Introduction
1. Do you feel that God is not using you very much? That He has not given you many gifts or opportunities to serve Him? That you are not doing enough for Him? Do you fail to have any joy in seeing God working through you? Is your call as a disciple a burden or an opportunity to you?
2. I hope today we may examine ourselves with these questions and that we may have a better understanding of how God wants us to serve Him.
3. Lets look at the passage we just read. Imagine what it would be like. If the boss were to go away for a long time. And he would put you in charge of his business. Would you look forward to being in charge? Would you see it as an opportunity or a burden? What would you do? Try to survive, to keep things going, or to see if you if you could increase his business even more?
Teaching
1. Today we see exactly such a situation in the passage before us. A man is going on a long journey. And before he goes, he calls his servants to him. And we could say that he leaves with each a piece of the business. Each is given a portion of his resources, his property.
2. One is given 5 talents, another 2 talents and another just 1. A talent is money. At the time, one talent was equal to 20 years’ wages. And so each one of them was entrusted with a considerable, large amount. The man must have been rich and he was probably going out on an extended business trip. He was gone a long time.
3. As we read the parable, it was clear that the servants did not each respond to the challenge the same way. The ones who received the 5 and the 2 talents, immediately went to work. They saw this as an opportunity. At once they put the money to work, probably even before the master set out on his journey. As a result each doubled the money or property that had been entrusted to them.
4. But the third man saw the situation as a burden. He took the easy way out. He took the money and buried it. That way there was no risk and no effort required.
5. The story Jesus told was a parable. A story told to make a point. There may be many details to the story and it may have many implications for us, but there is one main point that He is making. The story is not true but it points to a true event that would soon take place.
6. Jesus is talking privately to His disciple. This teaching is for His followers, including you and me.
7. He has been telling them about what it will be like when he returns at the end of the age. And so the story points to the fact that Jesus will be going on a long journey. After his death and resurrection He would return to His father in heaven for a long time. He tells them that the kingdom of heaven, the work of the kingdom, is like the story He is telling. Jesus came to bring the good news of salvation to this world. To make His father know and to heal the sick. To seek the lost and to bring them to the father.
8. But when Jesus left, he left with His disciples His property, His work for His disciples to complete. And not only the 12 disciples, but to all His disciples, including you and me.
9. Hear what Jesus tells us to do
John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
If we love God, we, like Peter, are to take care of one another.
Mat 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Eph 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
10. And God has given us resources to do this osp1s18.html are not told directly why they served so willingly. But we are told why the third one did not. He hid the talents because he did not really know the master.
19. First of all he saw the master as a hard man. He was afraid that if he failed he would be in trouble. Unlike the first two. They knew he was merciful. They knew that they could take the risks. Even if they lost the opportunities He would understand.
20. We can be so afraid of blowing it, failing and disappointing God that we hold on to what He has given us rather than using it. But we do not need to fear failure.
21. The third servant again misunderstood. He said that the master harvested where he had not sow and gathering where he had not scattered seed. That he exploited the work of others. But the first two knew that the harvest is the Lord’s. We may be doing the work but it is God who plants the seeds. If there is a harvest it is not because of our efforts but because God has provided it. We cannot make anyone believe in Christ but we can present Him. Only the Holt Spirit can do that.
22. To know this means that we do not need to fear failure. Many times I have failed at ministering to people. They did not believe or they went on in their sinful, addictive lives. If I were to base my serving God on my successes, I would have given up long ago. There have been times of increase, but that was not my doing. Far from it. I was just an instrument.
23. When it really came down to it the third servant did not really love the master. He was lazy and wicked. He was more concerned about himself than he was about the master’s property or even the master himself. He blames the master for his own shortcomings and failure to serve. He is not even true servant - see that in verse 29.
24. Friends, each one of us must take an inventory of our lives. Of our church Are we serving the Lord and extending His kingdom as He has called us to? Jesus gave His life for the lost.
25. Are we unwilling to give an hour each day, our tithe or our gifts and talents for them?
26. Whether or not we have been faithful will affect how Christ responds to us. We will be given two things. First, we will be given increased responsibility. The master told the two faithful servants "I will put you in charge of many things." When we use what God has given us, when w e make the most of the opportunities to serve Him, He will provide more. As we use our abilities they grow. And God will give us opportunities to use them.
27. If I look back in my life, it is amazing how God has enabled me to do things I never thought I could. I believe that is because I was willing to take steps of faith in being used by Him.
28. And second. We will share in our master’s happiness. There is joy in heaven when God’s kingdom grows. When the lost are found. And when we have the heart of Christ in us, His love for the lost, and when we see His kingdom growing through us being used by God, there is great joy.
29 I remember a few years ago, trying to explain, teach some hard truths from scripture. I could see the Holy Spirit actually break down the walls of misunderstanding, as the truth became clear. I cannot express to you the great joy I felt. Not in what I had done, but I was humbled by what God had done.
30. Friends we can receive more opportunities to serve God, more abilities and have more joy. How? By using what God has given us already. May we as a church and as individuals share in that together. To see God glorified as His kingdom grows.
