Ready or Not - Part 3
November 9, 2024

Now, our next parable: “The Parable of the Talents”

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. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 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.’ 21 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.’ 22 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.’ 23 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.’ 24 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, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 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? 27 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. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 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. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Things to consider here in this parable:

Each servant in this parable was given money (a talent was worth about twenty years’ wages) according to his ability.
The man with much ability was given five talents.
The man with average ability received two talents.
The man with minimal ability received one talent.

The talents represent opportunities to use our abilities.
Point: God assigns work and opportunity according to ability.

1. Believers are

ministries and according to the abilities and gifts God has given us.
We have been assigned our ministries according to the abilities and gifts God has given us. It is our privilege to serve the Lord and multiply His kingdom.

2. A believers’

gives the capacity for greater service and responsibility.
Unfortunately, the third servant in our parable was unfaithful and was unrewarded.

1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”

3.

is a biblical blessing.

1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

Colossians 3:23 (NLT)
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”

4. Believers

to effectively impact the world around them.

Romans 12:4-8 (NLT)
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 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.