Introduction

Good morning, Church! Today, we're going to dive into a powerful passage from the book of Matthew. It's a story Jesus told His disciples about trust - the responsibility of it, the consequences of misusing it, and the rewards of fulfilling it. Now, I'm sure many of you have heard this parable before, but I want us to take a fresh look at it today.

Leonard Ravenhill once said, "The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity." This quote speaks volumes about our responsibility as stewards of God's blessings and the urgency to use what He's given us for His glory.

Let's read Matthew 25:14-30 together:

[Read passage]

Let's pray.

Lord, as we dissect Your Word today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds. Help us to understand the depth of Your trust in us and the importance of our stewardship. Guide us, Lord, to use the gifts You've given us to bring glory to Your name. Amen.

So, let's dive in, shall we? Let's talk about the responsibility of trust...

The Responsibility of Trust

The responsibility of trust is not just about being trustworthy in the eyes of others, but about being trustworthy in the eyes of God. When we read the parable of the talents, we see that the master entrusted his servants with his property, each according to their ability. This is a clear illustration of God's trust in us. He has given each of us gifts, talents, and resources according to our ability, and He trusts us to use them wisely.

Not light: It requires us to be diligent, to be proactive, and to be faithful. The servants who were given five and two talents immediately put them to work and doubled their master's investment. They understood the weight of the trust placed in them and they acted accordingly. They didn't squander their master's resources or hide them away out of fear. They took the initiative and used their talents to generate more. In contrast, the servant who was given one talent buried it in the ground. He let fear and insecurity paralyze him, and as a result, he failed to fulfill his responsibility. His master had trusted him with a talent, but he didn't live up to that trust. This is a stark reminder for us. God has entrusted us with His gifts, and He expects us to use them, not hide them away out of fear or insecurity.

Involves accountability: In the parable, the master returns after a long time and settles accounts with his servants. This is a clear picture of the final judgment when we will all stand before God and give an account of how we used the gifts He entrusted to us. Did we use them to further His kingdom and bring glory to His name? Or did we bury them in the ground out of fear and insecurity?

Also about our attitude: The servants who doubled their master's investment did so joyfully and willingly. They didn't see their master's trust as a burden, but as an opportunity. They understood that their master's trust was a privilege and they embraced it with gratitude and joy. On the other hand, the servant who buried his talent saw his master's trust as a burden. He was afraid of his master and saw him as a hard man. His negative attitude prevented him from fulfilling his responsibility and reaping the rewards of his master's trust.

A call to action: It's a call to use our gifts, talents, and resources for God's glory. It's a call to be proactive, to take initiative, and to seize opportunities. It's a call to be faithful and diligent, to be accountable, and to have a positive attitude.

Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about a time when you felt the weight of this responsibility of trust. How did this affect your life and your faith?

The Consequences of Misusing Trust

The consequences of misusing trust, as depicted in the parable of the talents, are quite severe ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO