Watching or Waiting

ME:

Talk about “the ending” of things.

The ending of Vacation

The ending of a Movie

The ending of a Song

Simon Cow

We know when things are going to end.

Vacation

Movie

A Song

Back in High school I knew when a relationship was going to end.

Its the ones you didn’t see coming that are SHOCKERS

Transitional Statement: The interesting thing about things coming to an end is the things will tend to dictate when the end is near.

WE:

Vacations - you have to get things in order before you return home.

Pack, check-in for the flight home, wash closes, determine time to leave for the airport....

There is not a lot of preparation (physically) for the ending of a movie but there is mentally.

Trying to figure out how it will end, .......

Even the ending of songs might not end the way you thought it would.

You might even be wondering “When will this sermon end ..... how will it end ...... WILL IT END?”

I have to admit, over this last year, I have wondered WHEN and HOW will this Covid-19 end?

I have to be honest ..... this brought up the thought ..... “Is the end of the world coming soon?”

Is Jesus returning soon?

Transitional Statement: The disciples asked a similar question!

GOD:

Turn to Matthew 24:3 ....... the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

(Matthew 24:36 he say, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

He goes on to say though ...... It will be just like ......

..... the days of Noah Everyone living their lives and then all of a sudden it floods.

..... 2 men in field - 1 taken the other left

..... 2 women grinding at the mill - 1 taken the other left

Jesus issues a warning .... (24:42 “stay awake”)

He tells them he is coming back for his faithful and wise servants. (24:45)

Shelly and I are in trouble (Me more than her) We are not always wise!

Call MVNU and tell them I am sending my Master degree back.

You all saw my wife wearing 2 different shoes into an ALDI’s?

But scripture is not saying “Faithful and wise PEOPLE.” (SERVANTS)

Jesus makes this point in Matthew 25:14–30 (ESV)

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

15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

17So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

18But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’

21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

22And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’

23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’

26But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

28So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

29For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

30And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Quick recap of this parable:

The Master “entrusted” (Paradidomi) Handed over, with confidence, his Property: Possessions.

He hands it over to the “Servant” (Slave: doulous) Bought and paid for by the blood of Christ

He doesn’t tell the Servant what to do with it.

They knew what to do!

First one was given 5 Talents (1 Talent = 20 Years wages)

Today, If someone made $100,000 Yearly - 10Million

He doubled it on His

Second one was given 2 Talents (4 Million)

He doubled it

Third one was given 1 Talents (2 Million)

He hid it in the ground.

What stuck out to me is what many of us, who believe, long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

I long to hear these words.

Jesus used this parable to solidify a statement he made in Matthew 25:13 (ESV)

13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The Greek word for Watch is (Gregoreo) and it means watch out for DANGER or OPPORTUNITIES.

Expound on opportunities!

Transition Statement: Are we “WATCHING” or are we Waiting?

YOU:

I think we all would agree, Covid has caused a stirring in the heart of the church.

I believe it has woken up the church.

I believe we have been woken up to the understanding that we might have been WAITING in stead of WATCHING.

Ask yourself, “When I accepted Christ ...... did I turn and dig a whole and hide it ..... so not to loose it?

Or did I take it and go and Multiply it with others?

Ask yourself today, “Am I WAITING on the Masters return or am I WATCHING for his return.

Looking for opportunities to share Jesus with others so that they too may encounter the Master.

Transition Statement: Have you been WAITING or WATCHING?

WE:

I can say with confidence ..... The Lord is coming back!

Will you hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.”