When To Serve – Matthew 25.14-30

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’ (Matthew 25.14-30, ESV).[1]
 
Memory Verse – so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ – Matthew 25.25

      We began by looking at what does it mean to be a servant. Today we will look at how a servant should act. Most people will know this passage from Matthew as the Parable of the Talents, where a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus used many parables throughout the gospels.
      Here Jesus gives us a parable of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. In the first one He compared it to ten virgins being prepared for the coming bridegroom. Five were prepared and five were not, and when the bridegroom came five of them were left outside of the marriage supper.
      In the parable of the talents, Jesus moves toward a man taking a journey, he calls his servants and distributes to them some money. To the first one he gave $50, to the second one $20, and the last one he gives $10. Yes, they were talents and in biblical times a talent (gold) would be worth about $1.9 million at today’s price.
      The man then leaves on his journey, entrusting his property into the hands of his servants. Before we go any further, this is what Christ has done with us. He has given us gifts, talents, skills and abilities to use for His kingdom growth. He has gone on a long journey and entrusted His property, the earth, and all that is in it to us. The question is, what are we doing with all we have been given?
      For many we are serving God well, not sure we have it all together, or using all correctly but we are doing what we believe God has called us to. As we move through life, we do our best, never looking back, always moving forward taking each day one day at a time. The words written by the Apostle Paul echo in our ears as the Lord spoke to him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12.9, ASV).[2]
      These servants went about their business and one day the master returned and inquired of the servants what they had done with the talents he had given them. The first had increased his by 100 precent, the second likewise increased his by 100 precent. Notice each one doubled what they had and they received the same reward the master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy” (Matthew 25.21,23, CSB).[3]
      Now there is the last servant, he comes with the one talent, he is like many of us, thinking we do not have anything to offer, there is nothing we can do, we do not know anything. Yet the master had given him a talent and what did he do with it? Nothing! How disrespectful, how un-honoring, unworthy is he; he did not care for his master, nor for himself.
      He was more afraid of failure then trying something, then going out with the gift, skills, talents or abilities God had given him and using them for His glory. Know what God has given him will never come to failure, but will always work out for His glory (Philippians 1.6, 2.13; Colossians 4.12).
      As servants of God, we need to use all God has given to us for His glory, never worrying what others think about what we are doing or why we are doing it. As long as we are serving God according to His Word, and not violating His scriptures then continue on. But to sit on the sidelines because we are afraid of making a mistake, or what might happen, well then, we will be like the last servant when the Lord returns, “Thou wicked and slothful servant” (Matthew 25.26, KJV).[4]
      These are not the words we want to hear, nor should we. We must be busy serving our Lord, in whatever way we can, for He has given each of us something to do within His Kingdom, for His glory, to share His gospel, and to let the world know He is coming back. Maybe the reason we do not serve is because we do not believe He is coming back.     
 
Application
 

1. What skills, talents, or abilities has God given to you to use for His service?
2. Are you using any of these things for Him today? How? If not why?
3. Deeper Thinking: Think about the skills, talents and abilities you have (yes we all have something and normally more than one), how can you use them for the glory of God? Are you using them for God’s glory? If so, where are you using them, how often, and to what extent? (Is it just at church or do you use them in other places?)
4. Commit to learning Matthew 25.25 and Witnessing to someone about what God has done for you.

 
Prayer
 
      Lord, our Lord how magnificent is your name throughout the earth! I am amazed that You have taken the time to care about me, to look after me, to know me, and understand me. Lord help me to have a servant’s heart, to be someone who is looking out for the interest of others, and not just my own. Lord, give me wisdom to do for others, to have compassion on those who need Your help and allow me to show Your love and grace by my actions. As I serve You Lord, open the door to share Your gospel, begin to prepare the hearts of those I will come into contact with and provide me with the words to say. This I pray in Your Dear Son Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 25:14–30). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2] American Standard Version. (1995). (2 Co 12:9). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Mt 25:23). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mt 25:26). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

You Can Download This Blog Here - January 19 - Matthew 25.14-30