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Use Your Talents PDF Print E-mail
Written by David Charlton   

Matthew 25:14-30
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"For it will be as when a man going on a journey 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 did not winnow; 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 sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 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 every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'

Summary and Function

Summary: None of our money or skills is really ours. It all belongs to God. The Lord has entrusted us with money and skills and expects us to use them to expand the Kingdom of Heaven. Once we take care of our family needs, we should use our money and skills to help others, support a ministry and pay tithes. Take a close look at your checking account. If most of your disposable income is going towards your wants and desires rather than helping others and expanding the kingdom of heaven, then you need to reconsider your priorities. God will bless you if you get your priorities straight. Invest your time, talents and money in the Kingdom of heaven and reap the eternal rewards.

Purpose: To encourage the congregation to use their time, talents and money to advance the Kingdom of Heaven throughout the earth.

The Sermon

I. Introduction: As an Army Platoon Leader, I was responsible for equipment worth
millions of dollars (2 electronic intelligence collecting systems, 2 5-ton trucks, 1
Humvee and various cryptographic devices)
1. When I took command, had to inventory and sign for each piece of equipment
2. Was accountable to my Company Commander for…
      • Taking care of the equipment
      • Using the equipment to accomplish the mission given to me by the Army
3. I did not own any of the equipment. The Army owned the equipment and trusted
me  to use the equipment to fulfill the Army’s purpose.

4. It’s just like the parable found in Matthew 25:14-30

II. The parable found in Matthew 25:14-30: A rich ruler is about to go on a long journey.
Before he departs, he calls forth three of his servants.
1. He entrusted each servant a certain amount of money and expected each servant to
use the money in a worthwhile way: To one he gives 5 talents, to another
2 talents and   another 1 talent (Just one talent is worth approximately 20 years worth
of wages)
      • Likewise, as a Platoon Leader I was entrusted with equipment worth millions of dollars and the U.S. Army expected me to use that equipment to serve the Army’s purposes
2. When the rich ruler returned, the servants had to give an accounting of how they used
the talents. The two servants who used the talents in a worthwhile way were rewarded.
The servant who did nothing with the talent was severely punished.
      • Likewise, as a Platoon Leader I was accountable to my Company Commander on how my platoon used the equipment to serve the Army’s purposes. I had to submit weekly and monthly reports detailing the type and amount of Intelligence Repots the systems produced. The Intelligence Reports were of sufficient quality and I was rewarded with glowing evaluation reports.

III. The main points to this parable and sermon

1. We do not own any of the money or skills we may possess
2. God has entrusted us with whatever money or skills we may have
3. God expects us to use our money and skills to further His Kingdom here on the earth.
We are to use our money and skills to 1) proclaim the gospel and 2) love, serve and
help others
4. We are accountable to God on how well we use our money and skills to further the
Kingdom of Heaven

IV. Our use of the skills God has entrusted us with

1. Using your skills to support your family is wonderful!! However, it should not be the only
way you use your skills.
      • If you sing or play an instrument, join the choir/praise team, visit nursing homes and children hospitals or sing hymns to your children. Perhaps give free lessons to underprivileged kids.
      • If you are good at building or repairing things, start repairing things around the church. Offer your talent to various charities or missions

2. There are infinite ways to use your skills to further the Kingdom of Heaven.

      • Make a list of all the skills you have
      • Perhaps take a Spiritual Gifts inventory to determine what spiritual gift the holy Spirit has given you
      • Pray about how you should use your skills to further God’s Kingdom
      • Decide how you will employ your skills
      • Try it out!
3. Sometimes we are given opportunities to try something new. You may want to try it out
to see if you have that skill/spiritual gift. You never know for sure until you try it out.

V. Our use of the money God has given us

1. John Wesley’s advice

      • Make all you can
      • Save all you can
      • SO YOU CAN GIVE ALL YOU CAN
2. Take care of your family needs and then use your disposable income to further the
kingdom of God (Tithing is one of the primary ways to further the Kingdom of God)
      • Must discern the difference between needs and wants.
- Daily cup of Starbuck’s white chocolate mocha is a want, if you buy a
white chocolate mocha on a regular basis but are not tithing, you need
to cut down on your white chocolate mochas and start tithing.
- The most expensive cable package is a want. If you have the most
expensive cable package but are not tithing, you need to reduce
your cable package and begin tithing.
      • Closely examine your checking account.
- Determine your needs and the amount of money you have after your
needs are met. This is your disposable income
- Determine how much of your disposable income is going towards
expanding the Kingdom of Heaven and how much is going towards
your wants. The majority should be going towards expanding the
Kingdom of Heaven (Tithing, supporting ministries, helping people in
need)

VI. If you use your money and skills to expand the Kingdom of Heaven, God will bless you!!!

1. Remember what the rich ruler did for the two who used their talents wisely. He gave
them more talents!
      • Likewise, as a Platoon Leader I was rewarded with good evaluation reports because my equipment was used effectively.
2. Luke 6: 38: “give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken
together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the
measure you get back."
3. The more you use your skills and money to further the Kingdom of Heaven, the more
God will bless you.
      • This doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to get rich.
- If you are tithing to get rich, your motive is wrong.
- God will, however, meet all your needs and he may bless you with more money
      • There are infinite ways God will bless you. Just be open to the various ways God will bless you.
VII. Conclusion: Make a commitment to use your money and skills to further God’s
Kingdom here on earth.
 
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