Series: What does it mean to put God first?
Sermon Recap
Matthew 25:14–30 reminds us that God has
entrusted each of us with resources, abilities, opportunities, and
responsibilities that are ultimately His. The servants were given different
amounts, but each was expected to faithfully manage what had been placed in his
hands. The faithful servants understood that what they received was not theirs
to simply preserve or consume; it was theirs to use for the purposes of their
master. The warning of the third servant shows that faithfulness is not merely
avoiding failure — it requires actively putting what God has given us to work.
And because the master eventually returned to settle accounts, Jesus reminds us
that our stewardship has eternal significance. We will not be held accountable
for having what someone else had, but we will give an account for what we did with
what God entrusted to us. The goal of stewardship is not to accumulate more,
but to faithfully invest what God has given us for His glory.
Matthew 25:14-30
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.’
The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Matthew
25:14-30.
Discussion Questions
- What has God entrusted to you that you sometimes view as simply “yours”?
- Why is it important that the servants were given different amounts?
- What does faithfulness look like when your assignment is different from someone else's?
- What does it mean to invest what God has given you?
- What keeps people from using the gifts and opportunities God has given them?
- Why should the reality of giving an account affect how we live today?
- What is one thing God has entrusted to you that you could use more intentionally for His kingdom?
- If Jesus returned today, what would you want Him to find you doing with what He has given you?
Closing Thoughts
Faithful stewardship means recognizing that
people are one of God's greatest assignments given to us. We are called to
invest in the people God has placed around us — not simply by meeting their
physical needs, but by helping them take steps toward Jesus. This may mean
slowing down to listen, walking with someone through a difficult season,
sharing what Christ has done in your life, or intentionally discipling someone
in the faith. Who is someone God has placed in your life that you can
intentionally invest in for the sake of the gospel?
END
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