4T’s - Talent to serve
Intro
Our world is fixated with talent. We have talent scouts, and talent shows, and there
America’s Got Talent
American Idol
X-Factor
Talent SHOWS
Primarily Singing – but also magic, dance and other things
Athletic Talent –
Musical Talent
Artistic Talent
One of the shows – American idol – ‘WE IDOLIZE TALENT’
Autograph of talented people, pictures with them
Review
Psalm 24:1 (CSB)
1 The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord;
God owns it all –
4T’s
Time (days/years/lifetime)
Treasure (money/possessions)
Talents (abilities/gifting)
Temple (body)
2 weeks ago – Treasure- tithing (biblical, not just OT, but NT as well, and test of our heart and trust in God); discipleship issue –
Invest in God’s priorities – instead of a 401(k) a 401(h) – investing in Heaven and the things that are important to God
Last week – Pastor Michael – Time – how are we investing our time? Investing in eternity?
This week – TALENTS!
Message
Matthew 25:14–15 (CSB)
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey.
Biblical talent is NOT an ability or skill, but a unit of weight (approximately 75 lbs)
1 talent = 6000 denarii or 20 years wages
Gold is $2647.10/oz (12 troy ounces (10% heavier) in pound) = $2,382,300/talent
Silver is $31.50/oz (12 troy ounces in a pound) = $28,350/talent
ORIGINALLY WORD ABOUT WEIGHT, but 16th and 17th century BECAUSE OF THE BIBLE, the word talent = weight of ability; skills weighted in a particular area
Running, artwork, singing, etc.
Matthew 25:15
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability.
NOT FAIR! – one with 5 talents = $12M!; 2 talents = $4.8M; 1 talent = $2.4M
ABOUT ABILITY – more ability more talents
Matthew 25:16-18
16Immediately the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
Rich get richer, not fair
Need equity not equality
Matthew 25:19-21
19 “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
5 + 5!
Well done good and faithful servant.
Faithful over a few, I will put you in charge of many things.
FEW??? - $12M ! – from God’s perspective $12M is chump change
Share your master’s joy. GOD DELIGHTS IN YOU USING YOUR GIFTS AND RESOURCES
Eric Liddell in the movie, Chariots of Fire says, “I believe God made me for a purpose - but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” –
NOTICE- it doesn’t say “when I win” -
When you are doing what God created you to do, HE beams!
When our kids do well, we are excited (sometimes more than they)
TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE, OR DO SOMETHING THEY WERE NOT CREATED TO DO.
Matthew 25:22-23
22 “The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
Matthew 25:24-25
24 “The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
Knew accountability was coming
Harsh – reap where haven’t sown?
Seems unreasonable?
WHY GOD ASK FOR MORE? He gives the gift with the expectation that we are going to do something with it.
FEAR! – Fear of losing
Our Fears?
Losing
Rejection
Failure
Doing it wrong
Matthew 25:26-27
26 “His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned.
OUCH!
God sees: Evil, lazy!
GENERATION OF MEN – in 30’s and 40’s spending hours each day gaming
44-54% of population game 8+ hours/week
27% Millennials (1 in 4) game 13+ hours/week
Live your life for something more- mission vision direction purpose
Invest for interest
Matthew 25:28-30
28 “ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
NOT FAIR AGAIN!
God has given each a gift talent or ability. Ultimately it’s His. He is going to harvest it.
Are you growing it and making more or burying?
Is it wrong to not use talents? Yes and no. Just because you are good at something doesn’t mean you should do it.
Good at stealing?
At deceiving?
At manipulating people?
World’s greatest hot dog eater? Need to practice and take time away from family? Prob better to invest in family.
ERIC LIDDELL – had his brief career as a runner, but as soon as he got his degree he went on the mission field.
“I WAS MADE FOR CHINA.”
My trumpet playing -
God used to teach discipline
It was for a season. (during that season I played in ensembles that played for many famous people (Pope John Paul II, Presidents: Gerald Ford, George Bush, and Donald Trump)
Just because a person is tall doesn’t mean they are supposed to play basketball.
2 reasons don’t surrender talents:
1. Fear
2. Greed (it’s mine, for me)
Not fair- not fair that Jesus suffered and died for you.
FINAL ILLUSTRATION BIBLE USES IS THAT OF A BODY
1 Corinthians 12:4–11 (ESV)
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
1 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV)
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:14–15 (ESV)
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
1 Corinthians 12:16-21
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
Ephesians 4:7–16 (CSB)
7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people. 9 But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
1 Peter 4:10–11 (NASB 2020)
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Each one HAS received a special gift – employ it in serving one another
1 Peter 4:10 (NASB 2020)
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.
YOUR GIFT IS MEANT TO SERVE THE BODY OF CHRIST (THE CHURCH)
He didn’t give it to you to show your talent and find your identity in that special thing you can do.
Don’t use your talent to show off, but to serve others.
Employ in serving
Good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. (manifold grace)
2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Because of God’s grace and gifts in our life, we should respond. Don’t respond out of guilt.
APPLICATION
What is your talent, ability or gifting?
Are you surrendering it to God and using it for His glory or yours?
What step of faith does God want you to take today?