What Are You Doing?

What are you doing?

Matthew 25:14 - 30 (NIV)

Sunday morning we talked about counting the cost. What are you willing to pay to not only enter but also to expend the kingdom? Then Sunday Evening I talked about if someone wanted to make an impact on the world that we must view ourselves as servants of God with a distinct message about Jesus. Now if we are servants it will be important to know what is expected of a servant

Well what is the expectation of a servant?

I. THE MASTER WHO DISTRIBUTES THE TALANTS

14. Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability

a. He owned the servants

i. Our very lives are his

b. He owns the property.

i. The talents

ii. God owns everything we have.

c. He distributes them fairly

i. This shows no favorites

ii. This shows equal responsibility

iii. The master will never ask more than can be handled

II. We all have been given gifts according to His will

1 Corinthians 12:7 - 11 (NIV) 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

a. We have all been given gifts to expand the kingdom and the common good.

i. No one is left out

ii. Healing. Wisdom, faith, knowledge

1. Distinguishing between spirits. (Discernment)

b. They are given according to our ability

i. We will never be given more then we can handle.

c. God is fare in giving what he gives

i. It all come out the same because it to ability. So everyone is full

ii. God knows everything so no excuse he given me too much.

iii. Everyone has the same amount.

III. WE ARE TO USE THESE GIFTS TO EXPAND HIS KINGDOM

16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So 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.

1. The two servants that where profitable

a. Left at once, immediately

Illustration: We talked about this at men’s breakfast. All should work right away, according to their ability.

b. Put their talents to use

i. They we using them the best they knew how

ii. They were (Purposeful)

Their efforts were rewarded with Gain or increase.

2. It can be done because it requires nothing beyond our ability,

3. It requires only what we are defiantly able to do.

There for the only way to fail is to deliberately disobey and do nothing as did the third servant.

Too many time we use our gifts but not to good use. We aren’t purposeful about what we do.

18But the man who had received the one talent went off dug a hole in the ground and hid his master¡¦s money.

4. Its important to understand a few things about this man

It’s not because he doesn’t expect the master to return.

5. He knew his master would return. He was told He would return

a. Just like those today know that the master is coming back

6. It’s not because he doesn’t think he can do any thing

a. It was given according to his ability.

So why didn’t he do anything?

7. Because he was selfish.

8. He didn’t think it was fare.

a. Listen to what he says.

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. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”

1. Basically saying listen God you take more than is yours.

2. You are harvesting where you have not sown.

3. You are gathering where you have not scattered seed

4. It’s my life not yours

5. You want me to go to the highways and buy ways and sow so you can gather?