Imagine Series: Part Two
The Parable of Potential
Matt. 25:14-25 - ©Dr. Larry L. Thompson (2005)
Webster defines ‘potential’ as, “something that has the promise to develop and become real!”
Today, I want you to imagine YOUR POTENTIAL your personal responsibility in serving in His church and allowing the promise within you to develop and become real.
My first car was a 1963 Starchief Pontiac that sold for $500 and I talked my mother into signing a note for me so I could work and pay it off. For $500 you don’t get many five year, 60,000 mile warranties. You can imagine my excitement that turned to disappointment when I drove the car home and the next morning got ready to drive to school only to realize my first car didn’t have a reverse! That car looked great; had a huge engine, nice interior, power windows, it even had a AM radio…That car had great potential, it had real promise to be a sweet drive but was useless without a reverse.
There are hundreds of great men, women, students and children in our church. They are nice people, they claim to love the Lord, they have real potential to be used by God but right now, honestly, all you have is potential because you are not moving and you are not productive. YOU ARE JUST LIKE MY 63 STARCHIEF PONTIAC…you look good, people talk about your potential but you never get out of neutral and let me share this with you. GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR YOU TO BE STUCK IN NEUTRAL FOR YOUR ENTIRE LIFE HAVING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT YOUR POTENTIAL BUT YOU NEVER REALIZING YOUR PROMISE AND YOU NEVER BECOME PRODUCTIVE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. God will judge our LACK of ACTION just as much as He judges our ACTIONS. This message is for you and I need you to listen carefully because I know the Lord has a word for you this morning. TEXT:
Matthew 25:14-30 (NIV)
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 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. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.’ 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!’ 22 "The man with the two talents also came. ’Master,’ he said, ’you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ 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!’ 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. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 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? 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. 28 "’Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 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. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
I. THE ASSIGNMENT OF POTENTIAL (v.14-15)
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 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.”
A. THE PERSON MAKING THE ASSIGNMENT
The master "called" the servants to him to give them their potential. The servants did not initiate the calling, but the Master did. Our Divine call is ALWAYS initiated by our Master. It is His calling, not our calling. How do we know our calling? By being obedient servants in everyday life. Thus when He calls, we will be able to hear; we will be in the right place where His calling will reach us. Many are never quite sure of their calling because they are not careful to obey the Lord in their everyday duties.
B. THE PEOPLE RECEIVING THE ASSIGNMENT
They were all called servants, meaning they all belonged to the Master. As wholly owned slaves they would have taken the name and the identity of their Master. They had made the decision that would be united to him for life.
• THE DESCRIPTION OF THE TALENTS
The word translated "talents" is the Greek word talanton (tal-an-twon). In New Testament times, the talanton represented a large sum of money. One ‘Roman talent,’ was worth about 6,000 denarii (Vine). One denarii represented a day’s labor, which meant the man with five talents was entrusted with what would have been the equivalent of 80 years salary. The man with two talents, 32 years salary and the man with one talent, 16 years worth of wages. It was no small sum. What is the worth of the talent the Lord has entrusted to you?
• THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TALENTS (v.15)
The distribution of the talent is based on the biblical principle which Jesus articulated in this verse. “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.”
The Master knew HIS SERVANTS and He gifted His servants accordingly. It is not an issue where servants are jealous over one another’s talents…the talents are what the Master gave…they are merely stewards. There are many people that have far more talents than I do and are greater gifted but I don’t get jealous of them; I rejoice if they are using their talents to honor the Lord and build His kingdom and I deeply regret if they choose to ignore the gifts of the Giver.
The lesson for us here is that God equips us with responsibilities and opportunities which match our abilities. He does not give us tasks to do which we cannot do. He does not lay on us a burden we cannot carry. Think of two cups of different sizes. They are both effective and both are meant to be filled to capacity and yet they both have limits. Our talents or spiritual gifts are given so that each of us have the potential to be filled to its capacity. Understand this truth: Our capacity to receive will also be the capacity to administer. This eliminates any excuses for failure. God is fair.
Our work is judged and accepted according to what we have, not to what we don’t have.
Martha Berry had a dream to start a school for poor children. She had no books, no building and no money, just a heart and a dream to help. She went to Henry Ford and asked for a donation and he gave her a dime! She could have been insulted and discouraged and quit but she took the dime, bought a packet of seeds, planted a garden and raised a crop; sold the crop and bought more seeds and planted a larger garden. After her fourth harvest she made enough money to buy the building. She went back to Mr. Ford and thanked him for his donation and showed him what his dime had accomplished. He was overwhelmed and immediately donated $1 million dollars and the Berry School for Children was firmly established. GOD CALLS US TO BE PRODUCTIVE WITH THE POTENTIAL WE HAVE!
• THE DECLARATION REGARDING THE TALENTS
There is no clear declaration in this text in Matthew but Luke also recorded the parable of the talents and in Luke this is what the Master says to his servants:
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.”
When Christ gives you potential in your personal talents or spiritual gifts, the command is explicit that you take care of it, that you do something constructive with it. We are to use the gifts He has entrusted to us to strengthen HIS investment which is the CHURCH. We are simply stewards of these possessions, and we are to use them, improve them and increase them for our Master’s glory.. This does not seem to be the practice of most professing Christians today. They are too involved in their own interests to give much time to His interests or even consider the gifts and talents they have been given for the purpose to use that potential as a wise investment to add to the Master’s wealth and glory.
Why does God have the right to expect you to use the potential He has entrusted to your care? Because…
• IT IS HIS GIFT TO YOU
• IT IS HIS POWER WORKING THROUGH YOU. ACTS 1:8 “YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER” GOD HAS GIVEN THE BELIEVER THE POWER TO SERVE AND BE PRODUCTIVE NOT BOAST OF THEIR POTENTIAL.
TONIGHT SHOW ILLUSTRATION OF WORLD CHAMPION BODY BUILDER. Why did Leno ask the question, “What do you use all those muscles for?” The champion stood and flexed in front of the audience and they applauded. Leno again questioned, “Great but how do you use them?” The Champion seemed frustrated and again stood and flexed. Leno finally said, “so they are just used to show others your potential?” THE MAN WAS ALL POWER, ALL POTENTIAL BUT NO PURPOSE and NO PRODUCTION!
II. THE ADMINISTRATION OF POTENTIAL (v.16-18)
A. THE DILIGENCE OF THE FAITHFUL SERVANTS (v.16-17)
“The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.”
As you read this verse you realize that…The first two servants were PREPARED; they were PROMPT and they were not afraid of the PERSPIRATION it would take to use the talents of the Master and put them to work for His glory.
Listen to a few of the people in our FIRST FAMILY tell you their own experience regarding the use of their talents:
B. THE DELINQUENCY OF THE FEARFUL SERVANT (v.18)
“But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”
As you read this next verse there are two vitally important facts you should understand. Instead of looking at the potential and the opportunities the MASTER has given to us we find ourselves looking at what He has given to others and get mad that we do not have the equal potential. The energy this fearful servant used to keep from using his potential and the embarrassment associated with his “hiding his talent.”
FIRST OF ALL LOOK AT THE ENERGY HE EXPENDED. Digging is not easy, it can be a lot of work. This servant had to work hard to keep from working. He worked hard to keep from using the potential entrusted to him by the Master. But in spite of this work, the Master called him, "you wicked, lazy servant!” (Matt. 25:26) This action of digging shows to what great lengths people will sometimes go to keep from doing what they KNOW God has called them to accomplish. It is rebellion in the life of the spiritual delinquent and disobedience causes us to do the dumbest things.
SECONDLY, DIGGING A HOLE TO HIDE THE GIFT THE MASTER ENTRUSTED TO HIM ALSO SHOWS EMBARRASSMENT. The servant was ashamed to show his talent or let his faith be seen working for the Master. There is no such thing as a secret disciples. Jesus said “If you are embarrassed of Me in this adulterous and sinful generation then so will I be ashamed of you when you come into the presence of my Father and the Holy angels.”
III. THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF POTENTIAL (v.19-30)
All three servants had to eventually give an account of how they had taken care of the talent or gifts given them by their master. There will be a day of accountability a day of reckoning and in that day there will be blessing or burden; rewards or retribution.
A. THE RETURN OF THE MASTER (v.19)
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.”
The fact that the Master returned after a ‘LONG TIME’ reminds us of the certainty that HE IS COMING AGAIN but also it represents His test to see not only how we do using the gifts He has entrusted to our care but also to see if we will remain faithful for the long haul…to the end. The children of Israel got tired of waiting on Moses and turned back to sin.
B. THE REWARDS FOR THE FAITHFUL
Everyone does not have the same ability and skills; but when one is faithful with the skills he has, there will be dividends. The lord of the servants does not criticize those who had less gains than others, but he criticized those who did not do anything with the POTENTIAL He entrusted to their care. God knows our situation and looks for faithfulness. Do what you can with what you have and there will be rewards for the faithfulness. Notice also that the faithful acknowledged that the talents they received came from the Master. The rewards for the faithful included not only PRAISE but also PROMOTION! They were entrusted with more because of their faithfulness. They were praised for doing a good job and were also given a good name, “good and faithful servant.” BEING RESPONSIBLE ALWAYS LEADS TO MORE RESPONSIBILITY!
(USE STORY OF ROB SPRINGER coming to Christ and first year selling concessions on the parking lot, moving to the choir, ultimately singing solos and now called into ministry)
C. THE RETRIBUTION FOR THE FAILURE
It is interesting that the one servant who failed to use his potential also acknowledged that the talent came from the Lord; however, he almost acts as if the talent was resented instead of respected and received. He acts as if it were a burden instead of a blessing. So the servants here making this report had to confess they were disobedient. It is obvious that the servant realized he had failed the master because he began to make an excuse.
"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. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” (v.24-25)
The excuse he offers reveals the disobedience. This is classic shift of blame when a person is confronted with what they have NOT accomplished. The servant goes so far as to even accuse the Master of being cruel. Often when people are confronted for failed expectations they REACT instead of RESPOND and use the blame game to shift responsibility. IT’S ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE’S FAULT!
Matthew 25:26-30: “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? 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. 28 "’Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 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. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The master DENOUNCED the failure of the servant by exposing his true character “wicked and lazy servant.” He also confronted the complaint the servant made regarding “a hard man.” Basically the master said, “If you really believed I was that hard you would have taken your potential and done everything you could to show its value but you did nothing. Therefore, your complaint is an excuse, it is nothing but a lie attempting to cover up your flawed character.
Like the other two servants, the third man also received something from the Master:
• He received a rebuke
• He received retribution (judgment)
This brings an interesting point. It appears that the Master cast the servant into eternal judgment. This is the description of hell. How can that be if all three were servants? The truth of the matter is theologians point to this parable as the indicator that there are church members who are not Christians. They look like a Christian, talk like a Christian, hang out with Christians but when it comes to obedience to the Master there is none. THEY ARE THEIR OWN MASTER and one day that sin of rebellion will be exposed and it will be judged. This language may be strong for some today but you must remember it is the language of Jesus, not of man.
Paul reminds us of this day of accountability…
1 Corinthians 3:13: “his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.”
CONCLUSION:
THE PROPHECY IN THE PARABLE OF POTENTIAL
Finally notice the prophecy that is found in this description of the Master leaving his servants but with the promise that he will return. The return of Jesus Christ is imminent. He could come at any time. But, as we will see later in the parable, while waiting His return we have the responsibility to use our potential. We must get busy doing His work until He comes again. We must also remember that when He comes again we have no more opportunity to use the potential He has entrusted to our care.
The key to making potential productive is found in three little words. Look at verse 16 again.
“The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.”
For every member of this fellowship who is a genuine believer in Jesus Christ it is time to “Go at once” and put your potential to work so to bring honor to the Master in your productivity.
