Use it or Lose it - Matthew 25:14-30 - September 28, 2008

Sunday School Lesson – Use It or Lose It – September 28, 2008

This is lesson four (4) in our series of study.

Our scripture is Matthew 25:14-30.

JESUS is telling another parable. It focuses upon being faithful stewards of what GOD has entrusted to believers. It deals with the final judgment of GOD. This involves both believers and non-believers.

The most cherished treasure entrusted to all believers is CHRIST. Do we invest what we have been entrusted with as believers or do we hide it because of fear or lack of trust?

Keep in mind the possible applications of this parable regarding judgment are: (1) rewards for the believer who invests what he or she has been entrusted with (2) the lack of rewards, other than salvation, for the believer that hides the resources GOD has given to him or her (3) judgment for non-believers, includes those who have heard the truth but chose not to respond (4) It is a wake-up call for non-believers to know that judgment day is coming.

If those who know the truth hide the truth, then GOD is not pleased.

GOD also entrusts to believers a variety of treasures when they receive CHRIST as their SAVIOR. Among them are spiritual gifts. There are about twenty-nine (29) spiritual gifts listed in the Bible. I believe there are many more spiritual gifts than the ones recorded in the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 records a few of the spiritual gifts but pay special attention to verse 11- GOD grants spiritual gifts as HE chooses. We can desire a gift but only GOD can give the gift. Why? Because HE will never give HIS children something that will harm them.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11:

4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God is active in everyone and everything.[2] Lit God acts all things in all 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages. 11 But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each one as He wills.

Once believers accept CHRIST as their SAVIOR, HE makes available to them various resources. As believer’s we have a choice. Do we yield our will to GOD and allow HIM to guide and control our lives by making HIM LORD of our lives or do we follow our own desires. GOD wants HIS children to seek the fullness of HIM and grow and mature spiritually. GOD entrusts certain resources to us to help us to grow and mature both physically and spiritually.

These resources can be spiritual gifts, personality, material resources, time, talents, abilities, attitude, intelligence, helps, cheering others up, administration, wonder working faith, faith to trust the LORD completely and the list goes on. The flesh has to be brought under the control of the SPIRIT. The flesh and the born-again spirit reside in the body of every believer. When the Spirit rules, we accomplish GOD’S plan and purpose. When the flesh rules, we are enticed to follow the dictates of the flesh.

What has GOD entrusted with you? Are you allowing HIM to use the resources HE has entrusted to you, as HE chooses? GOD’S objective is for every believer to be obedient to HIM and to accomplish HIS plan. To accomplish HIS plan and purpose believers need to build an intimate relationship with HIM, to get to know HIM and not to just know about HIM.

In our parable the master knew his servants and his servants knew him.

Also, keep in mind that two (2) of the servants were eager to invest the money and earn substantial gain, knowing that it would make their master even richer. They did it for the joy of serving their master.

The servant that hid the money knew his master but he had a heart problem. He knew his master was a tough man. Did he think the master already had enough and he was not going to make him richer? We see in the scripture that the master called this servant evil and lazy. When GOD hands HIS child a resource, doing nothing is not an option. However, if nothing is done HIS child has to suffer the consequences.

Let’s read Matthew 25:14-18:

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own • slaves and turned over his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents;[3] Worth a very large sum of money; a talent = 6,000 • denarii to another, two; and to another, one—to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

A man who has servants is going on a journey. He leaves trusted servants in charge of his possessions. In JESUS’ day servants could be thought of as business associates and the master could entrust large sums of money to them.

The master chose three (3) servants and gave each one a varying amount of money commensurate with their ability. A talent was a unit of weight that became a monetary unit. A talent was thought to be worth about 6,000 denarii. A denarii was considered a day laborer’s wage for a day. If a person worked 300 days a year then one (1) talent would be wages for about 20 years.

The master leaves and immediately the servants with five (5) and two (2) talents, respectively, put their talents to work. However, the servant with one (1) talent hides his talent in the ground.

We need to keep in mind that these talents are money. Today, we use the word “talent” differently. We speak of people having a talent to speak, organize, play a musical instrument, manage resources and the list goes on. We often try to explain the difference between a spiritual gift and a talent. Often that difference is evidenced in the eyes of a believer’s heart.

JESUS used this parable to emphasize the need to use what GOD has entrusted to believers and to get the attention of non-believers. Fear can cause believers not to use the resources GOD has entrusted to them. JESUS gave us the great commission in

Matthew 28:18- 20:

18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of[6] Lit and instruct, or and disciple (as a verb) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,[7] Lit look I am with you always,[8] Lit all the days to the end of the age.”

I have heard Christians say I cannot do such and such because I am afraid I will say or do the wrong thing. Fear can be paralyzing and also can be an excuse. If you have such fear confess it to GOD and ask HIM to help you overcome your fear. But let HIM lead you and equip you to serve HIM and use the resources HE has entrusted to you. A believer can faithfully serve by giving a cup of cold water, providing money, speaking a kind word of encouragement and in many ways. The key is to serve as GOD leads you.

Let’s read Matthew 25:19-23:

19 “After a long time the master of those • slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful • slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’ 22 “Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I’ve earned two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful • slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’

This parable is related to the second coming of JESUS and accountability (Judgment). CHRIST is the Master Who is going away and has entrusted the gospel to HIS believers. GOD equips each believer with certain resources, based upon his or her ability, to carry out HIS plan and purpose. At the end of times there will be an accounting.

In verse 19, we learn that the master was gone a long time. He was gone long enough to give ample time for the servants to invest their resources and return a profit. The master wanted them to be successful.

The master returned to settle the accounts with them. Judgment day had arrived. Each servant knew he was accountable to his master. The servant who had been entrusted with five (5) talents came immediately and reported that he had doubled the money entrusted to him. His master was pleased and said the words all believers long to hear when we meet JESUS, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

The servant who had been given the two (2) talents also had doubled the money entrusted to him and received the same commendation.

Let’s read Matthew 25:24-30:

24 “Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy • slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then[4] Or So you knew . . . scattered? Then (as a question) you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money[5] Lit received what is mine back with interest. 28 “ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The servant receiving the one (1) talent approached the master and immediately began with a long explanation. Those who have dealt with employees or the public know when a person begins the conversation with an explanation there is usually a problem lurking.

This servant dug his own grave so-to-speak. He acknowledged that his master expected results. He did not want excuses but results. Bottom line the servant did not know his master as well as he thought he did. Was the servant hoping if he returned to him what had been entrusted to him, all would be well? That was not the case. Instead the servant heard the stinging words “You evil, lazy, slave!” It seems the master was giving this servant an opportunity to prove himself but he blew it.

The servant quickly learned that what had been entrusted to him was taken away and given to the servant who had the most.

Use it or lose it is the principle. Every human is entrusted with life. Some people acknowledge JESUS as their SAVIOR and become believers. Believers are entrusted with the gospel and are equipped with various other resources. GOD expects a return on HIS investment.

There will be an accounting one day. When we have the relationship with HIM, we will serve HIM as HE directs. We must seek first the relationship and let HIM guide us as we grow and mature spiritually and journey with HIM. Some may they are too old and it is too later change. It is never too late!!! Once you recognize what you should be doing, then do it. What matters is your obedience.

Our Master is waiting for each of us to use what HE has entrusted to us.
The master had the talent taken from the servant who hid the resource entrusted to him and had him tossed out. He was rejected by his master. This servant heard how the master rewarded the servants who made a profit. The master never told the servants what to do with their talent(s) but the servants knew what the master expected them to do. They knew their master.

To me the greatest hell is to have been exposed to the truth, had it in your hand and you know you rejected it or decided to wait and you met JESUS. Satan tells those who are considering CHRIST, “You have plenty of time so just wait.” Keep in mind you are one (1) heartbeat away from eternity.

Settle this issue now! Ask CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart. You will receive the miracle of rebirth. You will receive the gift and resource of the HOLY SPIRIT, WHO indwells you and reveals truth to you as you seek to build a relationship with HIM.