
Time and Talents
July 25, 2021
Randy Hageman
How often do we make ourselves
The problem is that we don’t see ourselves from God’s
When I imagine it being hard for God to really use me, I’m really making it all about
The real issue isn’t ability but
Often, just being available, using the time and talents one has, entrusting them to Christ,
‘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.’ —Matthew 25:14-15 (ESV)
Jesus is telling a parable, a story designed to essentially make
A steward was a manager, committing to taking care of the household or real property entrusted to him by its
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. —Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
Christianity understands from Genesis 1 and elsewhere that God is the Creator, that He created all there is, and, what’s more, everything is ultimately
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. —Psalms 24:1 (NLT)
God chose to delegate or assign His ownership responsibility, but not His ownership, to the most unique creature in all His Creation because only this creature was created in the image of God -
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. —Genesis 1:27 (NLT)
And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ —Genesis 1:28 (ESV)
God, who made everything, gave human beings the responsibility to be the
This is what GOD said: ‘Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—that’s what I had in mind for you.’ —Jeremiah 1:4-5 (Message)
Our stewardship includes living our
We won’t understand all the
The master in Jesus’ parable had a purpose for how he wanted his servants to steward or care for his resources, regardless of what
‘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.”’ —Matthew 25:21,23 (ESV)
The two verses are word-for-word the
God loves for us to be faithful in even in the
‘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.”’ —Matthew 25:24-25 (ESV)
‘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.”’ —Matthew 25:26-30 (ESV)
The master’s response here is harsh and it’s to make a point – there are
The first two servants, who were both extremely
God sees each of us as individuals, and He’ll never judge you by someone else’s life or purpose – only by your
God has entrusted you with time and talents for the sake of His
Click image to see where your passions, abilities & spiritual gifts are needed on the Dream Team!
Next Week – Un-Available: Treasure