I recently heard a radio commercial that caught my attention. It was an advertisement to refinance your home and save $1000’s. The commercial asked, “What could you do with all that savings?” People exclaimed, “We could buy a new car! We could go on a cruise! We could remodel the kitchen.” (There’s nothing wrong with any of those things. Ecclesiastes tells us, “There’s a time to be born, a time to die, a time for war, a time for peace…” There is a time to remodel the kitchen.) But what struck me is that this is a CHRISTIAN radio station. Why didn’t the people exclaim, “We could sponsor a child! We could support a missionary! We could increase our tithe! We need to pray and seek what the Lord would have us do!” Could it be – nobody suggested these things because we are much more worldly than Christian?
Matthew 15:14-30 is the Parable of the Talents of Money.
TEXT: “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So 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.” (Matthew 15:14-18)
THE KEY:
1. A man. That would be Jesus Christ.
2. A journey. This would be the time between the ascension of Jesus in Acts 1 and His return (The Second Coming, which is what the previous chapter is all about).
3. His Servants. Who are they?
HIS SERVANTS
How did the disciples, who became the Apostles, who were given all authority by Jesus, who gave us the New Testament, who radically changed the world… How did these men perceive themselves?
Romans 1:1, “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus…”
Philippians 1:1, “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus…”
And it wasn’t just Paul:
James 1:1, “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…”
2 Peter 1:1, “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ…”
Jude 1, “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ…”
This is what the Redeemed of the Lord do. They serve! (They serve the Lord with gladness!)
Serving Jesus Christ is the most natural response of a grateful heart (A heart that Loves Jesus - with all their heart, mind, and strength). We serve Christ by doing kingdom work: Evangelism, Edification, Benevolence, Hospitality. We serve Christ in EVERYTHING we do: At home, at work, at play. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
TALENTS OF MONEY
It doesn’t say, “He entrusted them with talent”. It says, “Talents of money”. (Greek: talanta). A talent of money is a measurement of weight. It doesn’t say if it was a measurement of gold, or silver, or bronze. So we don’t know how much. But the implication is: It was a lot! It would be the equivalent of saying, “He entrusted them with a TON of money”. Or, “a BOATLOAD of money.”
And Notice: It is the Master’s property. The Bible says, ““The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1).
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above”
Even you belong to the Lord. “…you were bought with a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20) He made you and He saved you. You were redeemed by God. You belong to God.
He has the rights, and we have the responsibility. He is the Master, you and I are the managers. He is the sovereign, we are grateful servants.
John Maxwell says “We will never get money and possessions right—really, all of stewardship—until we consciously affirm, believe, and live in light of the truth that God is the true owner of it all.” I totally believe this. Your life will not make sense until you acknowledge that it all belongs to God. And once you acknowledge it – that all belongs to God, then everything starts making sense.
ENTRUSTED
And notice – it was ENTRUSTED to them. It wasn’t given TO them. It was given FOR them… to use, to invest, to work. Matthew doesn’t clearly write out the expectations. A similar story in Luke, it says, “Do business until I come” (Luke 19:13). There is an expectation that these servants would use the Master’s resources to grow His kingdom (Something the first two servants clearly understood). The servants have been entrusted with the Master’s resources to manage His property. To grow His kingdom.
If this is too lofty a concept for us to understand, maybe it would help to put it in more practical terms. Let’s say you are an employee of a company, and your boss puts you in charge. Let’s say Jeff Bezos puts you in charge of Amazon while he works on other projects. Or Elon Musk puts you in charge of Tesla while he works on Twitter. And he says, “I’m putting you in charge.” What would you do? Would you be grateful for this opportunity? Would you be faithful with this opportunity? Would you just maintain? Or would you work to produce positive results? Would you work hard to please the boss? Or, would you squander this opportunity? ("I'm in charge, therefore, I am going to the beach!" - with Jeff Bezos' credit card!) Is this not what many Christians are doing with the resources of God today? God has blessed us with so much – and we go to the beach – at His expense. There is a time to go to the beach. But that is not what you’ve been called to do.
Are you a servant of God? What has the Lord ENTRUSTED to you? And, what are you doing with it?
ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY
One more thing: How did the master distribute His property? “He gave... to each according to his ability.” (v.15) Not according to their wants!
The master KNOWS His servants. He KNOWS what they are capable of. He gives them what HE THINKS is best.
And notice: There was no jealousy. No one cried, "UNFAIR". The godly servants did not compare... did not quarrel. They understand that they have different abilities... different responsibilities.
Ill - Peter and Andrew were brothers, but very different. Peter was loud, Andrew was quiet. Peter spoke to large crowds, Andrew was more of a one on one kind of guy. Peter had more strengths, but he also had more weaknesses. And Peter would have never have seen thousands saved if he hadn’t been brought to Jesus by his own brother! They were made differently. They were made for different purposes by their Creator. So don’t be upset when you see people with different talents then you have. God made you the way He needs you and wants you. Embrace that and use that.
And notice: The Master gave to each of His servants Generously! Abundantly! Lavishly! Even the one with only One talent - got a lot! (a boat load!)
All were ENTRUSTED with THE MASTER’S PROPERTY. All were EXPECTED to WORK. All is US.
OFF TO WORK
TEXT: The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. (Matthew 25:16-18)
SERVANT #1: “The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.”
a. “received the five talents”
b. “went at once” (with a sense of urgency, diligence, commitment). He was eager to work... eager to serve... glad to serve His Master. Romans 12:11 says, ”Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord
c. “put his money to work” (He worked it. He invested. He took risks. He produced.)
(He used his money, his mind, his muscles, his stuff…)
Net gain: 5 more Talents
SERVANT #2: “So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.”
a. “received the five talents”
b. “went at once” (with a sense of urgency, diligence, commitment). He was eager to work... eager to serve... glad to serve His Master
c. “put his money to work”
Net gain: 2 more Talents
SERVANT #3: “But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”
a. Dug a hole (He dug a hole - for a BOAT LOAD of money!!!) That hole had to be big enough to bury the Titanic!!!
He would rather DIG A HOLE - than serve the Lord!
WHY???
NOTE: He didn't reject the money - just the responsibility.
He DELIBERATELY did nothing!
He took no risks He made no investments.
He had no spiritual influence.
He made no impact for the eternal good.
His life counted for nothing! What a waste of human flesh!
Q. How do you justify this?
This man had no intentions of serving the Lord!
What does he bring to the Lord? Nothing. Net gain: 0
SETTLING ACCOUNTS
TEXT: “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. (Mt 25:19)
The Bible says, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)
Jesus is coming again and there will be a day of reckoning. (If this scares you – that could be very telling. Notice the first two servants did not fear this).
SERVANT #1 REPORT: “The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ (Mt 25:20)
"See... behold... look! He was eager to work. NOW he is eager to show the master what was gained! He bubbling with enthusiasm! He lived to please his Master!
THE MASTER'S REWARD: “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Mt 25:21)
The Master is thrilled with His servant! "You've made me very happy! Come. Let's celebrate!" "Well done! Excellent! Wonderful!
SERVANT #2 REPORT: “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ (Mt 25:22)
"See... behold... look! He was eager to work. NOW he is eager to show the master what was gained! He bubbling with enthusiasm! He lived to please his Master!
THE MASTER'S REWARD - “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Mt 25:23)
The Master is thrilled with His servant! "You've made me very happy! Come. Let's celebrate!" "Well done! Excellent! Wonderful!
BOTH:
1) Received the Master's Praise! “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
2) Received the Master's Promise! “I will put you in charge of many things”
3) Received the Master's Presence! “Come and share your master’s happiness!’
It’s going to be good!
SERVANT #3 REPORT: (This guy has issues!) “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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ (Matthew 25:24-25)
NOTE: The third servant talked more than the other two combined! (An attempt to justify his behavior)
v. 25 “See, here is what belongs to you.”
The first two said, “Behold, another five talents” and “Behold, another two talents,” but the last said “Behold” when there was nothing to behold.
To make matters worse:
1. He BLAMES the Master for his poor performance. "I knew that you are a hard man…"
(The person that blames God – is the person that buries God’s blessings. Don’t be that guy!)
2. He ACCUSES the Master. “…harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed..”
He’s calling the master a thief! The THIRD SERVANT actually sees the Master as wicked... harsh, and impossible to please. So he didn't even try. And I fear there is going to be a lot of people like this on Judgement Day. (The first two servants were nothing like this. They were DELIGHTED to serve... GRATEFUL to serve... EAGER to serve...)
3. He MAKES EXCUSES. "I was afraid"
Afraid of what? Afraid of what people would say? Afraid of looking stupid? Afraid of failure? Afraid of getting hurt?
A wrong view of God leads to FEAR (an unhealthy fear. A fear that will paralyze. A fear that Satan will use to make your life miserable). A right view of God leads to FAITH (A faith that will empower you. A faith that will take you on an adventure that you will love!)
THE MASTER’S RESPONSE: His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! (Matthew 25:26)
The Master isn't very sympathetic. Not because the servant returned with nothing, but because the servant flat out disobeyed!
a. “WICKED” - What does the word wicked mean? What do you think of when you hear the word “wicked”? Wicked means evil, hurtful, malicious. What is wicked?
Question: What is wicked to God?
Answer: THIS is wicked! Being useless (like a rotten apple on an apple tree). It is hurtful to do nothing with all that God has given you - when there are so many hurting people in this world! WE are the hands and feet of Christ. It is WICKED when we do nothing!
b. “LAZY” - He doesn't serve the Master. He only serves himself! Laziness is extremely dangerous to our spiritual lives. Proverbs 10:5: “He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.” IT’S HARVEST TIME! WAKE UP! Put to work what God has given you.
TEXT: “Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:28-30)
“And throw that worthless servant outside…”
c. THE SERVANT WAS FIRED!
- STRIPPED of the Master’s resources
- THROWN OUTSIDE of the Master’s kingdom
What a LOSER! He lost his “Talent”. He lost his Position. He lost EVERYTHING! (Eternally removed from the Master’s Presence. An eternity of weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness)
MY MESSAGE: DON”T BE A LOSER! (To all that God want to give you)
APPLICATION:
1. SERVE GOD
Don't just sit there. Do something! ("Do business" - Luke 19:13). Make something happen!
Find something! Create something! Do ANYTHING! But don’t just sit there and do NOTHING! As Jonathan Winters once said: “If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it!” Find a way to serve God!
- Save the Lost
- Advance the Kingdom
- Bring glory to God
- Make an eternal difference!
2. BE READY (in light of Matthew 24, The Lord’s coming back!)
HOW? By not only loving Christ in your heart - But ALSO by serving Him with your life!
LAST WEEK: DO YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?
THIS WEEK: ARE YOU SERVING THE LORD FAITHFULLY? As a good and faithful servant?
Are you living to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
We've all been given different talents... different resources… different responsibilities... I can't judge you.
All I can do is ask you, "Are you serving the Lord to the best of your ability?
Are you doing all you can with what the Lord has entrusted to you? (Your money... your stuff... your time... your skills)
Are you giving it back to the Lord? That’s what this life is for. This life has been given to us to serve God.
CLOSE: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. - Colossians 3:23-24
Every breath we take… Every day we exist… we do so to serve Christ. Is that happening? Are you ready for Him to come back? Are you ready for the reckoning? The settling of the accounts? Are you ready?
Are you going to tell your Master, “Look! Look what I’ve done!” with excitement! With joy! With enthusiasm?
Or, are you going to say, “It’s your fault. You didn’t give me enough. You didn’t bless me enough. You’re a hard man to please.” Don’t be that guy.
Let’s all live to hear those words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
