Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
July 19, 1992
Matthew 25:14-30
HOW TALENTED ARE YOU?
I. Investing is tricky.
A. Some stick with savings accounts, others go for higher dividends.
1) Hunt brothers of Texas tried to corner silver market. (ill)
Back in the 80's the Hunt brothers of Dallas, Texas, devised
a plan to get rich.
They used most of their family fortune to buy up silver.
What they didn't have cash for, they bought on credit.
They did a good job of it.
As they controlled more and more of the world's silver, the
price shot up from $11 an ounce to more than $50.
Just when it seemed they would corner the world market and
make a killing, the government halted all silver trading.
The Hunts were forced to liquidate everything to cover their
purchases, but it wasn't enough.
The price of silver crashed and they lost their shirts.
Even today they're only worth a few hundred-million.
B. Investing is risky.
1) This parable is about investing yourself for God.
II. When the boss doesn't come back for a while.
A. Wealthy man going on a journey. 25:14
1) Eight talents divided among 3 servants.
2) Talent is not a natural ability, but a weight.
a) Usually silver or gold.
b) About 6,000 denarii, or 16 years wages. (more than NIV)
1> Parable forms modern definition of talent.
3) Wealthy man leaves.
B. Servants have differing results.
1) One with five uses them to gain five more. 25:16
2) One with two uses them to gain two. 25:17
3) Third servant hid his one talent in the ground. 25:18
a) Alternative was "Savings & Loans."
b) According to rabbis, a hole is the safest place.
C. Master returns after a long time. 25:19
1) First two servants bring their results, a doubling.
a) Same response: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
2) Last servant comes with an excuse. 25:24
a) The master is hard-nosed.
b) The servant was afraid.
1> That he would fail and lose talent?
2> That he would have to work hard?
3) He gives back single talent.
D. Master rips into unproductive servant. 25:26
1) He doesn't defend self, but calls servant lazy and wicked.
2) At the least, he could have put the money in a bank where
it could earn interest.
3) The servant played it safe, and ended up losing everything.
III. Double or nothing.
A. Christians receive differing levels of responsibility.
1) Differing responsibilities are according to ability. 25:15
a) Don't automatically assume you're a one-talent Christian.
1> Too dumb to teach Sunday School, too ugly to witness.
One person told a pastor he never thought he could do
anything for God because he only had one talent.
The pastor said, "Don't be discouraged, God can use it.
"What is your talent, anyway?"
"My only talent is criticizing people."
"In that case," the pastor said, "you'd better do what
the servant did - BURY IT." #2163
b) God uses jackasses and big fish to do His will.
1> Certainly he can use you.
2> You can do more than you think. Don't limit yourself.
2) Don't compare yourself to others.
a) The one you judge may be using 2 out of 2 talents,
while you're using 3 out of 5.
b) God only expects you to use what you've got.
3) Don't let others judge you. God will.
Fred Astaire was without dispute one of the top singers,
dancers, and actors of all time.
In a multitude of famous movies, he danced and crooned
his way into people's hearts worldwide.
But in 1932, when Astaire was starting out, a Hollywood
talent judge wrote on his screen test:
"Can't act. Can't sing. Can dance a little."
Others may not believe in you, but God does.
Attempt great things for Him.
#1962
B. God gives us what we need to carry out our task.
1) Biblical talents are responsibilities, not natural abilities.
a) God will give you what you need (spiritual gifts) to
get the job done.
b) Don't be limited by your natural abilities.
2) We are rewarded for faithfulness, not results.
C. It's not enough to know what to do, you must do it.
1) Your efforts make a difference to God.
a) Salvation not based on works, but saved people will work.
b) Judgment is based on works - no fruit, no reality.
2) Are you working for God on Monday morning?
a) We usually don't think of our jobs that way, but God
does. Colossians 3:24
b) Our daily work is a service to him, as Adam's was.
3) The church is loaded with opportunities for investment.
a) V.B.S. employed half the people of Ledgewood.
b) Limited hellos to friends to greet someone new.
c) Praying for those with special needs.
d) Financial giving to the work of the church.
4) Spiritual productivity comes from investing in needs of others.
a) "By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if
you have love for one another." John 13:35
b) Failing to meet needs is evidence of no love. 1 Jn 3:17
c) We have an obligation to serve others. Rom 15:27
1> Try to serve all men, not just Christians. Gal 6:10
D. The glory of God deserves our best effort.
1) We must be hard on ourselves (not others).
Howard Hendricks tells this story:
"There's a running controversy in art circles as to who is
the greater:
Michelangelo, the pupil, or Bertoldo, the teacher.
The great teacher Bertoldo knew gifted individuals are prone
to coast rather than develop.
He warned Michelangelo repeatedly, but with no effect.
"One morning he walked into the studio and watched Michelangelo
as he was piddling on a little piece of statuary.
Bertoldo went over and picked up a sledge hammer and batted
it into a thousand pieces that ricocheted all over the room.
In the stunned silence, he shouted,
'Michelangelo, talent is cheap; dedication is costly.'"
#2094
2) Meager efforts will not be excused.
a) Mediocrity is bigger problem than lust or greed.
b) Pastor Merle: "If Christians put as much energy into
their businesses as they did in being a Christian,
they would be bankrupt in 2 weeks.
E. Take risks for God.
1) The last servant was afraid of failure.
a) If nothing is risked, everything is lost.
b) Jesus - lose life to save it. Matt 16:25
1> Holding back on salvation?
2) Churches have a problem with risk.
a) (Trustees and cautious investments?)
3) Anything worthwhile involves risk.
a) Investments with highest yield have the lowest security.
b) It's the same with God.
IV. Christians must know that Jesus is coming back - sometime.
A. Context deals with Second Coming of Jesus. (Matthew 24 & 25)
1) Master would correspond to Jesus, and servants to Christians.
2) Parable teaches about what Christians should do while Jesus
is gone.
B. Dangers of imminent expectation.
1) They neglect their duties.
2) They wait for Jesus to appear and solve their problems.
C. Dangers of no expectation.
1) They feel they'll never have to account for themselves.
D. When Jesus comes back, he will bring rewards.
1) Surprisingly, the NT places a great emphasis on rewards.
2) By laying up treasure in heaven, we show our heart is there.
On Queen Elizabeth's "official birthday" some years back, when
she conferred honors on a number of her subjects, one was a
60 year old postman in northern Wales, a fellow with the
unroyal name of Jones.
Because Jones, who came from a family delivering Welsh mail for
150 years, had "not missed a day's service in 43 years and
got the mail through despite snow, storms and floods,"
the Queen bestowed the British Empire Medal upon him,
expressing the gratitude of the nation.
This earthly Queen bestowed such a great honor on a man for
faithfulness in so simple a task as delivering the mail.
Don't you think the King of Heaven will be even more diligent to
make certain each of His subjects receives a proper award
for faithful service?
Of course He will!
This review will be according to quality, not necessarily
quantity;
It will not be how much, but what kind. #1118
==================================================================
West Lafayette, Ohio. March 25, 1984.
========================================
I. Investing.
A. Some stick with savings accounts, others go for higher dividends.
1) Hunt brothers of Texas tried to corner silver market. (ill)
B. Investing is risky.
1) This parable is about investing yourself for God.
II. Summary.
A. Wealthy man going on a journey.
1) Eight talents divided among 3 servants.
2) Talent is not a natural ability, but a weight.
a) Usually silver or gold.
b) About 6,000 denarii, or 16 years wages.
1> Parable forms modern definition of talent.
3) Wealthy man leaves.
B. Servants have differing results.
1) One with five uses them to gain five more.
2) One with two uses them to gain two.
3) Third servant hid his one talent in the ground.
a) According to rabbis, a hole is the safest place.
b) Some ancient stashes are still being found today.
C. Master returns after a long time.
1) First two servants bring their results, a doubling.
a) Same response: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
2) Last servant comes with an excuse.
a) The master is hard-nosed.
b) The servant was afraid.
1> That he would fail and lose talent?
2> That he would have to work hard?
c) He gives back single talent.
D. Master rips into unproductive servant.
1) He doesn't defend self, but calls servant lazy and wicked.
2) At the least, he could have put the money in a bank where
it could earn interest.
3) The servant played it safe, and ended up losing everything.
III. Applications. (None deal with money)
A. Context deals with Second Coming of Jesus. (Matthew 24 & 25)
1) Master would correspond to Jesus, and servants to Christians.
2) Parable teaches about what Christians should do while Jesus
is gone.
B. Dangers of imminent expectation.
1) They neglect their duties.
2) They wait for Jesus to appear and solve their problems.
C. Dangers of no expectation.
1) They feel they'll never have to account for themselves.
D. Jesus IS coming back, but not for a long time.
1) Until he comes, Christians must be busy.
IV. This busyness has to do with good works.
A. Parable talks about judgment based on our works.
1) Some denominations teach your salvation depends on works.
2) You must be moral and religious, or go to hell.
3) But no one can fulfill Christ's standards completely.
a) Salvation must be a gift from God.
b) Good works are a sign of genuine discipleship.
B. Key points in parable:
1) Each person receives a different amount.
a) Christians receive differing levels of responsibility.
b) Responsibility is according to ability. 25:15
c) Don't compare yourself to others.
1> The one you judge may be using 2 out of 2 talents,
while you're using 3 out of 5.
2> God only expects you to use what you've got.
d) They had different responsibilities, but the same reward.
2) The glory of God deserves our best effort.
a) Meager efforts will not be excused.
1> Mediocrity is bigger problem than lust or greed.
2> God's grace is used to get us off hook.
3> Pastor Merle: "If Christians put as much energy into
their businesses as they did in being a Christian,
they would be bankrupt in 2 weeks.
b) We must be hard on ourselves (not others).
3) Many believers identify with one-talent servant.
a) Too dumb to teach Sunday School and too ugly to witness.
b) Illustration:
One person told a pastor he never thought he could accomplish.
anything for God because he only had one talent.
The pastor said, "Don't be discouraged, God can use it.
"What is your talent, anyway?"
"My only talent is criticizing people."
"In that case," the pastor said, "you'd better do what the
servant did - BURY IT." Tan, 934
C. Take risks for God.
1) Churches have a problem with risk.
a) (Ohio church that wouldn't invest in a young pastor,
though it had money in the bank.)
2) Anything worthwhile involves risk.
a) Investments with highest yield have the lowest security.
b) It's the same with God.
