Committed to Growth

Introduction

Matthew 25:14–30 KJV 1900

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Body

Planting a garden can be very enjoyable, but it’s hard work [elaborate]

Compare to a large scale farming operation

Differences in the amount of work involved

Differences in the equipment used

Differences in man hours needed

Difference in how serious the work is taken

Differences in the yield produced

Learning a new skill or career

Most parents today want their children to go on to some form of higher education. Why?

So they can get a good paying job

So they will feel good about what they’re doing, successful, accomplished, etc.

Need to dedicate time to study, and to practice

Might need to learn more basic skills in order to advance in your primary topic

The more serious you are, the more you will progress (more time dedicated, more commitment, more motivated and driven to overcome obstacles, etc.)

Diligence in our walk with God

Are we as commited to our spiritual maturity as we are to our jobs? Our hobbies?

Is it okay for Christians to think? To reason?

But we’re suppose to walk by faith, right?

Yes we are, but where is the basis of your faith?

Romans 10:17 “17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

So apparently, we cannot have biblical faith, reasonable faith, without knowledge

II Timothy 2:15 “15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The verses before and after this speak about “words to no profit” and “profane and vain babblings”

God wants our teaching to be biblically accurate, profitable, not personal opinion or our feelings at the moment

I Peter 3:15 “15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

This means we need a reason for our hope! Not a blind unreasoning faith, but the exact opposite!

Some have hope of a reason!

Be ready to give that reason. Study it out, know it, be persuaded of it

Isaiah 1:18 “18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

We are created in God’s image, which means we have the capacity to reason, to learn, to grow

Unlike God however, we will not always reason correctly, and sometimes, we will decide not to reason, or learn, or grow, at all

Reason vs. knowledge

Today in our society, there is a dearth of reason and indeed, there are a lot of things working against it

Sensationalism & the soundbite generation

Emotionalism

Rhetoric vs. Logic

No training in how to think, deduce, analyze data and arguments and arrive at a conclusion

No desire to learn

The Apostle Paul

Acts 17:2 “2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,”

Acts 18:4 “4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.”

Acts 18:19 “19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.”

Acts 24:25 “25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”

[Scripture text]

Matthew 25:15 “15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”

God does not pass out talents equally - some get more and some get less

Some are smarter in some areas and others are smarter in other areas

Matthew 25:21 “21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (also Matthew 25:23)

God is looking for your faithfulness with those talents He has given you

As you exercise and develop your talents (learn, grow), God will give you more

Obedience to truth brings revelation of truth

If you choose to bury your talent (despise the talent(s) God has given you, covet other people’s talents), it will be lost

Matthew 25:26 “26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:”

Slothfulness is wickedness!

Proverbs 15:19 “19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: But the way of the righteous is made plain.”

Proverbs 12:24 “24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: But the slothful shall be under tribute.”

Bishop Parker - “You’re a Christian. You should be a leader!”

We don’t have to be slothful, but we have the ability to choose diligence

Hebrews 5:11 “11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.”

Hebrews 5:11 (NIV) — 11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.

It’s work to apply ourselves to growth and learning

Good plants don’t just spring up out of the ground! It takes work, diligence, sacrifice, commitment to the garden, and endurance to overcome obstacles.

We don’t learn everything at once, but our learning is progressive

Life of Abraham

As he was obedient to God, God continued to reveal more and more to him

He was patient and waited on God in his obedience

Isaiah 28:10 “10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; Line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little:”

Obedience to truth brings revelation of truth

Conclusion

1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV 1900

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

As we grow to maturity, our thinking must also grow and mature

Our thinking and our learning cannot be limited to Scripture proper, but we must prioritize developing our gifts and talents, so as to become more effective for the Kingdom of God.

We should all be progressing towards God’s ultimate plan for us: to become Christ-like

Fruit of the Spirit

Faithful in ministry

Both using, and continuing to develop your gifts and talents for the Kingdom of God

But to get there, we must purpose in our hearts to move in that direction

That will take us shedding off slothfulness and becoming diligent in our walk with God

We prioritize those things and activities that mean the most to us

We’ll find the time to engage in these activities

We’ll find the money to pay for them