DEADLY (3)

SLOTH

Matthew 25:14–18 NIV

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 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. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

BE STILL/PRAY

Matthew 25:14–15 NIV

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 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.

Another translation gives us the amount of money that was given.

TALENT=6,000 DENARII=$150,000

First Servant-750,000

Second Servant-300,000

Third Servant-150,000

GOD ENTRUSTS US WITH A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY

SLOTH-ἀκηδία akedia-(a = absence + kedos = care)

“Sloth is insidious.  It whispers that you might as well do it tomorrow, that nobody will know if you cut corners here and there to save yourself some trouble, that the world will be the same in a hundred years no matter what you do, so why do anything?  Sloth says, “Don’t strain yourself”, “What’s the big hurry?” and “Just give me five more minutes.”

“Sloth hits the snooze alarm, hits the remote control and hits the road when the going gets tough . . . Sloth cheats on exams, drinks straight from the milk carton and leaves exactly two sheets on the toilet roll so that it will have to be replaced by the next poor soul who finds out too late that the remaining paper is nothing more than a mirage.

“Sloth does slightly less than the right thing. It doesn’t bother returning something to the lost-and-found, but pockets it instead; it doesn’t tell the clerk he has undercharged. Sloth has never written a thank-you note, sent a birthday card on time or entertained angels. All of this simply takes too much effort.”

Matthew 25:16 NIV

The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.

Matthew 25:17 NIV

So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.

Matthew 25:18 NIV

But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

2 Thessalonians 3:10–15 NIV

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

Matthew 25:19–23 NIV

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.’ “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!’ “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.’ “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!’

There is an expectation when it comes to what God has given you.

EACH OF US HAVE A GIFT THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US BY GOD. USE IT!

Matthew 25:24–25 NIV

“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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE?

Matthew 25:26–27 NIV

“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? 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.

Matthew 25:28–29 NIV

“ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 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.

SQUANDERING YOUR GIFT WILL COST YOU IN THE END

Matthew 25:30 NIV

And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

WEEPING AND GNASHING ARE SPOKEN NOT AS DISTRESS, BUT OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATION.

SLOTH WILL COST YOU MORE THAN YOUR TIME

HOW WILL YOU USE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU?