Parable Of The Talents

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The direction of my worship effects the way I see what God has entrusted to me, and how I use it.

The Faithful Servants

Each servant was “faithful over a little”
The reward didn’t change based on what was produced.

The Unfaithful Servant

Did not know his master. The master’s reaction was sort of sarcasm: “If you thought I was like this then...”
Acted out of fear.
Blames the master for his unfaithfulness. Like Adam & Eve deflect in the garden.
Similar to the unfaithfulness of the pharisees

What is the contrast between the two servants supposed to teach us?

The direction of my worship will effect the way I see what God has entrusted to me, and how I use it. This isn’t about principles of Christian financial responsibility or asking how much you can produce for the kingdom. It’s not to say that God’s desire to save you is directly proportional to how much you can “produce for the kingdom”.
Worship is critical to being a disciple who makes disciples because we’re worshippers making worshippers!
Anger transference slide
Viewing God as a hard taskmaster prevents real worship because we become motivated by fear that lies about God. It also makes it difficult or impossible for us to live with others in a loving way.

Entrusted with the Gospel until his return.

What

The Great Commission: we are entrusted with the Good News to make disciples.
We are entrusted with gifts, abilities & belongings.
But “I don’t have 5 talents.”

Why

Not about performance -
Don’t forget that we are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:10)
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
To make Jesus non-ignorable!
Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” ,
Matthew 5:16 ESV
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
1 Peter 2:12 “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”
1 Peter 2:12 ESV
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

How

Not in fear!
Actively, intentionally sharing the Gospel with what I have.
Not a matter of how much you can produce. Remember the servant who only produced an increase of 2 talents received the same reward as the one who produced 5. The parable with the laborers in the vineyard.
Time, a car, a million dollars, a bible camp, or a box of mac ‘n cheese!
Together! As a community that follows Jesus together we partner with one another in our carrying out of the mission. We can cheerfully join with others to use what God has given them! Sharing resources & taking risks together.
With a growing and deepening desire to enjoy God: moving from unbelief to belief (that includes me too!) - The unfaithful servant was fueled by an incorrect understanding of his master. My prayer doesn’t become “Lord just make me productive” but “Lord help me to love and trust you more” or “Help my unbelief”. What this boils down to is a battle, not for productivity, but for faith.
In weakness and with worship:

One Sabbath morning, I preached from the text, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” and though I did not say so, yet I preached my own experience. I heard my own chains clank while I tried to preach to my fellow-prisoners in the dark; but I could not tell why I was brought into such an awful horror of darkness, for which I condemned myself. On the following Monday evening, a man came to see me who bore all the marks of despair upon his countenance. His hair seemed to stand upright, and his eyes were ready to start from their sockets. He said to me, after a little parleying, “I never before, in my life, heard any man speak who seemed to know my heart. Mine is a terrible case; but on Sunday morning you painted me to the life, and preached as if you had been inside my soul.” By God’s grace, I saved that man from suicide, and led him into gospel light and liberty; but I know I could not have done it if I had not myself been confined in the dungeon in which he lay. I tell the story, brethren, because you sometimes may not understand your own experience, and the perfect people may condemn you for having it; but what know they of God’s servants?

When

Until he returns
Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Because we have not been left alone, and our King is coming back, we remember his first coming (Christmas!) with joy and his second coming without fear, because the king of the universe has redeemed us!
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