No Excuses! Be Faithful!
It was the final week of Jesus’ life. He was giving his
final marching orders to his disciples before he ate the last supper with them.
Soon, Jesus would give His life for them and all who would follow Him. The last
words of someone’s life are powerful. Peering into the gospel of Matthew gives
us a glimpse of what was truly on our LORD’s heart the last week of his life.
Among His top subjects were instructions on:
1.
Purity and Prayer (Matthew 21:12-22)
2.
The Authority of Jesus being the only way to God
(Matthew 21:23-22:14)
3.
Respecting Government authority (Matthew
22:15-22)
4.
The Power of the Resurrection (Matthew 22:23-33)
5.
The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40)
6.
Jesus is LORD (Matthew 22:41-46)
7.
God’s hatred of hypocrisy (Matthew 23:1-36)
8.
God’s heart for Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39)
9.
Signs of the Last Days (Matthew 24:1-35)
10.
Living wise, with urgency, and preparation for His
return (Matthew 24:36-51)
11.
Being
faithful until the final judgment (Matthew 25:1-46)
Today we will focus on number 11, being faithful to what God
has entrusted to us. Jesus spoke in parables and in today’s reading (The
Parable of the Talents) Jesus tells a story of a man who went on a journey and
who entrusted to his servants his property. The servants were expected to
double or produce fruit from what had been given to them. They would be held
accountable for what they did with what God had given them and as we will see
God wasn’t interested in any of their excuses. Scholars believe that the ‘talent’
was money, or time, or ability. After studying it, I believe “a talent” is
talking about our abilities but you study it for yourself and ask God to give
you illumination into His word.
Matthew 25:14-15 says, “For it (the kingdom) 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.”
1. My ability is to be used to serve God (vs.
14)
Notice first of all
the man represents Jesus/God and his servants represent us or those who follow
him. If we have been called by God, we belong to God, and we are called to
serve God. Many Christians get caught up in entitlements: “Reverends” “CEOs” “Evangelists”
we are all God’s servant’s
period! God doesn’t care about titles. If we are called by God to teach,
preach, heal, give, or show hospitality etc., the bottom line is we are HIS
SERVANTS! Yes some of these abilities have greater influence (1 Timothy 3:1-13),
stricter judgments (James 3:1), and higher accountability but one is not more
important than the other. GOD FORGIVE US FOR OUR TITLES!
2. My ability is entrusted to me from God (vs.
14)
Everything God has given us is a
trust! It is His property, just look in the text. Our kids are on loan from
God, our talent is from God, our skills are from God, and our influence is from
God. God is entrusting us with these abilities to see if we will glorify Him or
use them to make a name for ourselves or sell out to influence the world.
3. My ability is a gift from God (vs. 15)
Notice the words He gave each one according to
his ability. How much time do we spend coveting other people’s lives, talents,
abilities and forget to thank GOD for what he has given us? I challenge us all
to make a list of all that God has given us and let’s begin to thank Him for it
and ask God to use all of that for His purposes and His glory!
Matthew 25:16-19 “He who had received the
five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five 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.”
4. I am expected to produce results for God
with my abilities (vs 16)
How many people are being impacted
for eternity by our talents and abilities? Do others worship us or God? Is our
talent or giftedness drawing others closer to the Lord or closer to the world?
What kind of fruit are we producing, followers of us or followers of Christ?
5. I will be held accountable for how I used
my ability. (Vs. 19)
Jesus is coming back and he is
expecting a good return on all He has invested and entrusted to us. That day is
coming whether we believe it or not, everyone will be held accountable. We need
to prepare and stop playing games and be faithful with what we have been
blessed with.
Matthew 25:21, 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.”
6. My faithfulness to use my abilities for God
will be rewarded. (vs 21,23)
Everyone desires a reward in life
for hard work. God promises that in His word. Sometimes the reward is more
opportunities, or money, or richer fuller relationships either way God is
faithful. We may not experience the full weight of the reward on this side of
Eternity, but as living proof I can testify, there is a joy unspeakable when
you are faithful to what God has asked you to do and He allows you to
experience the reward on this side of Eternity. Be faithful saints!
Matthew 25:24-26 “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?”
7. My excuses are seen as wickedness in God’s
eyes. (vs 26)
This servant was suffering from
self-deception. Notice he said, “I knew you to be” but yet he did nothing but
bury what God had given him. James says, “But be doers of the word and not
hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” This servant knew his master’s heart and
character but yet chose not to be faithful. Also, he allowed fear to cripple
him and become his excuse. I made a little list of excuses Christians use
instead of serving God.
·
Fear of Man- “What will others think if I go all
in for the Lord?”
·
Fear of being bored- “I won’t experience any
thrill or excitement anymore”
·
Fear of giving up “my life”- “If I serve God
then I have to give up my dreams”
·
Fear of rejection- “Let’s face it this is a hard
message and not everybody is trying to hear about Jesus.”
·
Fear of suffering- “I don’t want to suffer;
there is too much pain in life already.”
·
Fear of failure-“and what if it doesn’t work
out?”
Trust me when I say, I have made all of those excuses but
nothing will compare to the shame we will feel when we reach Eternity and
shrink back because we chose not to believe Him and use our abilities for the
Lord. God promises to never leave us nor forsake us. We have to trust if He has
placed something upon our hearts He will be faithful to provide the resources
to get it done we just need to cooperate with Him. I also can testify that
serving God is the great adventure that everyone is looking for!
Matthew 25:28, 30 “So take the talent from him and give
it to him who has the ten talents…And cast the worthless servant into the outer
darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
8. Our excuses will have Eternal consequences.
(vs 28,30)
#nocommentaryneeded
Heavenly Father,
Please forgive us for
taking every blessing that you have bestowed upon us for granted. Help us to
see our abilities as a trust and a gift from you. Grant us grace to serve you
with our talents and to glorify you. Forgive us for our excuses we make and
give us courage to live for you and glorify you for this short time on earth.
Help us to make an eternal impact for our good and for Your glory. Thank you
that you reward faithfulness, make us faithful servants who steward your
abilities well. Let us hear you say to us well done my good and faithful
servant when we reach Eternity. Thank you that your word says that He who began
a good work in us is faithful to complete it. We love you and we pray these
things in Jesus Name AMEN!
Live Fit4eternity!
Photo Credit: Brother J.J. Hallen Thank you!
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