Trading Up
April 2, 2006 - Matthew 25:14-30
Open It
What are some typical images people have of God?
What are your five best traits or greatest attributes?
What would you do for God if you knew you could not fail at it?
Explore It
To what did Jesus liken the kingdom of God in this parable? (25:14)
What did the man in the parable give to his servants? (25:15)
What did the servant who received five talents do with his money? (25:16)
What kind of return on his investment did the servant with two talents get? (25:17)
What did the third servant do with the one talent his master gave him? (25:18)
How did the master react to the report of the first servant? (25:20-21)
What was the response to the report of the second servant? (25:22-23)
What excuse did the third servant give for not investing his talent? (25:24-25)
How did the master respond to the third servant's explanation? (25:26-27)
What orders did the master give about the third servant's one talent? (25:28-29)
What judgment was handed down to the "wicked, lazy" servant? (25:30)
Get It
With what talents or resources has God entrusted you?
What gifts or talents has God given your church?
Besides money or material possessions, what are some resources God has placed in our care?
What thoughts or attitudes cause us to be lazy in carrying out our Christian responsibilities?
What are the risks of investing our gifts for God's service?
What are the rewards of investing our gifts for God's service?
In what ways can you be a "good and faithful" servant?
Where are you able to invest your gifts?
What people can benefit most from the gifts and abilities you have?
What discourages you from investing your talents?
What encourages you to serve God with your talents?
How would you grade yourself in your Christian stewardship over the last year?
Apply It
What resource do you need to commit to Christ's use at this time in your life?
How can you invest your talents in serving God this week?
What reminder can you use to hold yourself accountable for the way you manage your God-given resources?
Notes
Matthew 25:15: The master divided the talents among his servants according to their abilities. No one received more or less than he could handle. If he failed in his assignment, his excuse could not be that he was overwhelmed. Failure could come only from laziness or hatred toward the master. The talents represent any kind of resource we possess. We have time, gifts, and other resources according to our abilities, and God expects us to invest them wisely until he returns. We are responsible to use well what we are and what we have acquired. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have.
Matthew 25:21: Jesus is coming back-we know this is true. Does this mean we must quit our jobs in order to serve God? No, it means we are to use our time, talents, and treasures diligently in order to serve God completely in whatever we do. For a few people, this may mean changing professions. For most of us, it means doing our daily work out of love for God.
Matthew 25:24-30: This last man was thinking only of himself. He hoped to play it safe and protect himself from his hard master, but he was judged for his self-centeredness. We must not make excuses to avoid doing what God calls us to do. We must obey God willingly. Our time, abilities, and money are developed according to our skills and abilities, and God asks each of us to share them with one another and those in need.
Matthew 25:29-30: This parable describes the consequences of two attitudes to Christ's return. There are two rewards that are handed out. The person who diligently prepares for it by investing his or her time and talent to serve God will be rewarded with more. The person who has no heart for the work of the kingdom will be rewarded with nothing. God rewards faithfulness. Those who bear no fruit for God's kingdom cannot expect to be treated the same as those who are faithful.