Sunday, July 23, 2017
am
WHAT ARE YOU DOING
WITH YOUR TALENT?
Matthew 25:14-30
Today I want to examine a parable we refer to from time to time.
It was spoken by our Lord the week of His betrayal and
crucifixion. It is found in
the midst of His teaching on judgment and accountability.
We want to notice some lessons from the parable of the talents.
a.
A man prepares to go
on a journey and calls for three of his servants.
He entrusts each of them, according to their abilities, with
talents (a large sum of money) to manage while he is gone.
b.
While he is gone the
servant who received 5 talents traded with them and gained 5 more.
Likewise, the one who received 2 talents received two more.
c.
But there was a one
talent servant who went and hid his talent in the ground.
d.
The lord returned and
settled accounts. The 5
talent and 2 talent servants presented their earnings.
Each was told, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were
faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your lord.”
e.
The one talent
servant came and gave back the talent he had buried.
He told the lord that he feared him because he was a hard man.
f.
His lord answered, “You
wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and
gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited
my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back
my own with interest.:” (25:26-27)
Then the one talent he had received was taken from him and given to the
servant with 10 talents.
g.
Jesus taught, ‘For
to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but
from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And
cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (25:29-30)
a.
This is about the
kingdom of heaven.
As Jesus taught, the parables give us knowledge into the kingdom
of heaven. (Matthew 13: 11-13)
They help us understand spiritual things.
In this parable we learn some things about entering the kingdom
of heaven.
b.
Each of us has
“talents”.
It is interesting that the term in our text was reference to a large
amount of money, yet the same English word means an ability that one has
naturally or has mastered.
The Lord has given
each of us these abilities and He expects us to use them wisely.
We are stewards with whatever we have.
In terms of serving God, our talents means our abilities.
There are 3 servants, but two categories:
i.
Talents used
– the 5 & 2 talent servants.
Clearly they had abilities and utilized them to their fullest.
That is why the lord who returned commended them so.
As Christians, be reminded we are supposed to be busy, and be doing our
very best. We have
emphasized this continually in our studies over the past few years.
Colossians 3:23, whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58 – we are to be always abounding in the work of the
Lord
James 1:25 – it is the doer of the work who is justified
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – even Solomon with his wisdom noted this.
ii.
Talents hidden
– the 1 talent servant.
1.
Consider his
misconception of his lord.
He described him as hard and shrewd.
Could it be that that his master was demanding and expected the
best? Consider how he
treated the faithful servants.
Isn’t it interesting how when one wants to make excuses for failures
they emphasize the worst in others?
How many today believe the
demands of our Lord are unreasonable.
They believe the sacrifice our
Lord demands is too much.
Having to attend services regularly, giving up sinful behaviors (and He
gets to determine what is and is not sinful), etc.
In reality, far too many want to get by with doing just
enough.
But our jaded perception of our Lord does NOT change who He is.
1 John 5:3 tells us His commandments are not burdensome.
Matthew 11:28-30, His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
2.
Consider how he was
afraid.
How often does fear keep us from doing what we ought to be doing?
Fear of failure, rejection, or the POTENTIAL consequences of
whatever it is we ought to be doing.
The doubts we have as to being successful.
3.
He failed to see that
what he could do was needed and
expected. It is clear that
he did not have as much ability as the other servants.
But that is NO excuse for not doing what you CAN do.
Paul deals with this specifically.
Esp. 1 Corinthians 12:14-18
where he notes every part of the body is needed and it is where God has
set us. In vs. 22-24
he notes the “weaker” and “less honorable” and “unpresentable” parts are
just as important.
We ALL have “talents” and God will judge us based upon what we do with
the talents we do have!
Note: a thought not
fully addressed in this parable is underused talents.
Let us suppose you are a 5 talent servant but you choose to only
use 2 of them. Considering what
scriptures say about giving our best, we cannot expect to escape
accountability, if we are not trying to do our best.
4.
The sin of omission
is just as serious as sins of commission.
The one talent man did NOT do what he was capable of doing.
James 4:17, Luke 12:47
To God one like this is wicked and lazy (vs. 26) – two qualities that
will separate one from God. Note Matthew 13:41-42 – the same fate
appears to the lazy man and “all
things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness.”
c.
How do we determine
our talents?
i.
Realize that not
everyone has the same talents.
Different people have different abilities.
In fact, we are diversified and that is a good thing.
Romans 12:3-8. The
challenge is to determine what we can do.
ii.
Some are easy to
determine
– one’s natural abilities.
There are some who seem to be naturally blessed with the ability to
encourage others. Some have
wealth (think of how the Bible says to use your wealth).
Some seem to be mechanically or materially talented – they can
make and repair things.
Some have the ability to lead the congregation in worship.
iii.
Some are developed
–
sometimes these are described as hidden talents that need to be brought
out. Many things we become
good at are learned or earned.
Examples: preaching and teaching; leading – becoming an elder or
deacon, sometimes wealth is built, through learning we become skilled in
using God’s word to encourage others, some learn their mechanical and
physical skills, some are better at adorning the work (making it
professionally presentable – tracts, invitations, websites, etc.).
Whatever skill you have, use it for the glory of God (Colossians
3:23, 1 Peter 4:11, etc.)
iv.
Ask others –
often others can see your strengths and weaknesses and encourage you to
develop better. There is value in wise counsel. Proverbs 15:22,
Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 12:15, The way of a
fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
v.
Most of us have more
talents than we realize
- I am fearful that
there are far more who underutilize their abilities, than those who are
working at their full potential.
If you want to do something – TRY!
Work at it and see if you can do it.
NOTE: As we have already noted, not everyone can do everything.
Accept your limitations but don’t use them as a crutch to bury
whatever talents you do have!
d.
There will be a day
of reckoning.
The lord returned and called the work of his servants into
account.
i.
One day, our Lord
will return and call into account our lives.
2 Corinthians 5:10. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that one day we will
die and then face judgment.
ii.
We will be judged by
what have and have not done.
Jesus followed up the parable of the talents with a picture of
the judgment scene (Matthew 25:31-46) where we will be separated like
goats and sheep.
Revelation 20:12, And I saw the
dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And
another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And
the dead were judged according
to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
iii.
Consider that the
lord of these servants was gone a long time.
(25:19). How many today
think the Lord is delaying His coming.
2 Peter 3:3-4 speaks of scoffers who will mock His delay.
Peter goes on to remind us that God is longsuffering (2 Peter
3:9). Note vs. 10, BUT the day of the Lord WILL COME as a thief in the
night. (Emphasis mine)
iv.
Our reward will be
just.
God knows us for who we are.
He knows if we are giving Him our best or trying to just get by.
He knows our hearts.
He knows EVERYTING. His
judgment will be based upon our obeying Him as we are capable of doing.
1 Peter 1:17 notes that “without partiality” the Father will
judge each of us “according to each one’s work.”
Romans 2:5-11 describes the righteous judgment of God which will be
without partiality.
v.
God will NOT accept
our excuses.
When we stand before God, he knows everything!
You can make all the excuses in the world and they will NOT work.
God did not accept the first excuses (Genesis 3:9-13), and He has
not accepted them since then.
Luke 13:24-27 speaks a parable of a master shutting his door and those
outside begin to knock and ask to come in.
He will reject them.
They will seek to justify their conduct (with excuses) but be left out
as strangers.
Don’t risk your eternity by thinking you can justify your failure to
obey Him!
When you stand before the Lord, what will He say to you? Well done, good
and faithful servant, enter into the joys of your Lord, OR Depart from
Me, you wicked and lazy servant?
What are you doing with your talents?
Think about it.