KIDS Why does God demand stuff from us?

Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14–30 (NIV)

(The kingdom of heaven) 14“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag 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 five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. 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 two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; 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 one bag of gold 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 gold 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 “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

That’s not Just! (What does Just mean?)

Why should they work for this guy? Who does he think he is? Why is it their responsibility to do this?

$100 example (Guess how much money)

Give Art $10 and ask him for $2 dollars back. Is that Just?

Give Art $10 and tell him I want you to use $2 for food, $2 for drink, and $6 to bless (one of the kids) Is that Just?

Give Art the rest of the money and say I want you to use ALL of this money on a dinner for you and your wife. Is that Just?

Why?

Because it was my money all along. I didn’t have to give it to Art, but I wanted him to be involved in the work I was doing.

What does this mean about us?

Who does this drawing belong to? …, why? Because they made it.

1. Everything that exist’s belongs to Jesus, because He made all things and keeps them going. The breath in our lungs first came from God, even that belongs to Him.

Who does this building belong to? The church, why? Because we bought it.

2. Jesus purchased us with His life. Those servants in that story were not just random people, they were purchased by the master. So it was just for him to tell them what they were supposed to do.

1 Corinthians 6:18 Paraphrase (removed sexual connotation)

Flee from immorality. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God.

If you are made by Jesus and you are bought by Jesus then who do you belong to? Jesus

God demands we honor Him

What are some ways we honor God?

Is it just for God to demand we honor Him? Why?

Is in just for God to punish us if we don’t honor Him? Why?