Pentecost 6 (6)

Matthew 25:14–30 (NIV84)

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. 17So 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? 27Well 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. 29For 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 been put in charge and been responsible to take care of someone or something?

Teen age girls or former teen age girls will most likely answer this in the affirmative more so than boys or men in regard to babysitting. Especially before the days of organized day cares.

Parents with young children were not always able to supervise their own children especially during the summer months if both worked and would also at times want to have a night or weekend out without the children so they could enjoy a quiet meal at a sit down restaurant or a romantic getaway. So the question comes up, “Who is going to watch Junior or our Little Princess?” Especially if there were no nearby relatives available. So you “hire” a baby sitter. You entrust the sitter to take care of the children and be responsible enough so that if there is an emergency, they will be able to handle it.

Sometimes taking care of others is a much more involved endeavor.

Raising children.

Teaching children.

Being a counselor at a sleep away camp.

Caring for patients in a hospital or residents of a nursing home.

In home health care.

Prison guard.

We also are responsible at times in regard to our own possessions and the possessions of others.

Library loan.

Borrowing the neighbors mower.

Renting a car or boat.

Renting property.

A term for taking care of people or possessions that we do not own and also taking care of our ourselves and our own possessions is Stewardship.

In the church we often talk refer this to the stewardship of time, talents, treasure, and temple.

For today’s consideration of this topic, I will emphasize that God holds us accountable for how faithful we are in caring for ourselves and the time, talent, and treasure that God has entrusted to our care.

This is the main point of the parable that Jesus taught of The Talents

The Parable is familiar. A Master goes on a journey but before he leaves he puts his servants in charge of varying amounts of money (talents). It is expected that while he is gone they will use the money responsibly and than when the Master returns, he will hold them accountable.

Application: The Bible tells us repeatedly that we have a God who has given resources to us to be used responsibly. And although he may not return during our lifetime, a day of reckoning is going to come (usually our own death) on which we will be held accountable for how we managed those resources.

Romans 3:19–20 NIV84

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

1 Peter 4:1–5 NIV

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

In the parable, the two servants who faithfully and responsibly used the Master’s talents were commended and rewarded for what they had done.

Not so much for the third servant. He shirked his responsibilities and did nothing with the talents — thus wasting them. How did the Master react to his lame excuses? He took away what was hidden and banished his wicked, lazy servant.

It is a principle not limited to biblical teaching. We realize that as we grow and mature, we are not handed complete responsibility at first in our home, on a team, in an organization, at work etc. Even the best of college athletes do not automatically start the first game of the season. There is a period of training and situations they must succeed in to reach the next level.

In the military one doesn’t graduate from West Point as a General.

We have all heard about the worker who started in the mail room to someday become the CEO.

Parents are careful in handing out responsibility to their children. And the list goes on and on.

If someone fails to act responsibly, they will not advance and may even be demoted.

On the other hand, what happens when someone is responsible? Consider the well known account of Joseph at the time of Jacob and his twelve sons. Even though he was sold as a slave, he managed his Master’s household so well he was put in charge of the entire household. Even though he was falsely accused and put into prison, he managed his fellow prisoners so well he was put in charge. He would ultimately be put in charge of the massive government program in Egypt of storing and then distributing grain.

Jesus is teaching a timeless truth to his disciples. In the kingdom of God, those who are responsible and faithful in their management of God’s resources, can expect that God himself will bless them.

1 Peter 4:7–11 NIV84

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

God has entrusted you with time, talents, treasure, and your body (temple).

God has given commands on how you are to use them generously — not just for selfish purposes and certainly not to sin. Galatians 5:13–14 (NIV84)

13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

God will call to account those who have been slothful.

God will bless those who have been faithful stewards.

Therefore, let us encourage one another to use the gifts God has given us to serve him and to provide for one another.