Taking Risks For God
- Rev. Jerry Lepasana
- Aug 27, 2006
- Series: Moving into a Great Future
TAKING RISKS FOR GOD
Matthew 25:14-30
Matthew 25:14-30
14) "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.
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.'
Have you ever thought what you never have accomplished if you were not willing to take some risks?
- As a toddler, you would have never learned to walk.
- As a child, you would have never learned to ride a bike, or swim.
- As a teenager, you would have never gone to college.
- As an adult, you would have never said, "I do" in marriage.
If you have chosen to always play it safe, you would have missed so much in life. I believe it is even safe to say that if you always played it safe. you probably might have missed some advancements in life. You see, often our advancements depend on our willingness to take significant risks in life.
This truth is quite evident from the parable of the talents narrated by Jesus Christ. He used this parable to help his disciples understand how they need to live their lives while waiting for the second coming. Chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew are teachings of Jesus in Mount Olives as He responded to the question of one of the disciples in chapter 24 verse 3, "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
Reading the first phrase in our text - Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, we should be able to see the connection. Today, our Lord is making preparation to return and establish his earthly kingdom. It matters to Him how we are living our lives. We should be reminded time and again concerning our master's expectations. As we re-examine the parable, I would like to present the challenge concerning the need to take the risks of investing our "talents" while we still are afforded with opportunities. Here are three important concepts we need to comprehend from the parable.
I EQUAL ABUNDANCE:
The parable begins with the master who owns so much property deciding to entrust a notable amount of money to his servants. Without any moral obligation, he generously shared his possession to his three servants. He regarded each of them as stewards or trustees.
The "talents" were silver money, which weighed between 58 and 80 pounds. According to Bible scholars, one talent is equivalent to 10,000 denarii, and every denarius represented a day's fair wages.
Now, to appreciate the value of the talent, you have to multiply your daily wage by 10, 000.
For example, if you earn $30, 000 a year and you annually work 260 days, you make about $115 a day. A talent in your case is valued at 10, 000 times $115, or 1, 150, 000. Here is another way to look at it. Suppose a person earns $30, 000 a year for forty years. His or her lifetime earnings are $1, 200, 000, only 50, 000 more than a talent. One talent, then, equals a lifetime of earnings.
So, even for the servant who had received one talent, God has given abundantly. The truth of the matter is - we are all entrusted with abundant gifts - time, talents (skills), and treasures.
Ephesians 4:7
7) But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Notice the words, each one. All of us have received rich gifts from our Master - Jesus Christ. In his sovereignty, he gave carefully, each according to his ability (25:15).
I hope that by this time, we are truly appreciative of what we have received. We don't go around wishing we have the gifts and talents that other people have. We have to accept the fact that it is God who decides who gets which gifts, and we should be faithful with what we have. In your uniqueness as an individual, you have to consider yourself as a million dollar investment - God has invested a "talent" in you.
II EQUAL ACCOUNTABILITY:
One of the most important questions any of us will ever ask ourselves in life is this: "What will I do with what I have been given?"
The answer is obvious - We must invest what we've been given. Verse 16 tells us that the man who received five talents went "at once and put his money to work and gained five more." He didn't waste any time but immediately went to work on his investment strategy and doubled his master's portfolio. The guy who got two talents did the same thing; only the text doesn't say he went to work "at once" like the first guy did. We do know that he worked hard however, because he also doubled his master's money, ending up with four talents.
Unfortunately, Verse 18 describes the different approach of the third servant: "But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money." Even though we don't read about any specific instructions for what to do with the money, the first two guys went to work and multiplied their investment. The one-talent guy was a slacker who went off and buried his blessing. It has been said that the practice of hiding valuables in the ground was quite common back then. It was one of the safest-and least profitable-ways of protecting possessions.
The first two servants took the risks. Both of them took the chance of growing what they have received. Who was to say their investments wouldn't fail? No one. But they cast off their fears and honored their Master by investing.
By application, this should be our response. We need to honor our Master by investing our time, talents and treasures. Let's not allow our fear of failure to keep us from advancing the kingdom.
2 Timothy 1:7
7) God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.
Obviously, the third servant made the most tragic and common mistake of giftedness. He failed to benefit the master with his "talent."
III EQUAL APPRECIATION:
Lastly, this parable openly reminds us of a day of accountability.
None of us want to be audited by the IRS, but we'll all be audited by the Almighty. We'll have to give an account for how we've used what we've been given. Look at verse 19: "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them." In the same way, Jesus is coming again and there will be a day of reckoning. While most of us believe this in our heads, we don't always live with eternity in our hearts. I believe that if we would think more about His return, we'd be more focused on making an eternal return on our investments.
Romans 14:12
12) So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
It was the duty of servants to always bear in mind that the master would be returning and would settle his accounts with them. In the parable there were two kinds of servants:
•1. Diligent servants - Those who work hard to invest their "talents."
•2. Delinquent servant - Those who live for themselves and neglect their "talents."
For the diligent servants, they both appreciated the generosity of the master, and so they honored him with their "talents." For the delinquent servant, he mismanaged his "talent" because he misunderstood the master - '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.' (vv.24-25). Clearly, his ignorance of the master cost him his future.
But what I really would like to emphasize is the appreciation expressed by the Master to the first two servants. When you analyze the commendation, both servants received the same commendation - '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!'
The words were exactly the same with an emphasis on their faithfulness. The second servant with two talents receives the same applause as the five-talent servant. As long as we are faithful in investing what we have received, taking some significant risks to honor and serve our master, Jesus Christ, we can dream of that day wherein we would feel his hand on our shoulder and his eyes on our face saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Let's continue to set our eyes on this day.
TAKING RISKS FOR GOD
Matthew 25:14-30
Matthew 25:14-30
14) "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.
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.'
Have you ever thought what you never have accomplished if you were not willing to take some risks?
• As a toddler, you would have never learned to walk.
• As a child, you would have never learned to ride a bike, or swim.
• As a teenager, you would have never gone to college.
• As an adult, you would have never said, "I do" in marriage.
If you have chosen to always play it safe, you would have missed so much in life. I believe it is even safe to say that if you always played it safe. you probably might have missed some advancements in life. You see, often our advancements depend on our willingness to take significant risks in life.
This truth is quite evident from the parable of the talents narrated by Jesus Christ. He used this parable to help his disciples understand how they need to live their lives while waiting for the second coming. Chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew are teachings of Jesus in Mount Olives as He responded to the question of one of the disciples in chapter 24 verse 3, "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
Reading the first phrase in our text - Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, we should be able to see the connection. Today, our Lord is making preparation to return and establish his earthly kingdom. It matters to Him how we are living our lives. We should be reminded time and again concerning our master's expectations. As we re-examine the parable, I would like to present the challenge concerning the need to take the risks of investing our "talents" while we still are afforded with opportunities. Here are three important concepts we need to comprehend from the parable.
I EQUAL ABUNDANCE:
The parable begins with the master who owns so much property deciding to entrust a notable amount of money to his servants. Without any moral obligation, he generously shared his possession to his three servants. He regarded each of them as stewards or trustees.
The "talents" were silver money, which weighed between 58 and 80 pounds. According to Bible scholars, one talent is equivalent to 10,000 denarii, and every denarius represented a day's fair wages.
Now, to appreciate the value of the talent, you have to multiply your daily wage by 10, 000.
For example, if you earn $30, 000 a year and you annually work 260 days, you make about $115 a day. A talent in your case is valued at 10, 000 times $115, or 1, 150, 000. Here is another way to look at it. Suppose a person earns $30, 000 a year for forty years. His or her lifetime earnings are $1, 200, 000, only 50, 000 more than a talent. One talent, then, equals a lifetime of earnings.
So, even for the servant who had received one talent, God has given abundantly. The truth of the matter is - we are all entrusted with abundant gifts - time, talents (skills), and treasures.
Ephesians 4:7
7) But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Notice the words, each one. All of us have received rich gifts from our Master - Jesus Christ. In his sovereignty, he gave carefully, each according to his ability (25:15).
I hope that by this time, we are truly appreciative of what we have received. We don't go around wishing we have the gifts and talents that other people have. We have to accept the fact that it is God who decides who gets which gifts, and we should be faithful with what we have. In your uniqueness as an individual, you have to consider yourself as a million dollar investment - God has invested a "talent" in you.
II EQUAL ACCOUNTABILITY:
One of the most important questions any of us will ever ask ourselves in life is this: "What will I do with what I have been given?"
The answer is obvious - We must invest what we've been given. Verse 16 tells us that the man who received five talents went "at once and put his money to work and gained five more." He didn't waste any time but immediately went to work on his investment strategy and doubled his master's portfolio. The guy who got two talents did the same thing; only the text doesn't say he went to work "at once" like the first guy did. We do know that he worked hard however, because he also doubled his master's money, ending up with four talents.
Unfortunately, Verse 18 describes the different approach of the third servant: "But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money." Even though we don't read about any specific instructions for what to do with the money, the first two guys went to work and multiplied their investment. The one-talent guy was a slacker who went off and buried his blessing. It has been said that the practice of hiding valuables in the ground was quite common back then. It was one of the safest-and least profitable-ways of protecting possessions.
The first two servants took the risks. Both of them took the chance of growing what they have received. Who was to say their investments wouldn't fail? No one. But they cast off their fears and honored their Master by investing.
By application, this should be our response. We need to honor our Master by investing our time, talents and treasures. Let's not allow our fear of failure to keep us from advancing the kingdom.
2 Timothy 1:7
7) God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.
Obviously, the third servant made the most tragic and common mistake of giftedness. He failed to benefit the master with his "talent."
III EQUAL APPRECIATION:
Lastly, this parable openly reminds us of a day of accountability.
None of us want to be audited by the IRS, but we'll all be audited by the Almighty. We'll have to give an account for how we've used what we've been given. Look at verse 19: "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them." In the same way, Jesus is coming again and there will be a day of reckoning. While most of us believe this in our heads, we don't always live with eternity in our hearts. I believe that if we would think more about His return, we'd be more focused on making an eternal return on our investments.
Romans 14:12
12) So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
It was the duty of servants to always bear in mind that the master would be returning and would settle his accounts with them. In the parable there were two kinds of servants:
1. Diligent servants - Those who work hard to invest their "talents."
2. Delinquent servant - Those who live for themselves and neglect their "talents."
For the diligent servants, they both appreciated the generosity of the master, and so they honored him with their "talents." For the delinquent servant, he mismanaged his "talent" because he misunderstood the master - '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.' (vv.24-25). Clearly, his ignorance of the master cost him his future.
But what I really would like to emphasize is the appreciation expressed by the Master to the first two servants. When you analyze the commendation, both servants received the same commendation - '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!'
The words were exactly the same with an emphasis on their faithfulness. The second servant with two talents receives the same applause as the five-talent servant. As long as we are faithful in investing what we have received, taking some significant risks to honor and serve our master, Jesus Christ, we can dream of that day wherein we would feel his hand on our shoulder and his eyes on our face saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Let's continue to set our eyes on this day.