“Faithful with God’s investment”
Matthew 25:14-30
Let’s say you’ve just inherited of $ 20 million dollars:
? and you decide you need a financial advisor.
? to help you properly invest your money.
So, you go down:
? to an investment company and
? you find they have a modest office
? with good but not expensive equipment.
The advisor is a nice person:
? dressed in a JC Penney suit and
? you think you can trust him.
? So, you place your funds in his care.
About a year later you get a letter:
o from the advisor telling you that
o You haven’t made any money yet.
You think that’s odd:
o so, you go down to his office…
o but you find he’s moved.
o You go to the new office and it’s a VERY impressive set of suites.
The office is tastefully decorated:
? and the equipment is top of the line.
? He comes out to meet you in a $2,000 Armani suit and
? his hair and nails have obviously been professionally done.
(illustration from Jeff Strite/Tony Evans)
Now – what are you going to think?
I know what I’d think…
? This man’s been using my money to make himself rich at my expense.
? He has been looking after his own interests.
? He is prospering at my expense.
And he’s not going to be my financial advisor anymore.
? I’m going to take my money away from him and
? give it to someone I can trust.
? someone that will have my interest in mind.
This year, as we look for opportunities:
- to be faithful to God
- for times when we can step out on faith
- and search for God’s leading
WE would like to see God:
- bless this Church
- for us to grow in every way
- to take new ground for God’s Kingdom
The first place we need to be faithful:
- with what God has already given to us
- faithful in fulfilling the tasks we know God has for us
Do you still dream that God:
- would do great things with Arlington Christian Church
- or are you content with how things are?
It is hard to imagine that God:
- would want to lead us to great things
- that require great faith
- if we are not faithful in the little things
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
- Luke 16:10
https://youtu.be/5YNbpB5OGes
Do you see yourself in any of the 3 servants?
- are you the one who is returning a profit to the Master?
- or are you the one who has buried their treasure and is
- neither multiplying nor adding something to the master’s wealth?
Think of God’s investment in us:
- He created us and has cared for us
- God saw each of us in pit of sin and death
- and through the cross of
Jesus provided a way of salvation for ALL who will come:
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Revelation 22:17 (KJV)
1. God makes investments in His servants. Matthew 25:14-18
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.
15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.
18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.”
Each of the servants was given something to manage:
- some are given more than others
- each according to their ability
- each is expected to make a profitable investment
In the same manner:
- God has distributed us with assets to manage
- each of us is expected to produce an increase
We have all been given something to work with:
- some more, so less
- some couldn’t come up with a nickel to save their life
- some could produce thousands at the drop of a hat
Certainly, what God gives and expects a return on:
- is not limited to finances
- some have gifts and abilities
- and use these abilities to serve the Lord
Talents here is not talking about:
- singing, tap dancing or playing the accordion
- a Talent in the Bible is a unit of money
- with a value of thousands of dollars
Each is given in proportion:
- to their ability to manage the amount
- and each is expected to give a proportional return.
Some are good at managing wealth:
- adding to it and multiplying it
- increasing our net worth
- but forgetting who owns it all
God has entrusted us to multiply:
- what he has given us
- not to expand our own Kingdom
- but to use the increase for HIS KINGDOM
2. God’s investments don’t always turn a profit. Matthew 25:19-25
“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’
23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
Investors all want the same thing:
- a good return on their investment
- the last few years have been hard on investors
- with some investments returning significant losses
I wonder what God thinks about His investment in us?
? Is HE pleased?
? Is He seeing His investment in us grow?
? Have we made the attempt to grow God’s investment?
Today’s text is a parable of 2 kinds of servants:
- 2 diligent servants please the Master buy doubling the investment
- 1 servants does not please the Master, and
- what he lacks in profit, he makes up for in excuses….
We live in a world of excuses.
A certain Church had a hard time getting people to show up:
- they always had a reason to miss worship
- so, the Elders adjusted so that everyone could come
- for at least for one week.
They called it "No Excuse Sunday."
Cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say,
"Sunday is my only day to sleep in."
Visine will be available for those with tired eyes...
from watching television too late on Saturday night.
We will have steel helmets for those who say,
"The roof would cave in if I ever came to church."
Blankets will be provided for those who think the church is too cold,
and fans for those who think the church is too hot.
We will have hearing aids for those who say, "The pastor speaks too softly," and cotton for those who say I preach too loudly.
Score cards will be available for those
who wish to list the hypocrites present.
For those who wish to spend time with family on Sunday
we assure you that your Father will be in attendance.
There will be T.V. dinners for those
who cannot go to church and cook dinner also.
One section will be devoted to trees and
grass for those who like to seek God in nature.
Finally, the sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies for those who have never seen the church without them.
Listen to what the lazy unproductive servant said:
24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
- Matthew 25:24-25 (NLT)
Instead of results:
God received a strange excuse...
This is what I heard the lazy servant say…
“I know you expect a lot, so I did nothing.”
Are we faithful with what God has entrusted to us?
- are we sharing the Gospel?
- are we inviting people to Church
- what part of our calendar and budget is dedicated to God’s Kingdom?
We have jobs in the Church:
- that you could do, jobs within your ability
- ways to serve the Lord
- jobs that are done by others who need help
When we hide our gifts and abilities:
- we pervert their purpose
- God has blessed you to be a blessing
WE need help running the camera and PowerPoint equipment:
- if you can run Facebook on your phone
- we can teach you to operate computer
- we have other needs too...
Maybe you think you can’t do much...if that is you listen to this..
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
- Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
The question should not be:
? “What can I do for God” but instead
? “What can God do with me”
? without God we are nothing
God’s word teaches that we are to return:
- to the Lord a first fruits of
- How God has increased us…
- in proportion and generously.
God’s portion is to come first, or off the top:
- that means God gets the best
- He gets the first slice of the pie
- His tithe comes before our toys
“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.”
- Proverbs 3:9 (NLT)
Galatians 4:4-5 reminds us of God’s investment in us:
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”
Galatians 4:4-5 (NLT)
Unfortunately:
- not all of God’s investments return a profit
- some do nothing with what they’ve been given
The next point reminds us God is not indifferent to how we live. …
3. God will issue rewards and punishments.
God issues gifts, talents and resources how He sees fit:
? We have no right complain about what God has given us,
? our job is to use what God has given us...and remember that
? we must use them for God’s betterment.
I hope I hear these words one day from the MASTER....
“‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’”
- Matthew 25:23 (NLT)
If we are faithful to Him the return of our master:
? should be an exciting thing,
? but if we are like the lazy servant.
? we should not look forward to that day.
We can rest assured that God wants to reward those who are faithful.
When I was in the 3rd grade:
- I played on a baseball team
- it was my first year playing
- I played in the outfield
I didn’t really enjoy “playing” baseball:
- I was put in left field, if that tells you how good I was.
- I stood for days in the outfield
- The ball never came to me.
- sometimes I could hit the ball…
- after the game was the best part…SNACKS!
At the end of the season:
- there was an awards ceremony
- I don’t think we won a single game, but
- we all got trophies, even though our team was terrible
Well, God is not handing out participation trophies…
- some people are going to Hell
- some who think they will be in Heaven won’t be there
- Judgment is coming!
Listen to what the Master says to the lazy servant...
“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- Matthew 25:26-30 (NLT)
Many say this has nothing to do with final judgment:
- which is strange because Chapter 24 is about the second coming
- and the section right before this section and right after
- is talking about the second coming and final judgment
Keep in mind there:
- the original Bible did not have chapter divisions
- it also did not have subheadings
- so, the very next verse following our text is CRYSTAL CLEAR...
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.... 41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.”
- Matthew 25:31-34, 41 (NLT)
The highway to hell is 100 miles wide and congested with traffic.
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.”
Matthew 7:13 (NLT)
Our salvation on the finished work of Christ:
- we are not saved by our good works, but for good works
- the cross pays for our salvation
- but God still has expectations of us
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
- Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
God judged all three:
? The two men received commendations and
? the privilege of sharing their master’s happiness.
? One was stripped of what little he had and was cast out.
The moral of the story:
? is that Jesus expects to
? be active and productive.
? Until He returns...
Did you see yourself in today’s parable?
? Our master is away, and he is left us with talents.
? What are you going to do with what you have been given?
? Will God find us faithful?
No matter where you stand:
o we all have been given talents,
o we all have gifts and
o God expects us to do something with them.
Martha Berry was a lady with a vision to help children:
? She began a school for poor children.
? She had no books, no building, and no money.
? But she had a dream.
She went to Henry Ford to ask for a donation:
? Mr. Ford reached into his pocket gave Martha Berry a dime.
? Most people would have been insulted,
? here he is a multi-millionaire and all he could give was a dime.
But Martha took that dime:
? and bought a packet of seeds and
? planted a garden, raised a crop,
? sold it and bought more seeds.
After three or four harvests:
? she had enough money to purchase and
? old building for the children.
She returned to Mr. Ford and said,
“Look what your dime has done.”
Ford was so impressed that he donated a million dollars to Berry School.
(Jason Cole sermon illustration)
This year we are trying to step out in faith:
- and trust God for big things
- we want to see Him move
- we want to see souls be saved...
Let us start by being faithful with God has already given to us:
Credit for some ideas and illustrations:
LeRoy Lawson, Matthew: Unlocking the Scriptures for You, Standard Bible Studies (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1986), 294–297.
Jason Cole https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/parable-of-the-talents-jason-cole-sermon-on-parable-talents-66165
Jeff Strite - sermoncentral
