"God's Goods"
Date: 25 September, 2016
Text: Matthew 25:14-30
Title: What Have You Done with God's Goods?
Theme: The accountability of every man to God for what He has given to them.
Proposition: You must be a good steward of God's grace.
Rhetorical: What Have You Done with God's Grace?
Introduction:
A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
Jesus told a earthly story about a sower, soil and seed to teach the earthly reality that the Gospel seed put out by God's servants is received into different kinds of hearts.
Jesus told a story about the harvest to encourage his men to plant God's Word expectantly.
Jesus told a story about treasure in a field - a man sold everything to purchase the field - to show the importance of giving up everything to get the most important thing (salvation).
Our parable this morning is about a Master who entrusts goods to His servants and goes on a long journey.
Jesus is teaching us that we must be good stewards of His goods.
My message this morning is entitled, "What Have You Done with God's Goods?
I. You have been given a measure of God's goods.
14 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
exp. Our story takes place between the Lord's ascension and his return. While on earth he tells this parable of our stewardship in his absence.
A. You have been given a stewardship by your master.
"Who called his own servants and delivered unto them...."
exp. As I study this passage, it seems to me that the servants represent all of mankind. Hell will be the judgment of the man who wasted what God has given to Him. If he was a servant (meaning saved) at the very least he is a counterfeit servant.
1. Think about what unbelievers have received from God.
a. They have been given life and everything that goes with it.
Ps 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
b. They have been given natural revelation.
Ro 1:20-21 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
c. They have been given His law in their hearts.
Romans 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
d. Most of them have been given specific revelation.
Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
app. You may not be saved from Hell this morning, but that does not mean that YOU ARE NOT INDEBTED TO GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS TO YOU.
2. Certainly believers have received from God.
a. Salvation and light.
Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
b. Gifts and abilities.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
app. The point is this - you have been given something from the MASTER.
B. You have been given goods according to your ability.
"to every man according to his several ability"
Exp. Not everyone is given as much of the Master's goods but everyone gets some of His goods.
ill. Father - don't let my son carry his own passport because he will lose it. I chose to have him carry it rather me being responsible for them. After all, they all had passport holders that went around their neck. The father was right. He knew that his son was not ready for that responsability (even though the son should have been up to that responsability.)
app. God the Father of mankind is not going to give His goods out to be wasted by those who receive them. You won't be given greater goods without showing greater responsability.
II. You have time in which to invest God's goods.
exp. What is taking place in our story is time and it is a lot of time.
"Traveling to a far country....straightway took His journey."
question: If we hooked up a CCTV camera to your classroom and recorded the class when the teacher is present and when the teacher is absent - would we see the same levels of diligence? Only a wise student will continue to put great effort out while the teacher is absent.
app. God is absent today - from this earth.But, he is coming back. He's not here now - what are you doing in His absence?
A. You can do business for the Master.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
exp. We aren't told about much about the trading that took place - but we can assume that it took work, concern and effort. It sounds simple but in reality there was a lot put into it.
ill. Leadership class at Bob Jones was in a hall that was directly opposite my dorm room. The class began promptly at 7:00. Light Bell in the dorm was at 6:55 and I used to enjoy counting how many people were running to class - because they didn't plan ahead.
app. Are you planning ahead spiritually? How are you using what He has given to you?
B. You can waste what the Master has given.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
exp. Burried treasure doesn't benefit anyone.
ill. A fisherman in the Philippines has kept what might be the largest natural pearl ever found hidden in his home for more than 10 years.
The enormous pearl is 30cm wide (1ft), 67cm long (2.2ft) and weighs 34kg (75lb). If it is confirmed to have formed within a giant clam, as has been reported, it would likely be valued in excess of US$100m.
exp. He had a treasure but kept it burried under his bed. If he hadn't discovered it's value it would have never benefited him and his community.
Psalm 19: 7 ¶ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
app. Have you God's treasure? - Don't waste it by burrying it - take it out and find it's wealth!
III. You will give an account of your use of God's goods.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
A. You will be called to a day of reckoning.
exp. After a long absence - the knock comes on the door and it is the day of reckoning. He doesn't let them know that he is coming - until he comes.
ill. Do you know your birth date? (Spirit and I have the same birthday.) Not to be too morbid this morning - but do you know your death date?
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
app. Are you ready for the judgment? It's coming. For some in Edinburgh, it will be today. Others tomorrow....the next day.... are you ready to stand before God?
B. You will answer for what YOU have been given to the One who gave it to you.
exp. They aren't examined by someone who is ignorant of the facts. He knows what he entrusted to each one of them.
ill. My S2/3 combined class was pretty bad. Our teacher had a difficult pregnancy and we ended up getting a substitute teacher. That was great to us because substitutes don't know what is going on and when she would ask we would tell her. We were able to change some rules by that (that isn't what you should do - but that is what we did.)
app. You can't change the rules with God. He gave them to you and you will answer to Him.
C. You will have to display your goods.
exp. Notice that they brought their talents to Him. (Even the unfaithful servant dug up that one talent and brought it before god.
ill. Did you ever have a report card (grades) to show to your parents and you didn't want to because you were embarrassed. (It is far better to have worked hard and gotten good marks.)
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
app. Are you ready to display your goods before God?
D. You will have to give a verbal account of your stewardship.
1. Wise stewards will openly respond.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
exp. How easily these 2 men speak up. Lord you gave me _________________ behold I've got double!
question: How long does it take for a man to tell his wife he got a raise? He is thrilled to tell her because he knows that she will rejoice with him!
1Jo 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
app. If we will get ready, Jesus will rejoice with us at his coming!
2. Foolish stewards will make excuse.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
exp. His response is very wordy. He doesn't have any work to show - he tries to make up for it with excuses.
ill. We had "show and tell" when we were kids - I remember bringing my xray which showed my three kidneys. It was show and tell - not just tell or kids would make things up.
app. If you find your service for Christ - heavy on the WORDS /not WORKS be warned. The Lord is not as interested in what we say as what we do.
IV. Your future happiness is dependent upon your use of God's goods.
question: Have you noticed that people live life as if there is no eternity?
"Oh well, as long as I am happy." "Well, I don't know (because I never read a Bible) but I'll just take what I get."
question: A man walking into a burning building saying the same thing would be committed to an asylum.
app. What you have done with what God has given you will determine your eternity! We aren't save by works - but the faith that saves is a faith that works!
A. If you have been faithful, you will be rewarded.
note: verse 21 and 23 are basically the same as the Lord responds to his faithful servants.
1. You will be commended.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
exp. Say what you want, we all like to be commended.
ill. There is a difference between someone in Loanhead saying, "He's a good man or she's a good woman" and the queens calling you by name and saying the same thing.
app. Jesus will speak up and commend those who are faithful in serving Him!
2. You will be commissioned.
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
exp. What you had before was servanthood. Now you get to be a ruler.
exp. I believe this is speaking about the coming Millineal reign of Christ.
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
app. It seems to me that those 1,000 years on earth when time still exists would give me ample time to rejoice that I was faithful with my stewardship of the Master's goods.
3. You will be relieved.
enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
exp. Jesus knows the joy of His kingdom and so will we.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
app. What will it be like someday when faith becomes sight and we understand why it was so important for us to obey God?
B. If you have been unfaithful, you will be punished.
1. You will be judged by your own mouth.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Exp. You say that you fear me - but by works you deny that. I will put the fear of God into you - at the very least you should have put my goods in the bank .
note: I wonder if the Lord is speaking about the bank of the heart. At the very least this person would then have been saved.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
app. Do you at least have salvation? Don't you fear God?
2. You will lose everything you thought you had.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
exp. He wasted what was given to Him and would not get to keep it.
ill. Touring the Hyundai plant in Montgomery Alabama when it was just a couple years old. We couldn't tour where they painted. To get in there you completely changed your clothes, put on gloves/ hat/ covered your shoes - no defilement could enter that place.
exp. WE KNOW THAT SIN CAN NOT ENTER INTO HEAVE BUT did you not know that none of God's goods will enter into Hell. No grace will accidentally enter into that place.
app. Hell is a graceless place and those who waste God's grace in life WILL NOT HAVE ANY IN ETERNITY.
3. You will suffer the wrath of the Master.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
exp. I read a commentary where the man said that he believed outer darkness was not hell but just the sadness of not being rewarded by Jesus. He did not explain the "weeping and gnashing of teeth."
ill. Cambry grinds her teeth at night. I've heard from the girls this week how awful it is to listen to someone grind their teeth. She does so in her sleep but THESE WILL DO SO WHILE THEY ARE AWAKE BECAUSE OF THE INTENSE PAIN OF HELL.
app. Be warned friend. You waste God's grace in life - you will regret it in the fires of Hell for all of eternity.
Conclusion:
1.) What has God given to you and what have you done with it?
2.) How are you using the time God has given to you? The clock is ticking....one less day than yesterday.
3.) Are you ready to give an account? show and tell
4.) Your future happiness is dependant upon it? Heaven or Hell?
