Sermons

Living With The End In Mind (Matthew 25:14-30)

Rev. Matthew Miller, February 4, 2018
Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service

How do we live with the end in mind? The the parable of the ten virgins--vigilance. The parable of the talents--diligence. What is a talent? It was a monetary value, and it has come to mean a skill today. One talent was a lot of money. It was also a metaphor for a kingdom resource or spiritual gift. What are our resources and gifts? However a talent is not ours. It belongs to our master. We are stewards, and we hold it loosely. They are given according to ability. It is a sign of grace. We are not expected to do more than we are able, throughout our lives. The third servant shows us the essence of sin. It never makes sense. It is connected with foolishness. The third servant had a harsh view of God (his master). The praise to the faithful servants is as an invitation to a banquet. They receive the master's grace. How do we view God, as harsh or gracious and full of mercy? If we want to know about God, we must look at His Son, Jesus. Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Colossians). Jesus was sent to die for us, because God loves us. What does my heart believe about God? What is at stake? Eternal destiny. We will have work and responsibility in glory. The unfaithful one will be in hell. Our fruitfulness is evidence of our justification. What exhortations emerge here? To the unbelievers, of whom there are always some in the visible church, evaluate your fruit; if lacking, come in! To believers, how are they perceiving their talents? Even one talent is worth a lot. To the timid believer, who sits in the background and thinks he might make things worse; you might be burying your talent. You have kingdom value, and you don't see it. All Christians are servants of the master, with kingdom value. Be faithful. What about the believer who has been diligent, but is tired. Increase your dependence on the Lord. Spend more time in the Word. Pray more. Maybe increase you intake of the means of grace. Are you living with the end in mind? Rom. 12: 6. Let us use our gifts.

Tags: Kingdom Living, Spiritual Gifts, Talents

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Matthew 25:14–30 (Listen)

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.’

(ESV)

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