Stewarding Generosity

Introduction

Junior Church Dismissed

Thank you to everyone who has been helping with the foyer project. Our flooring comes in this week so if you have experience in that area or would like to learn, let us know on a next step card and we can set some time up to work together this week.

Last week we started a series called “A Generous Life” and we looked at the heart of Generosity which is Christ. We saw how He and His love should motive us to live generous lives. It’s also important for us to recall that generosity doesn’t have to deal with just money. There are are so many things God has given to us that we should be generous with. And in each of those areas we must properly steward our generosity.

A lighthouse along a bleak coast was tended by a keeper who was given enough oil for one month and told to keep the light burning every night. One day a woman asked for oil so that her children could stay warm. Then a farmer came. His son needed oil for a lamp so he could read. Still another needed some for an engine.

The keeper saw each as a worthy request and measured out just enough oil to satisfy all. Near the end of the month, the tank in the lighthouse ran dry. That night the beacon was dark and three ships crashed on the rocks. More than 100 lives were lost.

When a government official investigated, the man explained what he had done and why. "You were given one task alone," insisted the official. "It was to keep the light burning. Everything else was secondary. There is no defense."

Each of us only have so many resources and can’t do everything for everybody. If we try to we will end up like the lighthouse keeper. We will find ourselves sorely wanting when the one job we are called to do can’t be accomplished because we have squander our resources.

God has called each of us to be a steward of what He has given us.

1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV 1900

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Just like the lighthouse keeper we have been given a limited amount of resources and should use them properly in pursuit of our highest purpose and calling through the means that God has provided. What is that high purpose and calling?

Summarized, the glory of the God.

Colossians 1:16 KJV 1900

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Isaiah 43:7 KJV 1900

7 Even every one that is called by my name: For I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

That’s a great thing to say but what glorifies God? How does that look practically?

Those are questions we will explore today: How can I glorify God with my resources?

Our text today is a parable, a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a spiritual truth or lesson. This parable is known as the parable of the unfaithful servant or the parable of the talents.

Follow along with me as we read through the Parable in and as I preach today we will break it down and see what can be learned from it.

Matthew 25:14–30 KJV 1900

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

PRAY

Let’s begin understanding this parable in a practical way by first examining the situation

I. The Situation

Notice verse 14 how the situation is first described as the kingdom of Heaven.

Before I make the following statement let me preface it with this: There is a literal Heaven that we will be in one day with God.

Ok, now that that’s out of the way, the phrase here “Kingdom of Heaven” is not referring to a literal place.

I believe that Jesus is saying that the Kingdom of Heaven is more of a timeframe and mindset than a literal place in this text. Again, Heaven is a real place however in this context and others in Mark and Luke we find the references being made to the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God and neither of them being used to describe a place.

The kingdom of Heaven, can be likend unto the situation in this parable which first starts with

A. The Traveling Master

The man that is being referred to in this story in Jesus. He travels away to a far country and will return one day.

This is the age in which we life. Often referred to as the church Age.

Jesus Came into the world about 2k years ago and gave His life for us on the cross. Our faith in His death burial and resurrection paying for our sins is what secures eternal life for us in Heaven and gives us a relationship with God the Father.

Before Jesus left the earth he told those who believed in Him a couple things we need to always remember.

John 14:3 KJV 1900

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

He is coming back for those who trust in Him to take them to that literal Heaven.

Then right before He left, He gave us some instruction

Matthew 28:19–20 KJV 1900

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Just like the traveling master left resources with the servants, Jesus has left us with resources to accomplish His will on earth.

Now are situation is coming into focus. There is a master traveling that will return.

Now let’s look at the other half of the equation here, the Servants.

B. The Trusted Servants

The Master had three servants in this parable that He called unto Him. The servants are represenative of those that have trusted Christ as their Savior.

As Jesus called the disciples to live a life of faith and follow Him, this man is calling his servants, and Jesus is calling us.

When we are saved we are immediately called into action. We become ambassadors for Christ with a ministry of reconciliation.

Paul wrote that to the Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:17–20 KJV 1900

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

We have ben given the ministry of reconciling this world back to the Lord.

My understanding of many peoples problems with depression and not having a will to live is a lack of purpose and motivation to keep on going.

Finding help for depression and things of that nature is a good thing and I recommend talking to someone about it. But don’t stop at talking. Be sure to accompany the conversations with action and make those actions in line with what God called you to.

Find your purpose and fulfillment in Him which comes through serving others to reconcile them to Him. “But Pastor that’s not me. I’m not a servant.”

Are you a Christian? Are you a disciple of Christ? Then guess what…servant.

“But Pastor I don’t have time. I can’t do that.”

I hate that phrase…I don’t have time. Think about it. None of us have time. I don’t know about you but I don’t control how much time in a day I get. Most of us would add a few more to it wouldn’t we?

None of us have time....we must make time. And when we don’t want to do something let’s be honest with each other. Don’t blame time, don’t blame someone or something else, let’s own it. Let’s tell it like it is.

It’s not that you didn’t have time…It’s that you didn’t want to make time for it or you made time for something else but not that.

Parents you know how this goes. Kids don’t have time to clean rooms, do homework, study for tests, read books, do chores BUT they have time for social media, youtube, friends, TV, movies, etc.

We all “have time” the question is will we make time. And hey, I’m not telling you to say yes to every opportunity I’m telling you to be honest with yourself. We all have time…but will we make time.

That leads us to the next part of our parable…The Struggle

II. The Struggle

Look with me at v 15-19

Matthew 25:15–19 KJV 1900

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

This is where we are in the Kingdom of Heaven. We have been given our talents and now what are we going to do with them?

A talent during the time of this writing was a large some of money. It was the heaviest weight a man could carry. So each of these servants were given a considerable portion to care for.

We can see the talent today as our salvation, our finances, our time, …basically any good thing because all good things come from God -

And we must decide to either be like the first two servants or the last.

The first two were found to be men of faith.

A. Men of Faith

The first two servants were given talents according to their ability.

They had already proven themselves faithful in a little so the Master could trust them to be faithful in much.

Because they were men of faith in their master, who represents Jesus to us, they took what their master gave them and served his will while He was gone multiplying the talents they had.

It is my belief that their faith in their master and desire to multiply their talents came from a deep rooted love for him.

Many servants do things because they have to but our Lord allows us to accomplish things with and for Him.

But do we love Him enough to serve Him. Do we love Him enough to live for Him?

The first two servants had a desire to please their master so they took their talents and didn’t just had them over to a bank to gain interest, they to them and multiplied them by putting them to use.

Depending on how you feel about the person you borrow it from will determine on how well you treat it and return it to them.

When we take what God has given us and invest it into the lives of others, we will see a return. That return can take time. Investing in others is never something that brings fruit over night. It takes time.

John Maxwell said it this way “Consistency Compounds”

If

When we are consistent with what we are doing, over time it will compound into what we can call success.

You know these men didn’t have it easy. Nothing in life is easy. They had to struggle. They had to make decision to invest in eternity and their masters desires rather than their own. They were faced with the temptation of wasting what they had on something good rather than allowing it to be used by God for something great.

The same temptations we face with our own talents and generosity. What if they were like that lighthouse keeper and gave and gave and gave but never made an investment and ran out of oil?

But what if they were like the other servant? I call him the man of folly.

B. The Man of Folly

He took His money and he put it in the ground…That’s the equivalent of hiding it in your mattress.

He didn’t lose it but he wasted it.

That’s a life lived for self rather than Jesus. That’s a life lived in fear rather than faith. That’s a life lived with the wrong focus.

While the faithful servants were out investing and working their talents to be turned into more for their master this foolish servant took what God had blessed him with and hid it.

He was a closet Christian. Are you a closet Christian? You have your salvation but your not seeking to do anything with it? You have great gifts from God but your not seeking to be generous with it?

This servant was saving by stockpiling his talent…He was wasting. wasting something that could have been used for God’s glory.

I’m ashamed of the years God has given me that I have wasted. I’m ashamed of the funds I’ve had trickle through my fingers spent on self and personal desires. What could God have done with that time if I had worked it for Him? Whose life could have been affected by the money I wasted?

One day the Lord is returning…He said so. And on that day there will be a reckoning…not for our salvation, that is secure but there will be a day when we give an account for the lives we lived for the Lord.

When that day comes…what will the Lord’s words be to you?

See the Lord’s words to the servants as we examine The Salutation.

III. The Salutation

A Salutation is a gesture or utterance made as a greeting or acknowledgment of another's arrival or departure.

When the master returned to the servants and saw their results He gave them different salutations.

The first was a predictable response

A. A Predictable Response

Matthew 25:20-

Matthew 25:20–23 KJV 1900

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Go on…as your question… “Pastor, how is that a predictable response?”

have you ever doubled someones investment? What do you think they would say?

Not only that but I know God blesses obedience

Luke 11:28 KJV 1900

28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Blessed are they…Blessed are those who are obedient

Isaiah 1:19 KJV 1900

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

1 Samuel 15:22 KJV 1900

22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to hearken than the fat of rams.

The Principle of God blessing obedience is throughout scripture. It’s not wrong to expect blessing when you are obedient…it’s wrong to believe you are entitled to a certain type of belssing or any belssing for that matter. but based upon the word of God…It is not wrong to expect blessing because God has said He would.

Then we find a painful reckoning

B. A Painful Reckoning

Matthew 25:24–30 KJV 1900

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:

To the foolish man the master did not mince words. He said you wicked and lazy thing. You could have at least put it in a bank and got SOMETHING.

Such disappointment and frustration from the master in this parable.

The unprofitable, unfaithful, wicked, lazy servant was told to be cast out into outer darkness…now to say this is a loss of eternal life would contradict the rest of scripture.

There are some that would say this would translate to us in Heaven being able to see the souls of those that could have been impacted by us if we had properly stewarded what God gave to us.

Whether that’s true or not we do know there will be a reckoning of how we stewarded what God has given us.

Conclusion

God has given us much. He is a generous God. I do not believe that, in America, He wants us living in mud huts and poor. We are too blessed of a country for that. I do believe we should take the blessings of God and use them for His glory. Does that mean we shouldn’t take some money and put it into an investment? No. It means you should go to God over taht investment and make sure it’s His will.

Does it mean we should give everything we have away to the neglect of our own bills and to the detriment of our family? No. Because goes against other areas of scripture. We shoudl faithfull steward the generosity of God to have an impact on those around us and so that the Lord will get a return on His investment in us.

How can you glorify God with your resources?

First, you need to know Jesus. You need to have a relationship with Him by faith. You need to know the love of God to show the love of God.

The Bible says in that God loves you so much He sent Jesus to die for your sins. In that same verse Jesus said that whosoever believes on him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Eternal life in Heaven with Jesus is based upon your belief in Jesus’ death burial and resurrection paying for your sins.

It’s that simple. Believe on Jesus…have a relationship with Him.

To those who do believe in Jesus: Are you stewarding what God has given you or are you squandering it on the things of this world? Make the decision to make investments in the eternal things of life, like the kingdom of Heaven in your local church and through the missions program.

If you made the decision to trust in Jesus this morning I want to invite you to confirm that with prayer. The words of the prayer mean nothing if you don’t believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins and was raised from the dead.

If you want to make the decision to trust Jesus as your savior this morning please pray after me

“Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner, I believe you came to die on the cross and rose from the dead. I put my faith right now in you and ask you to come into my life and change me from the inside out. Amen.”

PRAY

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