The Timid Soul
Notes
Transcript
The set up
The set up
Read the entire parable Matthew 25:14-30
Read the entire parable Matthew 25:14-30
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 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. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.’
“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 the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; 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!’
“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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“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.
“ ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
A wealthy man decides to both go on a trip and test a few of his employees
A wealthy man decides to both go on a trip and test a few of his employees
Lets, for convenience sake, make a talent equal to $1,000.
Lets, for convenience sake, make a talent equal to $1,000.
Read Matthew 25:14-15
Read Matthew 25:14-15
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 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.
What do these versed show us about the man? About the employees?
What do these versed show us about the man? About the employees?
Read Matthew 25:16-18
Read Matthew 25:16-18
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Three employees and three different ways to handle the man’s money. (Invest, work, bury)
Three employees and three different ways to handle the man’s money. (Invest, work, bury)
Read Matthew 25:19-23
Read Matthew 25:19-23
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.’
“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 the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; 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!’
What were the similarities or differences in the treatment by the man to these employees? Why?
What were the similarities or differences in the treatment by the man to these employees? Why?
Read Matthew 25:24-25
Read Matthew 25:24-25
“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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
Describe this employees justification for his actions. What does this indicate about this employee?
Describe this employees justification for his actions. What does this indicate about this employee?
Read Matthew 25:26-27
Read Matthew 25:26-27
“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.
Does the employers words surprise you? Why?
Does the employers words surprise you? Why?
Read Matthew 25:28-30
Read Matthew 25:28-30
“ ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Does this parable sound fair to you? Do you feel the one talent employee deserved what he got? Why is the employer so harsh on the last employee?
Does this parable sound fair to you? Do you feel the one talent employee deserved what he got? Why is the employer so harsh on the last employee?
We need to stop looking at this parable as a story about three men given money and see ourselves and the reality of life in this story
We need to stop looking at this parable as a story about three men given money and see ourselves and the reality of life in this story
We need to realize this isn’t about kindness and severity but about how life works.
We need to realize this isn’t about kindness and severity but about how life works.
Every human being begins with a bag of talents. How much is in that bag depends on everything from born gifts to born into circumstances. How we use this bag of talents is the key, not how much we end up with in the end.
Every human being begins with a bag of talents. How much is in that bag depends on everything from born gifts to born into circumstances. How we use this bag of talents is the key, not how much we end up with in the end.
Whatever you are given, earn something with it. Use what you have for a purpose that is God centered.
Whatever you are given, earn something with it. Use what you have for a purpose that is God centered.
God isn’t looking for timid souls who hold on tightly to what is given to us but for followers who invest what they have in HIS future in others.
God isn’t looking for timid souls who hold on tightly to what is given to us but for followers who invest what they have in HIS future in others.
We can’t live a life as timid Christians afraid to take a chance. We can’t allow the feeling of self doubt or doubt in our relationship with God darken our actions and cause us to put those talents in a dark hole somewhere.
We can’t live a life as timid Christians afraid to take a chance. We can’t allow the feeling of self doubt or doubt in our relationship with God darken our actions and cause us to put those talents in a dark hole somewhere.
Whatever your talents are invest them for God in the lives of those who are just holding onto their gifts, and demonstrate to them the value of letting go and letting God take control
Whatever your talents are invest them for God in the lives of those who are just holding onto their gifts, and demonstrate to them the value of letting go and letting God take control