1) Introduction
a) Trouble in school—bad grades—didn’t care about learning—wanted to hang out with friends.
b) The problem was that I failed to understand the value of the assignments the teachers were giving. I viewed them as an interruption to my goals and how I wanted to spend my time. By failing to recognize the purpose and value of the assignment, I ultimately missed the opportunity to learn the lesson that was being taught.
c) An assignment is a specific task given to be accomplished in a certain time frame for a useful reason.
? In school, an assignment is given to teach the student a specific topic.
? In the military, an assignment is a specific post to be stationed.
? In the workplace, an assignment could be a project or task to be completed by an individual or group.
? In the Kingdom of Heaven, an assignment is a specific role or responsibility that God entrusts to a person for His kingdom purposes.
d) For the purpose of our study, an assignment is a task that God, through the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, has given you to accomplish something for His kingdom and His glory.
? He has equipped you through your spiritual gifts.
? He has prepared you through a lifetime’s worth of experiences (good and bad).
? He has positioned you to be able to accomplish this assignment at this exact moment in time.
e) CORE THEME: You are on assignment, not on accident. Every moment matters!
? Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
? What does it mean for you that the gospel is to go to all nations?
? How do you view your daily assignments in relation to the kingdom assignment to spread the good news of the gospel message?
2) Understanding God’s Sovereign Trust
a) God is the Sovereign Giver
? Key Thought: Everything we have—time, talent, resources—originates from our heavenly Father.
? Matthew 25:14: “It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.”
? 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
? God did not make a mistake when He created you, and He did not make a mistake when He placed you where you are. You are not here by accident; you are here by divine assignment.
b) Recognize Your Unique “Talent”: It’s Not Just About Money
? We see the KJV and other versions referring to “talents” in this parable. A “talent” was a substantial amount of money, but Jesus uses the term to illustrate any resource or ability entrusted to us by God.
? Romans 12:6: “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith.”
? 1 Corinthians 12:4-7: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
? You need to identify your God-given assignment by prayerfully examining your situation, your gifts, your experiences, and your desires. God does not ask you to serve in a way He has not already equipped you for.
? Hebrews 13:21 says that God will “equip you with everything good for doing his will, and [that he will] work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ.”
? God has entrusted each of us with seeds of potential. Our responsibility is to discover those seeds, plant them in His field, and water them with obedience to the Holy Spirit.
3) Embracing Faithful Stewardship
a) The Example of the First Two Servants
? Matthew 25:16-18: “The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”
? Observation: The first two servants acted immediately and multiplied what was entrusted to them. They were willing to take a risk and step out in obedience and let the Master’s resources work for His kingdom.
? Luke 19:13: “So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’”
? Application: God expects us to not merely preserve our gifts but to put them into action—“to work” them on His behalf.
b) The Danger of Spiritual Apathy
? The servant who was only given one talent represents those of us who, out of fear or complacency, bury what God has given or entrusted to us.
? Matthew 25:25: “So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”
? 1 Timothy 1:7: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
? Revelation 3:15-16: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
? Application: We must examine our hearts—are we motivated by fear or by faith? Are we allowing worldly comfort and convenience to dictate our devotion?
c) Working with Excellence for the King
? Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
? Ephesians 6:7: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”
? Application: Reflect on the tasks you encounter each day—whether at home, at work, or in the church—and ask: Am I acting as if I am serving Christ Himself?
4) Accountability and Eternal Reward
a) Faithful Servants Commended
? Matthew 25:21 (& 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!”
? God honors faithfulness, not perfection. He rewards those who “use what they have.”
? You will never feel like you are totally equipped for a God-given assignment. The enemy won’t allow you to be comfortable in your preparation. He wants you to be scared, he wants you to procrastinate.
? Luke 19:17: “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’”
? Your faithfulness in the small, mundane, everyday tasks, opportunities, and assignments will position you for greater, more trustworthy responsibilities in God’s Kingdom.
b) The Consequences of Unfaithfulness
? Matthew 25:26-30 ? The unfaithful servant was punished even though he gave his master back exactly what had been entrusted to him. He neither gained nor lost a penny. He was punished because he lacked the faith to believe and understand how much his master trusted him. He lacked the understanding that this wasn’t merely a simple test; it was a gift his master was giving him by trusting him to invest the money wisely.
? Hebrews 10:26-27: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”
? Revelation 22:12: “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”
? We are not being called to fear, but rather to a solemn reminder that neglecting our assignment has real consequences. God’s patience is not to be tested.
5) Living as Fruitful Stewards Today
a) Identify Your Assignment
? Spend time in prayer and spend time meditating on Scripture to begin to discern and understand your sphere of influence—family, friends, workplace, community, church.
? Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
? Ask yourself—What good works has God prepared for me? Where can I invest my time, faith, talents, and resources?
b) Develop Daily Rhythms of Faithfulness
? 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
? Matthew 24:45-47: “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”
? Cultivate habits—regular devotional time, serving and ministry opportunities, Bible study, and church community—that keep you alert and ready for the Lord’s return.
? Worship—not just on Sunday, but daily devotion.
? Prayer—not just in times of crisis or need, but continually.
c) Invest Your Time as a Sacred Resource
? Psalm 90:12: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
? James 4:14: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
? Recognize that every minute you have on this side of eternity is a gift from God. Take time to discern and understand what constitutes an urgent task, a truly important task, and what has simply come into your life to consume your time and distract you from your genuine God-given assignment.
? Prioritize kingdom-focused endeavors—sharing the gospel, discipleship, acts of service, ministry, and compassion.
d) Encouragement Over Fear
? Remember 2 Timothy 1:7 promises that God gives us power, love, and self-discipline. Fear comes from Satan.
? 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
? If you are here today and you recognize that you have been hesitating to use your gifts, talents, and abilities, remember that one of the roles of the Holy Spirit in your life is to empower you.
? God loves you and he has a desire for you to be proactive in a spirit of courage, not hesitant and reactive out of fear.
6) Things to Consider
a) You are on a Divine Assignment—God has given you unique abilities, talents, and gifts.
b) Faithful Stewardship Bears Eternal Fruit—We must put our gifts to work, not bury them out of fear.
c) Accountability and Reward Await You—The Master commends those who are faithful and warns the unfaithful, giving them time to repent and change their ways.
d) Every Moment is Precious—Invest the time God has given you wisely, work toward accomplishing the assignment you have been given.
e) Personal Reflection: What gifts, talents, and abilities has God entrusted to you? How have you invested the time God has given you to accomplish your God-given assignment?
7) Conclusion
I once heard a story about a carpenter named Jacob who felt a nudge on his heart to build a small shelter for elderly widows in his town. He sensed it was God’s assignment for him, using his hands and his trade to serve others. But Jacob kept thinking, “I’m too busy right now. I’ll get to it next month.” Weeks turned into months, and every time he planned to start, something else seemed more urgent: a new project at work, a family obligation, or simply wanting a day of rest. Before he knew it, the dry season had passed, the rains came, and the roads turned to mud. The materials he’d set aside began to rot in his garage, and suddenly the cost of rebuilding tripled.
One evening, Jacob received a call that one of those widows had fallen ill and had nowhere to go—she needed that shelter to protect her from the coming storms. His heart sank, because if he had acted when God first laid it on his heart, he could have saved her from weeks of hardship. Instead, his procrastination and spiritual apathy had rendered his gift useless at the very moment it was needed most. The Master’s words in Matthew 25 rang painfully true: “You wicked, lazy servant… you should have invested my money with the bankers…” (Matthew 25:26, NIV).
Beloved, sometimes we say, “I’ll wait until I’m more prepared” or “I’ll serve when I have more time,” but the Lord doesn’t promise tomorrow. If God has given you a green light—whether it’s to share your gift of teaching, to comfort the lonely, or to give generously—don’t bury it in excuses. Just as the carpenter’s moment slipped away, our opportunities to fulfill God’s assignment can vanish before we know it. Let’s not allow spiritual complacency to steal our calling. The time to build, to serve, and to obey is now—while our hearts are willing and our hands are ready.
Let’s pray.
