Matthew
25:14-30 “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. 16The 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.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants
returned and settled accounts with them. 20 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.’
21 “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!’
22 “The man with the two talents also came.
‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained
two more.’
23 “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!’
24 “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. 25
So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here
is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So
you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not
scattered seed? 27 Well
then, 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 ”‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one
who has the ten talents. 29 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. 30
And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
SEVEN
PRINCIPLES
1. Ownership: Everything I have BELONGS TO GOD (vs.
14)
2. Allocation:
God has given me some TALENTS (vs. 15)
"Talent":
Everything God has given you!
Romans 12:6 We each have been given different gifts, according to the grace
given us.
Someday God will ask me: What did you DO with what you were GIVEN?
4. Utilization: It is wrong to BURY what God has given me
1st Servant (vs. 16): 5 talents
2nd Servant (vs. 17): 2 talents
3rd Servant (vs. 18): 1 talent
Master’s Reaction (26-27): “you wicked, lazy servant!”
5.
Motivation: FEAR keeps me from using my talent.
(vs. 26)
Three kinds of fear: Self pity, self confidence, failure
6.
Application: If I don't use it, I WILL LOSE IT (vs.28)
7.
Compensation: If I use it wisely, I __I WILL BE REWARDED (vs.
23)
Three kinds of rewards: praise, compensation, promotion
LIFE
INVESTMENT SURVEY
"Store
up for yourselves treasure in heaven." (Mt.
6:20)
|------------------------------------------------------------|
my talents
10
20 30
40 50
60 70
80 90
100
|------------------------------------------------------------|
my time
10
20 30
40 50
60 70
80 90
100
|------------------------------------------------------------|
my money
10
20 30
40 50
60 70
80 90
100
X -
My current % investment
G - My goal for the next six months
Romans
10:9-13 That
if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For
it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your
mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says,
“Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”12 For
there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all
and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
A prayer to begin a relationship with Christ: “Dear Jesus, I need You in my life. I want to have a real relationship with You. Today, I have realized that you created me to know you. I also realize today that I have sinned against you. Please forgive me. I turn to you and ask you to be the leader of my life. I give you my heart, my soul, my life, my past, and my future. Thank you for dying for me. Help me to live for you, now and forever. Amen.