“Why am I here?” Have you ever asked yourself that question?
“What am I supposed to be doing?”
“How am I supposed to serve God?”
“Am I pleasing God?”
I have a Master’s degree in education. When I graduated from college, I was certified to teach biology and middle school science. I enjoy teaching. I think if I had stayed on that path, I would have enjoyed being a biology teacher. Does God want me to be a preacher? If I had stayed on the path to be a teacher, would I have sinned against God because I did not become a preacher? Those are questions that we (I) don’t really have an answer for. “What am I supposed to be doing?” We all might have asked ourselves that question at some point. The Bible, of course, does not answer that question for each individual Christian. It seems to me that if we go down a path that utilizes the talents, skills, abilities, and education we have, then we can serve God faithfully in that respective area.
The key to pleasing God – what am I on earth for – is to be good stewards of whatever it is that God has placed in our hands. That is the message of the parable we will study today from Matthew 25: “My place in eternity.”
GOD GIVES “ACCORDING TO ABILITY” – 25:14-18:
You and I have talents with which we were born. Are we using those talents in service to God in His church? If not, why not?
You and I have some form of education which has enhanced our natural talents. Are we using our education in service to God in His church?
You and I have years of experience which has deepened and broadened our natural talents and education. Are we using our experience in service to God in His church?
AND IS PLEASED WITH GOOD STEWARDSHIP – 25:19-23:
“Good” stewardship is defined as being “faithful.” As a reward, the master would put each one over “many things” and they were invited into the “joy of their master.”
BUT ABHORS POOR STEWARDSHIP – 25:24-30:
The longer section of this parable (25:24-30) deals with the one-talent man, who was given according to his ability. Poor stewardship is described as being “wicked” and “lazy.”
The master takes the one talent from him, giving it to the one with the ten, stating a general principle in verse 29 (the point of the parable) that rewards will be distributed, to some degree, based on one’s willingness to use what he is entrusted with.
While Christians wait for Jesus’ return, they are to be busy staying faithful and producing fruit (cf. John 15). The fruit will be illustrated in the judgment scene which follows (25:31-46). Finally (ver. 30), the master commands other slaves to cast that “worthless” slave into the outer darkness, a picture of hell, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus had stated verse 29 substantially the same in 13:12. The Scriptures teach that God gives, and expects out of us, proportionate to our ability: Romans 12:3, 6; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; 12:4-7; Eph. 4:7-8; 1 Peter 4:10. God does not tolerate laziness in anyone: Prov. 6:6-9.
Stewardship (1 Cor. 4:1-2) involves:
- a) a master (spiritually speaking, Christ),
- b) a steward (humans),
- c) something entrusted (our lives, our energy, our money, our hearts),
- d) and a reckoning (the final judgment).
Heaven awaits those who are faithful stewards. Let’s use our talents and resources wisely for God’s kingdom.
Paul Holland
