Using Our Gifts

Investments

Sometimes we wish we had the benefit of hindsight don’t we?

If you’d invested $10,000 in Netflix in 2007 you’d have over $520,000 today.

Or how about this one:

If you’d put $10,000 into Fortescue Metals in 1990 by the middle of 2008 you would’ve turned that into over $73 million!!

Some amazing returns on investment.

Well in our story today two of our servants did pretty well with their investments, and one did nothing. And as we unpack this story today, we see Jesus encouraging us to invest what he’s given us in order to grow his kingdom.

Context

Jesus talking about how he is coming back one day.

In Ch 24 of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus predicts his his second coming.

Matthew 24:30–31 TNIV

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

It will happen, you won’t miss it but it will surprise you

Matthew 24:36–39 TNIV

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Like the people before the flood in Noah’s day, Jesus’ second coming will come suddenly and without warning.

And so Jesus tells his disciples a series of parables about living their lives in such a way so as they don’t get caught off guard when he returns.

The servant who remains on task (Matt 24:45-51) until his master returns

The virgins who have enough oil in their lamps make it to the party (Matt 25:1-13)

And then our reading today, Matt 25:14-30

Stories that remind us to live our lives in light of Jesus’ return. Stories that tell us we need to be ready for Jesus to come back. Stories that tell us how to be or what it looks like to be ready.

In the Military if you’re serving in full-time capacity you can be on what’s called a notice to move. Often it’s 24hrs, but it can be as little as 4. That is in 4hrs you need to be able to stop what ever your doing and be on the tarmac ready to deploy to a war zone.

This is the kind of readiness Jesus wants us to have for his second coming. Not to be caught out at the pub with our bags unpacked, but ready to go at a moments notice.

So what do we notice in our story today?

Parable of the Talents/Bags of Gold

The servants are given money to look after

Matthew 25:14 TNIV

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

Each a different amount and each use the Master’s money and ‘invest’ it (Matt 25:15)

Two of them make enough money to double the masters money (Matt 25:16-17)

But one simply digs a hole and awaits for his master to return (Matt 25:18)

From verses 18-23 we see the Master’s response to those who have made more money

Matthew 25:21 TNIV

“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!’

Matthew 25:23 TNIV

“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 we see the response to the man who dug the hole and made nothing of his money.

Matthew 25:26–30 TNIV

“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 bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For those who have will be given more, and they will have an abundance. As for those who do not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

His money is taken from him and he’s condemned.

So what are we to make of this parable for us as a church today?

Chosen when I thought we would be having our Annual Meeting today because I think it frames our thinking well as a church community.

For this parable teaches us:

1. We have the opportunity to multiply what Christ has entrusted to us.

Just as the servants could invest their money/talents and make an return for their master so we to need to use our talents to grow what our master, Jesus has entrusted to us.

What has he entrusted to us?

Collectively as a parish?

Buildings

We are blessed with multiple buildings and we need to be strategic in unlocking their kingdom potential.

Finance

We have nearly 320,000 in investments with the Trustees

People

Perhaps our greatest resource of all is our people. God wants to use each one of you to grow his kingdom.

How can you unleash your gifts and talents in service of the church and it’s mission.

Place

Montagu Bay, Rose Bay, Lindisfarne, Geilsten Bay, Risdon and Risdon Vale

God has given us a wonderful part of the world and nearly 10,000 people to particularly focus our efforts on.

And hasn’t it been wonderful to see how God has been blessing our endeavours to do this together over the past year.

One year ago the average age of our church was 72.

One year ago the three youngest people in the church were Amity, Ellisa and me. Our only family was paid to be here.

One year ago we released a vision to be a church for Lindisfarne, making disciples of Jesus.

Today, we haven’t done a survey but the average age has lowered significantly.

Today, I’m not even close to being the third youngest person in our church.

After our services today I’m taking a confirmation class for our two parish teenagers.

Today we are continuing to make tough decisions that multiply our resources and enable us to see our vision become reality.

It hasn’t been an easy year, but God has richly rewarded our efforts to be faithful stewards of all he’s given us.

No time for this today, but it’s not just a collective thing. This parable also has personal implications for each of us as Individuals.

How are you seeking to multiply the things God has entrusted you with for the growth of his kingdom?

Finances?

Gifts/Talents?

Friends and Family?

Ultimately what God has entrusted to us collectively and individually is the gospel! Good news about Jesus. We are his messengers in this place to these people. And as we share his good news of salvation, and warn people to be ready for his return we multiply the effect and reach of the gospel as more and more people respond to it.

We need to continue to work out how to multiply all our other gifts (buildings, finance, people, place) in service on that end. The spread of the gospel in Lindisfarne and beyond. To service our vision to be a church for Lindisfarne making disciples of Jesus.

And as we work out how to do that both collectively as a parish and individually we’re going to find that even though it may be hard or risky, it will ultimately prove worth it for this parable teaches us not only that we have the opportunity to multiply what Christ has entrusted to us but also:

2. Jesus promises eternal reward for those who prove worthy of his trust.

If we work hard for the sake of the gospel we will be rewarded.

Matthew 25:21 TNIV

“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!’

God will entrust us with more to invest, and we will share in his happiness. Not only the joy of seeing more people come to know Jesus, but the joy of being with God forever.

But equally we must also be motivated to unleash our individual and corporate potential, not only because God will reward us but because God expects us to and demands that we do. Doing nothing. Burying our money in the ground is not a neutral activity.

3. Professed disciples who insult Christ’s grace by neglecting his commission in this world are dammed.

Just as the servant who did nothing with the money his master gave him was punished (v26-30) so too will we. If we fail to unleash and unlock God’s wonderful gifts to us in service of his kingdom.

Not because our good works save us, but rather because they are a sign of whether or not we truly understand what God has done for us.

Jesus is coming back.

If we’re going to be ready for that. Then we need to make sure we have faithfully discharged our responsibilities as disciples, whether they have been small or great.

When we stand before the Lord when he returns let’s not be like the servant who buried his money in the ground, oh ah sorry God I was too scared to do anything so I did nothing. And rather let’s be ready to stand before him and say we did everything we could to use the gifts and resources you entrusted to us to be a church for Lindisfarne, making disciples of Jesus.