EIGHT BAGS OF GOLD
Matt. 25:14-30
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: AWKWARD WEDDING COLORS
1. A little girl got to attend a wedding for the first time. While in the church, the girl asked her mother: “Why is the bride dressed in white?” The mother replied to the girl: “Because white is the color of happiness, and it’s the happiest day of her life.”
2. After a little bit, the girl looked up at her mother and said: “But then why is the groom wearing black?”
B. SETTING
Jesus’ discussion in Matthew 25 is centered around His Second Coming. Verses 1-13 tell the Parable of the Ten Virgins, teaching us to be watchful and to keep our hearts on fire as we await His return. Verses 14-30, Parable of the Talents, teaches us about using our abilities, resources, and opportunities to advance His Kingdom, for we shall give account to Him when He returns.
C. TEXT (abbreviated)
14 “[God’s Kingdom] is like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20-23 The men who had received five bags and two bags of gold brought them and said, ‘Master...I have gained five more...I have gained two more.’ [The] master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servants! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 Then the man who had received one bag of gold 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. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!...You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28, 30 ‘So take the bag of gold from him....and throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Matt. 25:14-30.
D. THESIS
1. This parable represents how we’ve all been given talents, how we’re supposed to use our gifts & abilities, and that we’ll give an account to God about how we use them & be rewarded accordingly.
2. The title of this message is “Eight Bags of God.”
I. EVERYONE GETS A TALENT
A. SYMBOLS INTERPRETED
1. The MAN = Christ
2. Far Country = Ascension to Heaven
3. Servants = Christ’s Disciples/ US
4. Talents = bags containing 75 pounds of gold (each worth $2.7M.) The English word “talent” is derived from this passage. It means time, money, opportunities, abilities, spiritual gifts, potential
deeds.
B. “TO EVERY MAN” – Vs. 15
1. To ALL are given some grace or faculty; 1 Pet. 4:11, “As EVERYONE has received the gift, so let him minister.” Eph. 4:7; “Unto EVERY ONE of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”
2. No one can say that he/she was neglected; whatever we have is our gift from God.
C. UNEQUAL GIFTS? It may seem unjust that God gives some 5 talents and others only one, but God 1). Knows our abilities, and 2). Only expects us to use what we have, not what we don’t have.
D. WE SHOULDN’T COMPARE OURSELVES WITH OTHERS
1. We’ll feel inferior, and as a result, do nothing.
2. Or we’ll feel superior and be guilty of pride.
3. Either attitude must make God sad – think of your own kids with either attitude.
II. DILIGENCE OF APPLICATION
A. “STRAIGHTWAY TOOK HIS JOURNEY”
1. Left each servant uncontrolled & undirected;
2. To use the property assigned to them.
3. This shows the free will of humans to do as we choose – for now.
B. FIRST & SECOND SERVANTS
1. Doubled their talents. The first, from $13.8M to $27.6M. The second, from $5.4M to $10.8M.
2. It didn’t matter about the size, each did 100%.
C. THE SLOTHFUL SERVANT
1. He thought his amount ($2.7M) was so small that it didn’t matter; It wasn’t worth the trouble of investment.
2. Like all Easterners, he buried it to keep it safe. (it’s dangerous if you have little and think this.)
D. PURPOSE OF THE MASTER’S ACTION?
1. He wished to test His servants character & abilities, intending, when He should return as King, to appoint them to high offices (see Luke 19:11-27), as their efforts showed them capable of fulfilling.
2. This present life is a trial period to see what responsibilities we can be trusted with in Christ’s millennial reign.
3. This isn’t about money-making but character building. ILLUS. A man had 2 sons. Often while other boys were going swimming or goofing off, he had his boys working in his corn fields. One day a neighbor criticized him; “Why do you always work your boys so hard? You don’t need all that corn!” He replied, “I’m not raising corn, I’m raising boys into men!” It wasn’t about wealth, but character.
III. ACCOUNTING & AWARDS
A. THE GOOD & FAITHFUL SERVANTS
1. “Over a few things” – vs. 21. The sum was considerable, but little in comparison of the full riches of God.
2. Twofold Reward
a. Advancement to a more important position
b. Enter God’s joy – happiness
3. God intends His Grace to Increase. When God plants an acorn, He intends it to grow into an oak; when He plants a small amount of grace in our hearts, He intends it to grow and enlarge. (Dr. Talmage)
B. THE WICKED & SLOTHFUL SERVANT
1. He makes a Twofold Charge Against God:
a. He enriches Himself at other’s expense;
b. He expects a gain where He bestows no labor.
2. The Servant’s Purpose was to excuse his inactivity; “God is asking too much; more than I can perform. So I shouldn’t have to do anything.”
3. Does this accusation stand scrutiny? No! The experience of the first 2 servants showed that their master was actually generous, rewarding all efforts to serve in proportion. This third servant has a warped view of the master!
4. The truth is, the negligent servant was lazy OR didn’t believe his Master would ever come back.
C. OUTCOME OF THE WICKED SERVANT
1. PRONOUNCED WICKED
a. He’s declared to be a “wicked servant” – the Greek word has the sense of moral evil. David said, “With You the wicked cannot dwell” Ps. 5:4, NIV.
b. Claiming he didn’t know better didn’t work. Today’s Christians who claim “I didn’t know I was supposed to work” are in for a rude awakening at the Judgment Seat.
c. Our clear directive is to get the Gospel out: the Great Commission. We’re supposed to help meet the needs of the needy around us (Mt. 25:31-46). We’re supposed to disciple others (Mt. 28:19).
2. EXPULSION FROM THE KINGDOM
a. Mt. 25:30; “And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
b. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not talking about being saved by the works we do. Notice the first two servants weren’t saved by their trading.
c. But James warns us of the clear and present danger of ‘saying’ we have faith but not having the accompanying fruit. “Faith without works is dead.”
3. DOING NOTHING IS A SIN
a. There are many today who believe that if they do nothing WRONG they will gain entrance into the kingdom of God. This parable is a warning that doing nothing can result in total loss.
b. Often we define the Christian life in negative terms. “He’s a Christian: He doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink or swear.” But Christianity’s not a matter of what we DON’T do, it’s a matter of what we DO do.
c. Are we actually doing anything to advance the kingdom of God? Are we working for God’s side?
d. Sometimes the sin of omission can be just as great as the sin of commission! Matt. 7:21 says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ONLY the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
CONCLUSION
A. THE CALL
1. Are you being an obedient or a lazy servant? Pretending Jesus won’t come back won’t make Him not come back.
2. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Before Jesus’ return, we can still receive forgiveness. Once Jesus comes back, or we die, it will be too late. I urge you to make the change now, while you can.
3. If you’re just GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, but Jesus isn’t really Lord, you’re on dangerous ground. May God spare us from being classified as a “wicked servant.” PRAYER.
4. For all who are truly saved, and living it out, you have nothing to fear when Christ returns. For you, it will be a joyous time as you are congratulated by the Lord!
B. ILLUS: GOOD DEED GETS BIG REWARD
1. One stormy night an elderly couple entered the lobby of a small hotel and asked for a room.
2. The clerk said they were filled, as were all the hotels in town. "But I can't send a fine couple like you out in the rain," he said. "Would you be willing to sleep in my room?" The couple hesitated, but the clerk insisted.
3. The next morning when the man paid his bill, he said, "You're the kind of man who should be managing the best hotel in the United States. Someday I'll build you one." The clerk smiled politely.
4. Several years later the clerk received a letter from the elderly man, recalling that stormy night and asking him to come to New York. A round-trip ticket was enclosed.
5. When the clerk arrived, his host took him to the corner of 5th Avenue and 34th Street, where stood a magnificent new building. "That," explained the man, "is the hotel I have built for you to manage."
6. The man was William Waldorf Astor, and that hotel was the original Waldorf-Astoria. The young clerk, George C. Boldt, became its first manager. [D.J.D. Our Daily Bread]
7. ALL STAND. “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” 1 Cor. 15:58. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love” Heb. 6:10, KJV.
8. It will be worth it all, when we see Christ! Prayer.
