahala.
- Our first truth or principle is very clear, “GOD OWNS EVERYTHING WE HAVE”.
2. GOD HAS GIVEN US GIFTS ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITIES
- verse 15 says (read the verse)
- In this verse, the master distributed his properties to His servants according to their abilities.
- One servant received 5 talents, another 2 talents and another 1 talent.
- Sabi nga natin, these properties symbolizes everything that we have.
- It could be skills, resources, abilities or opportunities or spiritual gifts (like).
- Kahit anong bagay na ipinagkatiwala ng Lord sa ating could be considered as talents/gifts, even our children, our job, and our time.
- Yes, we are all created by God, but we are created for different purposes.
- Hindi man pare-pareho ang ibinigay ng Lord sa atin pero malinaw na lahat tayo ay binigyan.
- You have some talents and I have some talents. May gifts ka, may gifts din ako.
- One may have been entrusted with few things, others maybe more.
- Hindi po natin pwedeng sabihin na merong tao na walang talentong ipinagkaloob ang Panginoon.
- Sabi po sa Romans 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
- We are all unique, because God has given us different gifts according to our abilities.
- Kaya hindi natin dapat kinukumpara ang ating sarili sa iba na pwedeng maging sanhi ng inggit. (like)
- Dahil kung paano na iba-iba ang ipinagkatiwala ng master sa kanyang mga servants, ganun din naman na iba-iba din ang ipinagkatiwala ng Diyos sa bawat isa sa atin.
- Each one of us was given according to our ability and according to our purpose here on Earth.
- Tandaan, you cannot have it, unless God decides that it is for you. Unless it is according to God’s plan sa buhay mo dito sa mundo.
- Our second truth or principle is very clear, “GOD HAS GIVEN US GIFTS ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITIES”.
- Along with these gifts, God has also given us free will kaya our third truth/principle is…
3. WE CAN DECIDE ON WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT GOD HAS ENTRUSTED US
- verses 16, 17, 18 says (read the verses)
- Kung mapapansin po natin, walang ibinigay na specific instructions ang master sa kanila (sample), pero ang bawat isa sa kanila ay may ginawang aksyon pagkatanggap nila.
- Sabi sa verse 16 & 17, the servants with the five talents, went at once and put his money to work and same thing din po ang ginawa ng servant with two talents.
- Meaning, hindi sila nag-aksaya ng panahon kundi kumilos agad sila at nagkaroon ng magandang resulta ang kanilang ginawa.
- They made double whatever their master has entrusted them.
- Yung five talents ay naging ten at yung two talents ay naging four.
- But what about the third servant?
- Ginawa ba ng pangatlong tauhan kung ano ang ginawa ng mga kasamahan niya?
- Agad ba siyang kumilos at in-invest ang ipinagkatiwala sa kanya?
- No amen! Ang sabi po sa verse 18, humayo siya at naghukay at saka ibinaon ang perang ipinagkatiwala sa kanya ng amo nila.
- Kung ire-relate natin ito sa ating mga tao, marami sa atin ang dine-develop ito at ginagamit sa ikaluluwalhati ng Diyos. (like 1st & 2nd servants).
- Pero meron pa rin sa atin na mas pinipili pang sarilinin at itago na lang ito. (like 3rd servant)
- Pwede nating sabihin na may free will tayo at pwede nating gawin ang gusto natin sa kung ano ang ibinigay sa atin but let us not forget, binigyan din tayo ng karunungan ng Lord sa kung ano ang dapat at nararapat nating gawin.
- As Christians, meron po tayong misyon sa mundong ito and the Lord is counting on us to accomplish it.
- Kaya nga tayo pinagkatiwalaan ng Diyos ng iba’t-ibang talents, gifts, abilities and resources kasi alam Niyang kailangan natin ito para magtagumpay.
- Pero hindi ito ma-a-accomplish sa pamamagitan ng pag-upo o paghiga lang.
- Doing nothing is unacceptable.
- We should do something with what God has entrusted us and in fact, we should work hard if we want to succeed.
- Our third truth or principle is very clear, “WE CAN DECIDE ON WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT GOD HAS ENTRUSTED US”.
- Pero huwag po nating abusuhin ang free will natin kundi gamitin ang karunungang nagmumula sa Lord para magawa natin ang tama.
- Dahil sabi po sa pang-apat na truth natin:
4. WE WILL GIVE ACCOUNT TO THE LORD
- verse 19 says (read the verse)
- So muling bumalik ang master at nais nito na mag-report ang kanyang mga tauhan.
- Ano na ba ang nangyari sa kanyang mga properties?
- He wants them to report and he is expecting a return of investment.
- Inaasahan niya na may tinubo ang mga ari-arian niya.
- The same thing sa mga talents or gifts na ibinigay ng Lord sa atin.
- He made an investment in us. Namuhunan ang Diyos at ginamit Niyang capital ang mga ipinagkaloob Niya sa atin.
- Sa isa namuhanan Siya ng mga talento, kakayahang umawit, kakayahing maghayag, kakayahang magturo, kakayahang sumayaw at iba pa.
- Sa isa, namuhunan Siya ng material na bagay, magandang trabaho, malaking bahay, malaking sweldo, magarang sasakyan.
- Sa isa, namuhunan Siya ng malayang oras, or malakas na pangangatawan at marami pang iba.
- And God wants to have a full account of His investments and He is also expecting a return.
- Walang ipinagkaiba yan sa isang negosyante na namuhunan.
- Hindi siya mag-i-invest na hindi niya ini-expect na may mababawi siya.
- At ganito din po ang ating Diyos.
- He wouldn’t give us something without expecting that we will put it to good use that would in turn glofiry His name.
- Romans 14:12 says that each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
- Dito nga sa mundo mula pagkabata hanggang sa kasalukuyan, kaliwa’t-kanan ang ginagawa nating pagre-report at pagpapaliwanag. (sa bahay, sa school, sa trabaho, sa ministry, and most especially sa ating mga gf/asawa), how much more sa ating Diyos na Siyang nagma-may-ari ng lahat ng bagay na meron tayo.
- Sa verses 20-27 makikita po natin yung pag-re-report na ginawa ng mga servants.
- They have explained what they did with the talents and what is the outcome of their actions.
- Proud na proud na nag-report ang first servant, “Boss, itong binigay mong 5 talents, ipinang-negosyo ko at tingnan mo, tumubo pa ko ng lima kaya sampu na siya ngayon.”
- Ganundin naman, proud na nag-report ang second servant, “Boss, itong dalawang talents mo, nag-negosyo din ako at tumubo ng dalawa pa, kaya apat na siya ngayon.”
- Meaning, dumoble pa ang properties na ipinagkatiwala sa kanila.
- At napaka-ganda po ng reaction na natanggap nila mula sa kanilang master.
- Both of them received commendation, pinuri sila ng master nila at ang sabi sa kanila, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
- However, the third servant who has been entrusted with one talent, did nothing at tulad ng sabi natin kanina, naghukay lang siya at ibinaon ang natanggap niya.
- Kumbaga, wala siyang ginawa, hindi man lang nag-effort.
- At kung yung dalawang naunang servant ay nakatanggap ng commendation or papuri, ang pangatlong servant naman ay nakatanggap ng condemnation or pagkondena.
- Sabi po ng master nila sa kanya, “You wicked, lazy servant!”
- Ang sakit naman nun. Wicked na, tamad pa ang sasabihin sayo.
- In God’s perfect time, tayo rin haharap sa Panginoon para mag-report.
- At ito ang panahon na dapat nating paghandaan.
- Can we confidently face God and report to Him that we did great?
- Can we confidently tell God that we are like the 1st and 2nd servant in this parable?
- Or baka naman katulad na tayo 3rd servant na walang ginagawa at hindi pinapahalagahan ang ipinagkatiwala sa atin ng Diyos?
- Malinaw din po sa pagre-report na ginawa ng mga servants na may dalawang posibleng reaction tayong makukuha depende sa aksyon na ginagawa natin sa ating buhay.
- And when we face God to give account, ito din po ang dalawag posibleng reaction na makukuha natin mula sa Kanya.
- We can either receive a:
A. Commendation or papuri
B. Condemnation or pagkondena
Commendation:
- If we are going to put into good use all the talents and gifts and blessings na ibinuhos ng Diyos sa buhay natin, hindi Siya magiging madamot sa pagbibigay ng commendation sa atin.
- Napakasarap na marinig na sasabihan tayo ng Lord kapag nakaharap natin Siya:
- “Well done my 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!”
- At mula sa mga katagang ito, makikita natin na three kinds of reward na pwede nating makuha from sa Panginoon.
- 1. Confirmation
- Sabi po sa 1st part, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
- 2. Promotion
- Sabi sa 2nd part, “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in-charge of many things.”
- 3. Celebration
- Sabi po sa 3rd part, “Come and share your master’s happiness!”
- But if God found out na wala tayong ginawa sa mga ipinagkatiwala sa atin, instead of commendation or papuri, ano ang matatanggap natin?
Condemnation or Pagkondena:
- Sasabihan tayo ng Lord: YOU ARE WICKED AND LAZY!
- Napaka-sakit na marinig ang katagang ito kapag galing sa kapwa natin.
- Nadudurog ang puso natin kapag naririnig natin itong sinasabi ng mga boss natin.
- Masasabi natin, “Ang sakit naman niyang magsalita.” “Para naman akong hindi tao kung pagsabihan niya ng ganun.”
- Pero what more kung ang mismong Diyos na ating pinaglilingkuran, sa Kanya na natin maririnig ang mga katagang ito?
- Mas hundredfolds ang tindi ng sakit nun mga kapatid.
- Kahit gaano tayo kamahal ng Diyos at kahit gaano Siya ka-tyaga sa atin, He will call us wicked and lazy if we are not going to do anything to develop and use what He has given us.
- Our fourth truth or principle is very clear, “WE WILL GIVE ACCOUNT TO THE LORD”.
- At ito ang yugto sa ating buhay na kailangan nating paghandaan.
- Nasain natin na makatanggap ng commendation mula sa Panginoon sa oras na magsulit na tayo sa Kanya.
- Dahil kung hindi…
5. GOD CAN TAKE AWAY WHAT WE HAVE AND CAST US OUT OF HIS KINGDOM
- This is a grave warning for all of us.
- Sa ating parable, when the master found out that na walang ginawa ang 3rd servant niya sa ipinagkatiwala niyang property, anong nangari?
- He was condemned, sabi nga po natin kanina.
- Sinabihan siyang wicked and lazy servant.
- But wait, there is more!
- After the condemnation, may ginawa pa ang kanyang master sa ibinigay sa Kanya.
- Sabi po sa verse 28-29 (read verse)
- Binawi ang nasa kanya at ibinigay sa kasamahan niya na meron ng 10 talents.
- Kung titingnan natin, parang hindi fair.
- Yung meron ng marami, mas dinagdagan pa at lalong dumami ang kanya.
- Samantalang yung meron lang kakaunti, ay nawalan pa.
- Pero alam niyo mga kapatid, this is only fair.
- This is the justice of God.
- If you are faithful with what little you have, you will be given more.
- If you are unfaithful with what you have, kahit na konti lang yan, it will be taken away from you.
- Ganito po ang nangyari sa 3rd servant.
- Yung isang talent na meron siya, dahil hindi niya pinahalagahan at pinalago, kinuha pa sa kanya at ibinigay sa 1st servant na meron ng 10 talents.
- Sa atin pong buhay, yung oras, pera, kalakasan, talento, kakayahan, kung hindi natin gagamitin sa tamang paraan or totally hindi natin gagamitin, tuluyan itong mawawala sa atin.
- We will lose it and it will be taken away from us.
- Tandaan po natin, God has the right to take away anything that we don’t use for His glory.
- Sabi nga po sa Job 1:21 “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;”
- Ang Diyos ang pinagmulan ng lahat ng meron tayo kaya may karapatan Siya na bawiin din ito sa atin kung makikita Niya na hindi tayo deserving para dito.
- Samples: muscles, boses, katalinuhan, pagsayaw.
- Even the opportunities na ibinigay sa atin, sa trabaho, sa ministry, kung hindi natin ginamit, mawawala ito sa atin.
- We either use it or lose it. Gamitin mo or mawawala ito sayo.
- But wait, there’s more again.
- After the condemnation, and after the taking away of what we have, this is the ultimate punishment.
- Ang sabi sa verse 30 (read verse)
- Iniutos ng master na palayasin ang wicked and lazy servant and he was put outside the house.
- This mga kapatid, should serve a warning to all of us.
- God has given us something and He is expecting for us to use it for his glory.
- Huwag natin hayaan na malugi ang investment ng Panginoon sa atin dahil matinding kaparusahan ang naghihintay sa atin.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 says “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.”
- Kapag ni-reject natin at hindi pinahalagahan ang mga bagay na ipinagkatiwala sa atin ng Diyos, tulad ng ginawa ng 3rd servant, either because we are too lazy or afraid, then yung mismong buhay na meron tayo ay siya ng kukunin sa atin.
- Sa halip na eternal life ang makuha natin, we will be cast out into eternal darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Our fifth truth or principle is very clear, “GOD CAN TAKE AWAY WHAT WE HAVE AND CAST US OUT OF HIS KINGDOM”.
- Habang tayo po ay nasa mundo, we should live a life na karapat-dapat para sa pagtitiwala ng Diyos sa atin.
- Tingnan natin ang ating mga buhay, are we already developing and investing all the things that God has given us or baka itinatago lang natin at wala tayong ginagawa?
- Tandaan po natin, we cannot please God by always playing safe. (sample)
- We have to take risks and take action. Get out of our comfort zones.
- Kailangan kumilos tayo. Kailangan may gawin tayo.
- Kung mananahimik lang tayo sa isang tabi at walang gagawin, tulad ng 3rd servant sa parable na ito, tatawagin tayong wicked and lazy ng ating Panginoon.
- Binigyan Niya tayo ng talento, abilidad at iba’t-ibang pagpapala hindi para itago lang kundi gamitin for His glory.
- Now, we may ask, bakit ko pa susubukan? Bakit pa ko magte-take-risk?
- Paano kung hindi ako magtagumpay? Paano kung mabigo ako?
- Ang sagot diyan mga kapatid ay ang ating pananampalataya.
- We can take risk even if we don’t know what will be the outcome because we have faith.
- Sabi nga sa Hebrews 11:1a (NLT) Faith is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen.
- And this is what the 1st and 2nd servant have, na wala sa 3rd servant.
- Alam nilang pare-pareho na mahigpit ang kanilang master, na kung magkakamali sila at maaaring magalit or maparusahan sila.
- But servant 1 and 2 have faith. They are confident na ma-a-accomplished nila ang goal nila kaya sila nag-take ng risk.
- But sadly mga kapatid, kahit marami sa mga Kristyano ang katulad ng 1st and 2nd servant, marami din naman ang katulad ng 3rd servant.
- Some Christians are not doing anything because of fear. Dahil takot sila.
- At ganito rin ang naramdaman ng 3rd servant.
- Ang sabi niya sa verse 25, “I was afraid..” (Natakot ako…)
- So nag-set in ang takot sa buhay niya and in the end, hindi niya na-satisfy or na-meet ang expectation ng kanilang master.
- Sa ating mga Kristyano, kapag nakaramdam tayo ng takot, wala na tayong magagawa.
- Yung iisipin mo na “hindi ko kayang gawin yan”, “hindi ako qualified dyan”, “nabigo na ko ng maraming beses, kaya ayaw ko ng ulitin ulit kasi siguradong mabibigo din naman ako ulit.” or yung iisipin mo na agad “kung gawin ko ito, ano kaya ang iisipin ng mga tao?” “kung magpa-awit ako, baka pagtawanan lang ako ng kongregasyon”, “kung mag-share ako ng word of God, baka iwasan na ko ng mga kaibigan ko”.
- These fears can really stop or prevent us from doing what God is expecting us to do.
- Tandaan, fear is the opposite of faith.
- At para matanggal ang mga takot na ito sa ating buhay, we have to activate and strengthen our faith and believe na karapat-dapat tayo sa pagtitiwala ng Lord na binigyan Niya ng talento, regalo, abilidad at iba’t-ibang pagpapala and we should continue to develop and use it for His glory.
- Amen!
III. CONCLUSION
- Balikan po natin ang mga natutunan natin sa parable na ito.
- Literal Meaning and Spiritual Meaning of the Parable of the Talents:
a. 1. A certain man (master) owns properties.
2. God owns everything that we have
b. 1. The man (master) entrusted his properties to his servants, each according to their abilities.
2. God has given us gifts according to our abilities
c. 1. Upon receiving, each servant went on his way, and did what he decided to do with the properties.
2. We can decide on what to do with what God has given/entrusted us
d. 1. After a long time, the master returned and asked his servants to report on what happened to his properties.
2. We will give account to the Lord
e. 1. The master took away the property that was not invested and threw the servant who did nothing, out of his house.
2. God can take away what we have and cast us out of His kingdom.
- With the truths & principles na natutunan natin from this parable, we should strive to be like the first and second servant.
- Hindi na po ito ang panahon para maging relax at magpatumpik-tumpik.
- We should work at once and take action immediately.
- God has given each one of us certain gifts and talent.
- We should develop and use them.
- Hindi lang natin ito dapat itago at sarilinin.
- Kailangan gamitin ito para sa ikaluluwalhati ng ating Diyos na pinaglilingkuran.
- With this, I want to pose this question to each and everyone of us.
- “Who are you among the servants?”
- In this world, we are all servants of God, but upon examining ourselves, sino ba tayo sa parable na to?
- Are we like the 1st & 2nd servant or are we like the 3rd servant?
- Tayo na lang po ang makakasagot niyan and it is between you and the Lord na po.
- With this, ako po ay nananalangin na patuloy tayong magkaroon ng matatag na pananampalataya para ma-develop at magamit natin sa tamang paraan ang mga bagay na ipinagkatiwala ng Diyos sa atin, for His glory.
- May all of us be like the 1st and 2nd servant, doing everything we can to glorify the name of our living God.
- Amen.
*TO GOD BE THE GLORY!*
