What's holding you back?

Introduction

Hi everyone, welcome to the channel, today we are going to be talking about stewardship. Did you know that as a Christian, the Bible tells us in Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12 that as a child of God each Christian has been blessed with a measure of spiritual gifts? Not only that, but that God himself spesifically chose the gifts and talents He gave you. He did this with the spesific intention of working through you to build up to body of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says that in Ephesians 2:10

Not only has God entrusted to us spiritual gifts, but in his kindness he has provided us with a multitude of resources. His entrusted us with spesific talents, time, financial resources and even responsibilities that we need to steward well as we prepare for His return. The question is, are we being faithful? Today I would like to look at the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 24:14-30, may God bless the reading of His Word.

Scripture reading:

Matthew 25:14–30 NKJV

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The parable of the talents.

Wow, what a sobering piece of scripture. In this parable we see Jesus identifying himself as a man about to go on a journey who would only return later. The disciples didn’t know it at the time, but Jesus would shortly be crucified, die, and be raised from the dead and appear to them alive victorious over sin and death. But right before he ascended back into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father, he entrusted his disciples with a task that would change the world forever - the great comission. They were given a command to share the good news until the ends of the earth, calling people to repentance and faith in Christ. Not only were they given this command, but its a command to be obeyed by every Christian around the world. The question is, will we be found faithful in fulfilling this command?

Our perspective of God.

The paralyzing effets of fear.

Conclusion