Good and Faithful?

• Watch Sermon
• Listen to Sermon

Study Notes

We are in another chapter of Kingdom stories. These stories were not told for their entertainment value, they were told to make a point about how we are to live in this world while we wait for the Second Coming of the King. Watching and waiting does not mean an absence of working. The managers in our text today were occupied in the absence of the master. There's a lesson for us here today.

1. Interpretive Helps
   1. The NIV doesn't include "kingdom of Heaven" in verse 14 but it is implied in the word, "it."
   2. A "talent" is a unit of measurement, not a gift or ability.
   3. Culturally, this was a common practice...leaving one's valuable assets in the hands of trusted stewards.
2. The Kingdom of Heaven is Like...
   ​(A Stewardship)
   1. The assignments
      • Five talents... (measures or units)
      • Two talents...
      • One talent...
        -- according to ability.
   2. The activity
      • The "five-talent" guy doubled the asset
      • The "two-talent" guy doubled the asset
      • The "one-talent" guy dug a hole and buried the asset?!?
   3. The accounting
      • The "five-guy": Behold!
      • The "two-guy": Behold!
      • The "one-guy": "Lord you are a hard man...so I buried your asset, here it is."
        The master said to him...
        ​"You wicked, lazy liar..." The "one-guy" was trapped in his own lie. If he really believed what he said he would have at least tried to gain some interest with a banker! As a result, the "haves" will have more!
   4. The application
      • The Lord is better than we think...
      • Who is this really about? Do we know Him?
      • Faithfulness matters...so does the type.
      • There is risk...
      • There are consequences...

Conclusion

What have you been given that is of great value? _____________________

What will you do with it? Bury it for safe keeping? Invest it for the pleasure of the One who can be pleased?

Questions for Small Group, Family and Personal Reflection

1. What have you been given that is of great value?
2. How does our view of the Master affect our investing of life?

Further Study

Read Romans 12. List all the ways that you can invest your life rather than hide it...