Handling Important Opportunities
Matthew 25:14-30
I heard a story once of an old farmer that left his farm to the Devil. The attorney, whose job it was to carry out the farmer’s wishes, was at first confused as to what he should do. After all, how do you give a farm to the Devil? He ultimately decided to do nothing. No one painted the barns or the house, no one pulled the weeds or tended the fields, and no one maintained the machinery so that it was left to rust in place. The old farmer’s wishes were granted as his farm went to the Devil by default.
Many a life goes to the Devil in the same way. If you want to destroy your family you don’t have to beat your wife and kids. It is not necessary to poison your husband. All you have to do is not care. The same is true of the Church. Don’t support it with your presence, your talents, or your resources and it will dwindle and eventually die.
Jesus used a parable to illustrate this truth. A wealthy man left home for a prolonged journey. Prior to leaving, he called his three stewards together and gave to each according to his ability. To one he gave five talents, to another he gave two talents, and to the least able he gave a single talent. Both he that had five and he that had two talents invested wisely and doubled their master’s investment. The third steward buried his lord’s money lest he have nothing when his master returned.
When the master of the house returned from his journey, he called his stewards and required them to give an accounting. It is apparent that all three were proud of what they had accomplished. The master rewarded those that had risked all for his benefit and condemned the servant that had risked nothing.
What is the story all about? Are we to make a lot of money for the Lord before He returns? Not necessarily so. Remember, God owns everything! No, this parable is about our willingness to risk all to make the most of the opportunities we are given. Dr. T. B. Maston, formerly one of our seminary professors, told of buying a cow to teach his son about stewardship. It was his responsibility to feed, water, tend, and milk the cow. A friend asked Dr. Maston how things were going and was told – “Well, it’s been hard on the cow but its good for the boy.” If it were only about management of resources then would angels be much better stewards. God is more interested in what our stewardship does for us. With that in mind I want to ask two questions: (1) What are you doing with your opportunity? (2) What is your opportunity doing to you?
I. What Are You Doing With Your Opportunity?
A. Have you identified your gifts and talents?
1. Do you know your calling?
2. Are you employing those gifts/talents?
B. Relationship with God leads to risk
1. David risked all to face Goliath
2. Mary risked everything by giving birth to Jesus
3. Jesus risked all on the cross because He loved the Father
C. Faith often means crawling out on a limb
II. What Is Your Opportunity Doing To You?
A. What it did to him with one talent
1. It created a paralyzing fear
2. His fear caused him to play it safe
3. Revealed that he did not really know his lord very well
B. God wants us to enjoy the experience and not be terrified of failure
Who is God? Is He a tyrant waiting for us to make mistakes so that He can slap us down or is He a loving Father that disciplines out of love?