Model Disciple: Paul, Part 3
A Model Disciple: Paul (Part 3) • Sermon • Submitted
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In the book of Matthew, we find an account of Jesus and his disciples leaving the Temple – the center of religious life for Israel – and as they were walking out, his disciples commented on the beauty of the stones that formed this Holy edifice. Jesus’ reply to them was prophetic – he said one day every stone that made up the Temple building would be overturn – not one stone would remain in place. A few decades later, in 70AD - Roman would lay siege to the Holy City in response to a rebellious uprising and this prophetic statement would indeed come true.
But his reply on that day got his disciples wondering. At this point, they knew he was the Messiah, God’s anointed One, and they understood that the Messiah would one day rule in power with every nation bowing to His authority. When was this going to happen? When would Jesus make his move? So they asked him.
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, 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?”
Jesus answered them and it did not compute with their expectations. He told them that many things would occur before the end comes. False Messiahs would appear trying to deceive those who believe, wars and rumors of wars would occur among nations, natural disasters and famine would increase in frequency, those who follow Jesus would be persecuted; false prophets would point people in the wrong direction.
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
At this point, I’m sure the confused disciples were like “can you be a bit more specific Jesus? Are we talking next week? a year from now? We need a date to put in our calendars.”
In Matt 24:36, Jesus says something that I’m sure frustrated his disciples, and would trip up every doomsday prophet even up to today. He told them that no one knows the day or the hour, not even Jesus himself – but only His father in heaven. Therefore, he says, always be ready.
What did he mean, always be ready? How are we to always be ready? In typical Jesus fashion, he expands on what it means “to always be ready” with a series of parables.
It is the parable found in Matthew 25:14-30 that I want to focus on for a moment before tying it to Paul’s teaching that we heard read this morning from 2 Thess.
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And 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.’ His 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.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His 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.’ He 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, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But 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? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For 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. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Now the very nature of a parable is to make the one listening think about what is being said and there usually is more than one lesson that can be pulled from it. Such is the case here.
What does it mean that more will be entrusted to the faithful servants once the master returns? What responsibilities await those who are faithful? The first two servants were not given the same amount to work with, but each doubled their share and received the exact same praise and promise in return. That is something to ponder.
But as we ponder the question, What does it mean “to always be ready?” I believe part of what this parable tells us is that it is our responsibility to make the most of the time and gifts that we are given in this life to fulfill God’s purposes before the master returns–
or as theologian RT France puts it – to use the intervening time to maximize profit. God has given us a treasure worth a considerable amount, a span of days, God-given gifts, a powerful message and opportunities to be of service to our Lord – and this treasure is not the same for everyone – we all possess different amounts. It is not the amount that matters, but what we do with what God has entrusted to us will determine what words we will hear when He does return. Will it be “well done, good and faithful servant” or “throw out this wicked, lazy servant”?
Last week, I shared that we are justified with God through grace and grace alone. We cannot earn right relationship with God by our good works. However, if we have received that grace and accepted Jesus as Lord, there should be evidence of this change in our lives. There is a call to be faithful. If we have died with Christ, and have been raised with Christ into new life – then our lives should look new. One would expect this new life to be evident in our actions and our attitudes.
When I reflected on this parable this week, it was the action (or more accurately, the inaction) as well as the attitude of the third servant that I found disturbing. This servant was entrusted with a something of great value and did nothing but dig a hole in the ground.
While the other two servants were laboring to make a profit in the absence of their master, this one had nothing but time on his hands.
And what do people with nothing but time on their hands tend do? Birds of a feather do tend to flock together. They find others with nothing but time on their hands and begin to gossip and complain – convincing themselves that their take on the situation is true.
When called to give an account, listen to wicked servant’s view of his master “I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’”
How did he come upon this assessment of his master? It was likely not on his own, but something he became convinced of in idle talk with others. Instead of multiplying what had been entrusted to him, seeking to please his master, he did nothing. Take note, he did not do anything illegal, he didn’t steal from his master, he just did nothing – and in doing nothing, wasted an opportunity that would not only please his master, but better his own future. What did the master say to the faithful servants “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” In the end, the faithful servants were given back what they had been entrusted with. “ For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance.”
Now, let’s jump over and look at Paul’s teaching. Paul is our current model disciple that we are examining – and in Paul we find a disciple who imitated His Lord in order to show new believers how they were to behave.
It is fair to say that Jesus was a hard worker. He was constantly about his father’s business – he used his time wisely. Work is not always done with the hands. Jesus spent quite a bit of time in prayer - which directed his efforts. He also rested at times, so he had the strength to do his work well. And Paul followed his master’s pattern of life.
No one who knew Paul would say that he was lazy. He knew his mission, to make disciples among the gentiles, and he worked diligently to maximize the profit. Now just like the parable, Paul knew that every believer had been given a treasure, God-given gifts and opportunities to be of service to our Lord – and these are not the same for everyone. He was called to be an apostle to the gentiles – his was a unique calling. He did not teach that every new believer needed to switch their vocations and go out to plant churches among the Gentiles. What he taught was that each believer needed to work diligently, and use the gifts they had and in such a manner that their witness for Christ would be obvious to all.
and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
I know when I look back on those who had a strong influence on my faith development, it was not primarily pastors or religious teachers, it was everyday faithful men and women of God who worked hard, raised their families well, brought the presence of God into every situation, living in joyful obedience to the Lord. Were you influenced by people like that?
I love Paul’s advice and I think it is so needed today. I’m not sure the origins of the saying, “idle hands are the devil’s playground”– but I have to think the first person to say it must have been reading Paul. At a time when everyone seems to be in everyone else’s business – and seem to think that the world wants to know their personal opinion about everything – how great would it be if we could all mind our own business and stay busy working to improve our situation?
Minding our own business does not mean ignoring injustice – it means stop spreading nonsense and causing unnecessary problems.
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
It is also worthy noting that there are times when we are unable to “be dependent on no one.” That why Paul says encourage the fainthearted and help the weak.
During times of hardship, sometimes a person needs the help of others to get back on their feet. Paul collected financial assistance from other churches for the church in Jerusalem when they were in great need.
Idleness is not about the temporary inability to support oneself – it is how you use your time. Are you using the most of your time to maximize the profit? Are you using your gifts for God’s purposes? Are you taking advantage of the opportunities that God opens up to you? Even when we are unable to do the things we were once able to do, we are still able to do work that glorifies God. Whether by praying for the others, or encouraging others, or reaching out to those who could use a friend - there is always work to be done.
When Adam & Eve were cast out of the garden, God said to them in Genesis 3:19 “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Until we return to the ground, we are to sweat in labor in order to live. And to truly live, we must always be about doing the Father’s business. And by doing so, we will always be ready for His return. Because it is in His return that we will truly enjoy rest.
‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’