Use What’s Been Given To You

Matthew 25:14-30

SIX PRINCIPLES TO NOTE:
Principle #1: What we have is not our own. (14)

• It was not uncommon in biblical times for wealthy men to take long journeys.
• Before they left they would put their affairs in order by arranging for someone to look after domestic matters, as well as their business affairs.
• When they returned they were not only expecting to still have a business but for that business to have prospered!
• To do this the owner delegated control and responsibility of his possessions to trustworthy employees.
• These employees were then expected to bring a return on what had been entrusted to their stewardship.

The point is...

• There was no doubt in the minds of these servants that the property and money belonged to the master.
• They were the stewards, not the owners.
• Their job was to manage their master’s possessions while he was gone, which included trying to invest and increase his worth.

Truth to remember:

• We must remember that everything we have is a gift from God and we are stewards of His gifts.

Principle #2: We’re only given what we can handle. (15)

• A “talent” was actually a measure of weight in: copper, gold, or silver.
• Here, because of the Greek word used in 25:18 (trans. “money”), it is clear that this is silver that has been given to these servants.
• One “talent” weighed approximately 50 to 75 pounds and was equivalent to 6,000 denarii.
• One denarius was equivalent to a day's pay for a common laborer.
• Consequently, even a single “talent” would have equaled a very large sum of money.
• It would have been almost 20 years’ wages for the common laborer.

Let it represent more than money, though:

• The “talent” also has a symbolic meaning.
• It could potentially refer to spiritual gifts, physical abilities, special skills, or to opportunities of service that come our way.
• Let it be symbolic of anything God has given us.

In the story...

• The Master gave the first servant “five talents.” (15a)
• The second servant received “two talents.” (15b)
• And the third servant received “one talent.” (15c)
• There’s a big difference between “five talents” and “one talent,” but we mustn’t forget that the “one talent” still represents a large sum of money (almost 20 years wages) that had been entrusted to him.

Why the disparity in the amount of the talents given?

• The master gave “each according to his ability.”
• The verse clearly teaches that though people do not have equal abilities, they can give equal effort!
• Whatever talent(s) we have been given (big or small), we need to invest it/them in the service of God.

It’s also clear in 25:15:

• Remember the ratio of five, two and one has nothing to do with the value placed on the person, but only recognizes that God knows who can handle different responsibilities.
• God never asks us to do things we’ve not been gifted and/or enabled to do.
• He will not underuse our abilities, either.

Principle #3: We have to use the things we’ve been given. (16)

• The man that received “five talents” went IMMEDIATELY and put the money to work.
• The man that received two talents apparently did the same thing. (25:17)
• Both of them were prepared to work and as a result doubled their master’s money.
• However, 25:18 indicates a totally different approach for the third servant.
• In contrast to the first two servants this “one talent” servant went and buried his blessing.
• Though it was not uncommon to bury valuables in that day, in this case it showed carelessness/wastefulness as a steward of his master’s money.

Truth to remember:

• It’s been said: “Our potential is God’s gift to us. What we do with it is our gift to Him.”

Some important details:

• The man who had “five talents” is NOT COMPARED to the man who had two or one talent.
• Nor is the man with “two talents” compared to the one with “five talents” or “one talent.”
• We are not in competition with each other when it comes to the stewardship of gifts/abilities/opportunities imparted to us.
• Stop comparing yourself to anyone else and what they can or cannot do.
• God only expects us to fulfil the mandate we each have received from Him with the resources He has given us.

Principle #4: A day of reckoning is coming for all God’s servants. (19)

• The duty of all stewards is to remember that the master will return and settle his accounts with his servants.

Truth to remember:

• If we think more about the return of the master it will help us focus more on utilizing what He’s given us effectively.
• Our future service in the Kingdom of God may well be affected by our earthly service here.

Principle #5: Our view of God affects our service for God. (20-25)

1. THE FIRST SERVANT: (20)

• His language is revealing. He says, “look, I have gained five more.” (25:20)
• The word “look” indicates “behold” or “stare.”
• He was eager and excited to show the master what he had done.
• He couldn’t wait for him to see his work because he had tried to please the master.

2. THE SECOND SERVANT: (22)

• He approached the master with the same anticipation and excitement.
• Both of the first two servants demonstrated responsibility and served their master well.
• The master repeats the exact same thing to both of them:

“Well done, good and faithful servant [Affirmation]; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things [Promotion]. Enter into the joy of your lord [Celebration].” (25:21, 23)

• Both of these servants were given even greater responsibilities to do for him because they proved themselves faithful.

3. THE THIRD SERVANT: (24)

• The first words out of his mouth are about himself: “I knew.” (25:24)
• The other two servants kept their focus on the master: “Lord, YOU delivered to me...” (25:20, 22)
• This reveals the misguided belief of the unfaithful servant.
• He saw the master as someone who was hard/harsh, instead of loving/gracious.
• He tried to place the blame on the master by making him out to be harsh and cruel.
• However, it’s quite clear from the rest of the story that he’s nothing of the kind.
• He even gives the first two servants a generous reward for their faithfulness and diligent effort.
• Far from being exploitative/ruthless, this man is generous/beneficent.

Notice the contrasts:

• The first two were determined to make a profit;
• The third was determined to not take a loss.

• The first two were willing to work and take risks;
• The third was lazy and wanted to play it safe.

• The first two wanted to advance the master’s cause;
• The third was only interested in his own cause.

• The first two viewed the money as an opportunity;
• The third saw it as a problem.

• The first two saw their opportunity as a blessing;
• The third saw it as a burden.

• The first two knew the master well;
• The third really didn’t know him at all.

Principle #6: If we don’t use what we have, we’ll lose it. (26)

• The master saw right through the excuses of the wasteful servant.
• Look at what he calls him: “You wicked, lazy servant...” (26)
• He deserved this rebuke because he represented poorly both his master and himself.
• Instead of owning his guilt, he acts like the master should have given him credit for being cautious.
• Because he did not use what he had been given, he lost it.

Regarding your talent that God has given you:

• Develop it, hone it, multiply it, and use it so that it will be productive for the Master’s cause.

Closing Thoughts:

• The focus of the parable is not on the master (God) and it does not teach us any new truths regarding His character.
• Neither is it primarily about judgment or even about people’s eternal destinies.
• The main focus of this parable is on the faithfulness of the two servants to use what they had been given.
• It is a reminder that one day we will be called into account as to how we have used our gifts from God.