The Gospel On Money Series

The 40-Day Challenge is a series of sermons designed for your growth. It’s designed to motivate you to grow spiritually by forming 7 habits that Christians have used for centuries to grow in their faith. You have a card that was in your seat. Please put this in front of you for the next few minutes.

I want you to take a 40-day challenge with me.

40 days of Bible reading.

40 days of prayer

40 days of serving.

40 days of giving.

More details to come in a few moments.

I invite you to turn to Matthew 25 with me. Jesus tells a story that challenges us to consider our lives and possessions in light of eternity.

Jesus is on the Mount of Olives, which you can see directly over the valley into Jerusalem, no more than one mile away. This is known as the Olivet Discourse. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus tells the future. It’s clear Jesus is speaking about an event that hasn’t happened yet as He instructs us on what to do while waiting for His return.

Jesus groups this series of parables together to make His point. Parables were Jesus’ favorite teaching method. Each parable represents a small story with a big truth.

Today’s Scripture

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 25:14-30).

Here are 3 servants and their master. The way these men respond to the responsibility given to them surprises us.

There are 3 parts to Jesus’ story:

1) There are the differing amounts He gives to each person (verses 14-15);

2) There’s the work done by each slave to make a profit (verses 16-18);

3) And lastly, the Master settles everyone’s accounts (verses 19-30).

The story isn’t difficult to understand, but the implications of His story intrigue us as they apply to our lives. Let’s identify some possible confusing items so you can benefit from Jesus’ story.

What is “it” in verse 14? If you go back to what is commonly known as the Parable of the Ten Virgins, “it” is “the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 25:1). Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins” in verse 1 and the kingdom of heaven will also “be like a man going on a journey,” He says in verse 14. So, we’re talking about the kingdom of Heaven.

Who is the “man” in verse 14? The “master” is Jesus. He’s also called the “master” 9 times throughout the parable. The “master” is the one who gives the talents to His servants, goes away, returns, and settles the accounts.1