How is your Service?

Turn your Bibles to Matthew 25

Tonight were going to look at a very important portion of scripture right out of the Gospels and Jesus is going to be teaching through a parable a very important truth that we must understand this evening.

For context as to where we are in scripture we are in the fifth and final major discourse of the Bible

This portion of scripture takes place at the mount of Olives and this passage of scripture is actually best known as the olivet discourse

We find Jesus giving several teachings from this final discourse

And in our scripture this evening we find Jesus teaching as he often would with parables or stories with important meaning behind them.

And in our passage tonight were going to be looking over a very important parable and thats the parable of the talents

Read Matthew 25:13-30

So tonight in all reality I want to ask a simple question

How is your service?

PRAY

1: Recognize your Resources (VS 14-19)

Right from the beginning of this passage we see these servants are distributed talents

In this day a talent was a large sum of money and was actually a weight measurement rather than an actual amount. Thus it depended on what the talent was rather it be gold or it be silver or copper to determine how much a talent was worth.

Depending on what the substance here is used a talent could be roughly equated to being $1200 or likely even more depending on the material

But the word talent here translates to a weight this doesn't directly refer to an ability.

But their is use of application to which does apply to our abilities or the resources that God gives us.

Now understand we all are given special talents by the Lord and we are to use His resources that he gives us for the work of the kingdom

And their is special application for this word talents which can refer to life resources that is important for you and I this evening

This may be money where the Lord would allow his servant to have a substantial amount of money to better further the kingdom here on earth

Or this may be Time for example those who may be retired have a great opportunity with their time to go out and share the gospel with others

or it could be your abilities that the Lord may have gifted you with such as some of you in here can play the piano really well I cannot but that is an ability you can use for the Lord. or for example the lord has given me the ability of public speaking I normally wouldn't like speaking in front of crowds but he gives me a passion for preaching His word. or some of you may have the ability to have great knowledge such as knowing things in medical and you can use that in your jobs to further advance the kingdom. or whatever ability you may be gifted in

or you may be gifted a position within this world. such as a doctor or a high rank in the military or you become a ceo and have a position within this world you have a great opportunity to lead by example and point people to christ through that position

see we all have an ability in some way shape or form and we must recognize the talents that God gives us and then because of this we must be good stewards of what he gives us.

Just as it says in 1 Peter 4:10

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

So I encourage you how is your service? how are you using the talents the master gives us?

2: Respond with diligence (VS 19-23)

We find in these verses that the master comes and rewards his servants who with due diligence multiply their talents

See God is delighted in our efforts to serve Him

He seeks faithfulness not perfection

See what I want you to understand is that its not about the amount of money or the amount of how much you work or how many doors you knock on in your lifetime what God really wants is your motive

God rewards a servant who with true faithfulness serves him with gladness and truly advances the kingdom of God

God wants our motive He wants to see that we are happy to serve no matter what it is whether it may be like ash this past week having to go through supply closets and check dates needle by needle or whether it may be plunging toilets at church no matter what it is God wants our motive He wants a servant that no matter what will serve Him with gladness and trust and rely on Christ for our strength.

3: Reject Passivity (VS 24-30)

This is important for us to understand we find the lord comes to the last servant

And instead of using his talents for good and doing due diligence with what the Lord had given him he goes he buries it and then when the master comes to judge how they did He gives excuses and states he was afraid and ultimately stood idoly by with what God had given him

We find that he is called a wicked and slothful (Lazy) servant

See fear and inaction leads to this man’s loss

We must no neglect the talents in which God gives you and I here this evening

We must serve Christ whole heartily leaving nothing on the table.

I want to ask where does fear hold you back from serving him?

Are you afraid of serving him because you feel incapable, unworthy, scared, afraid.

Can I suggest Moses felt the same way He had a speech impediment and rather he became one of the most well known servants of the kingdom to date

what about Paul? he persecuted and killed Christians and rather he is known as playing a vital role in the early church.

God will qualify you for the service that he calls you into

Trust and rely on Christ to give you your strength so that you wouldn't be a fearful servant but that you would be a faithful one

So tonight I leave you with this

How is your service?