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Well over the last few weeks we’ve had the privilege of listening to those who serve in different capacities on the Missions field. The first week as you know, we had Thom and Amanda McMurray with us who are serving the Alliance in South America, and last week we had Tim Smith with us who spoke about serving in the jail ministry here locally and witnessing to the inmates. Of course, we just watched the video from the cagwin’s who are faithfully serving the Lord as missionaries. And as you may recall, at the end of the month, we’re going to focus on serving here in the church and highlight our children’s ministry and ways to serve…

But really, this whole month, the Lord has been orchestrating and aligning it with the central theme of missions. And so, with this in mind, both this week and next week, we’re going to continue with discussing missions with the emphasis of living a life of purpose. No not porpoise! I had to put that in there, to see if you guys are awake this morning... But really, our focus is on living your life for things that matter and consider how we invest our time.

You see the truth is there are as you know there are 365 days a year, or 525,600 minutes, which breaks down to 31,536,000 seconds. And the point is this… how will you spend each second? how will you spend each moment? how will you spend each year?

If you have your bibles with you this morning, turn with me to Matthew 25. And as you’re turning there, we are going to examine a parable that Jesus told during the Olivet discourse. This discourse, or message was the final discourse of Jesus as he addresses his disciples. And he would deliver this message to them on Tuesday afternoon, during his final week on earth, as he was sitting on the mount of olives.

What I want us to see from the scripture this morning is 3 key ideas. As we talk about investing our time. Serving others - 1. The requirement, 2. The response 3. the reward.

1. The requirement

Now at the beginning of Matthew 25 and we won’t read at this time. But Jesus first discusses the parable of 10 virgins to show the need of being ready by waiting for the Messiahs return. But then in verses 14-30, Jesus transitions from the principle of waiting… to this idea of being ready by working. Jesus would describe the parable of the bag of coins and explain to his disciples.

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

Now as we stop for a moment and consider the text. I think it’s important to remind us that what Jesus is saying here is significant. I mean, this is during the last week of his life and would be one of the last conversations that he would have with his disciples.

Now it doesn't take away from any of the previous lessons that Jesus taught, but as one of his final teachings…it’s certainly key, information that shouldn’t be missed.

I think to myself of driving home from the local pool on Wednesday afternoon. And Kim had a bad migraine, so she stayed behind… but also with her was our youngest daughter Aubrey who was out of milk. Now before leaving the pool, I called Kim and we talked for a few minutes… but the last thing that Kim spoke to me before she we would hang up the phone was “hey, don’t forget to stop by the store and get some milk.”Why was this the last word? Because it was very important information. The other parts of the conversation were important as well… but she didn’t want me to miss this point… That I had to get the milk.

Here, Jesus as he is speaking with his disciples… Knowing the crucifixion that await him later that week, this topic is crucial. And what does Jesus turn his attention to? He discusses the requirements for each person to carry out the work that they were given.

You see, Jesus’ focus in this parable was on the tragedy of wasted opportunity. It’s the tragedy that we’ve been entrusted with X amount… how will we spend it… and yes, this applies to finances, and other things… but really in this parable, Jesus is talking about spending our life in service to others.

I want us to stop for a second and take a closer look at the text. We’re told: 14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

Here, this man who is going on a journey was going to be gone for a long time, perhaps months or years. And due to his absence, he is calling for his servants to care for his estate while he is gone. Now the man in this parable is Jesus, and the time that he is gone is in between his first ascension to heaven and his second coming which of course, we are now waiting for.

But what’s interest is in the text it says the man, that is Jesus, called his servants. When it says his servants, it’s the Greek word Doulos, which means slaves. And oftentimes in scripture, a wealthy person would have slaves who were extremely skilled, and proficient in different trades. But what I want us to see is that the owner of the house called his servants and entrusted them with different levels of responsibility.

We see that each servant was given a different bags of gold, one slave was given 5 bags, one was given 2 bagsand one was given only one bag… but the expectation from the owner to servant was no different. Instead, he was simply calling them to be faithful to Him.

Friends, we today. As the church, find ourselves as the owner “so to speak” is away… and as he’s away, he has trusted us both as a church, and individually, with what he’s put in our hands… and what he’s given us both as a church in comparison to the church next door, or an individual basis, what skills or talent you have compared with someone else, really… isn’t the point… the point is… will you be faithful with what you’ve been given? Will you be a faithful servant of what the master has placed in your hands?

Mlb all star game

You see, I’m reminded of Jeremiah 29:11 this morning which tells us: “11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

You see, the master has plans for you, how will you respond? He has entrusted us both individually and as the church to be faithful in what he’s placed in our hands. How are we doing?

Friends, today, we as the church are the servants. Jesus himself, will come again, and call his servants,

2. The response

16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

So, we notice that the first 2 slaves were obedient to the master, but one of them was not. The bible tells us that the man who had received one bag, went off, dug a hole in the ground and his master’s money. To which in verse 27 Jesus would say: 27 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. In other words, this servant, at least could have put the money in the bank where it would accumulate interest. And yet, he dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

You know, it’s interesting, if we stop and think about it for a moment. And I hate to bring it up in church, but the latest inflation rate it right around 9%. Here’s what that means, from year to year, if you have if you have 1 dollar one year, and the next after 9% still have the same dollar. You in essence have lost 9 cents. On each dollar.

To give an example of what this looks like, I looked at some statistics from 1970’s many of you were alive then. That was just a couple years before my time… but the point is this. If you wanted a can of soda, it was .10, and it wasn’t long before that, where it was a nickel. If you wanted a candy bar it was also .10. a gallon of gas in 1970? (Any guesses? .37 national average.) and the average home price in the us. 17,000.

Here’s the point I’m making this morning. That as you know, when money is not put to work… it misses out on the opportunity of earning.

Even at the time when Jesus was speaking this message to his disciples the roman empire had a banking system that was in many ways similar to modern times. A slave therefore could have taken one talent and made at least 6 percent interest by making no effort at all, and yet, the slave did nothing with the money. Instead, the slave chose to bury this treasure.

For a second, I want to consider what it looks like for us to respond 1. As a church. 2. Individually.

From a church standpoint, I want to let you know a couple things. First, I’ve been encouraged over the last week by our faithfulness to both Tim Smith who as you know was with us last week, but also to the McMurray’s the week before. You guys may or may not have known this… but I’m pleased to say that we as a church collectively gave $1450 to the McMurray’s last week.

And in addition to these opportunities, I’ve been encouraged as we as a church are starting to meet the needs for discoveryland…

But as a church, I would ask us… what’s next. Could we be bold together, to ask the Lord to bring new families who are receiving Christ and then going on to share the gospel themselves? Could we collectively as a church be thinking about the next mission’s trip that we will serve on, perhaps in the next state, across the world or even in our backyard. Could we be thinking even, if what the Lord would do if the Great Room had no mortgage, what type of potential kingdom impact there would be by funds no longer being tied up toward this expense?

You see, it’s fun when we start to dream together about God’s vision and future for his church. It’s exciting when we move forward…

You see, much of this ultimately comes down to taking faithed risks. We discussed this in the fall, but the Christian and Missionary Alliance core values which is Faith-Filled Risk. From their website, we as an alliance church agree with this core value as part of denominations lead. But it says: Achieving God’s purposes means taking faith-filled risks. This always involves change.

For more than a century, Alliance workers have braved harsh and dangerous territory—often at great personal risk—to take the good news of Jesus to a lost world. These workers experienced this Alliance Core Value—“Achieving God’s purposes means taking faith-filled risks. This always involves change.” Because of the selfless dedication of Alliance workers who were willing to lay down their lives for the gospel, entire people groups now know Jesus.

And so, friends, the question becomes, Lord where are you leading us next… God would you take the wheel of the church.

But, at the same time, this principle also applies to our lives personally. You see, when it comes to the response, 2 of the servants got it right, but one missed the mark. One missed out on the opportunity. You see just because you go to McDonalds doesn’t make you a hamburger, and just because you go to KFC doesn’t make you a piece of chicken. But at the same time, just because you go to church doesn’t mean you’re a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t necessarily mean you serve, or give, or contribute…

You see, Matthew 5:14-16 makes it clear. That 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Friend, you have a response. What would it look like for me individually to join a mission’s trip? Trust me you don’t want to miss the boat! What would it be like to serve in the nursery? What would it be like to come out to the family water day on August 14thand help serve local families?

Guys, I’ve shared this before, but some of the greatest moments of my life have been spent on the mission’s field. Some of the best times, the highest moments of my life have been in service to others… guys, we don’t want to miss out.

Can I challenge you to come out to todays meeting to hear about missions within the church? Can I challenge you to serve if you’re not? Can I challenge you to pray? Can I challenge you to ask God what he’s got next for you… Friends, your life is worth living… but only you can do it…?

John 12:27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

3. the reward.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “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!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “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!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “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? 27 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.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

If we stop and consider the text, I want us to see the implications of this verse in terms of rewards. And as we examine this topic, I want to look, both from a standpoint of the earthly reward and heavenly reward for those who work for the Lord.

John Macarthur writes an interesting statement on this topic, he explains: Not only will the Lord entrust greater earthly tasks to those who prove themselves faithful, but their heavenly reward will be opportunity for greater service to Him throughout eternity. Christ’s faithful servants living on earth when he returns will enter into the millennial kingdom in their same earthly bodies and will be given responsibilities commensurate with their previous faithfulness. Believers who have died or been raptured will come to earth with the Lord in their glorified bodies, and they too, will be given rulership in proportion to their faithfulness to God while they live on earth. Both in the millennial and the eternal manifestation of the kingdom, those who have been faithful on earth will be put in charge of many things much greater in significance than the few things over which they previously were faithful stewards.

In addition to the responsibilities that we will be given for being faithful. The bible also tells us in verse 21 and 23 23 “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!’ (Or Joy)

You see church, there is true joy. Like we can’t imagine… as we realize that we have been faithful to Christ and that through that, that others are being saved.

Along the same lines, as we serve those on Earth, we realize as that we reap what we sow. And that there is true joy in serving others. Acts 20:35 says 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

But the key this morning, ultimately as Christians is faithful service. Not for what we have now, but for what is in store.

I stop and think of the hall of faith as we know it listed in Hebrews 11. And here, in this scripture there are so many men and women of faith that are listed for their faithfulness to God. About this group, the bible says: 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Going to close out of service in just a few moments…

I would like us to consider just a few questions.

First, I would say.

1. What’s next? What is God calling you to do, that you are not currently doing?

Romans 12:7-8 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

2. Along the same lines, what should we as a church be doing? That we’re not currently doing. What opportunities are before us and are we taking advantage of them.

3. Are we sharing our faith with others? Most people in the last year, haven’t shared the gospel with anyone…. What about you? Who are you praying for?

4. Missions committee here at the church… meeting right after service.

5. August 14. Volunteer sign up.

Pray