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Matthew 25:14-30 ESV

“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.’

I. 3 MEN AND A MASTER
A. A master gives money to 3 servants & expects them to do something with it.
B. First & second double investment. Third gets the least and does nothing with it.
C. After a delay, the master returns. The first 2 are commended for their faithfulness and told to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
D. Last servant did nothing, insults the master, & lies about why he did nothing.

II. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DUTY AND LOVE
A. Faithful servants worked hard for the master out of love for him.
B. The wicked servant did not love the master and saw the master’s gift as a burden rather than a blessing.
C. Jesus desires we serve Him out of love, not duty.
D. True Gospel fruit flows from a heart already in love with Jesus not one trying to get there through service.
E. Jesus tells the parable so we get busy doing work He has given us to do and not just wait for Him to return. (2 Thess 3:6-13)

III. THE REALITY OF JUDGMENT
A. Jesus will judge at end of time.
B. We are not justified by our death but Jesus’ death in our place.

APPLICATION:
1. We are not all gifted equally. (1 Cor 12:4-31)
2. Being faithful with what we have been given is what matters. Faithfulness, not overall productivity is what is commended.
3. Risk is right when it is for the glory of Christ.
4. The question is not if we have something to do or what to do but how to use our specific gifts and passions to make disciples.