Talents

Lesson prepared by Richard Chambers

In Matthew Chapter 20, I want to look at verse 28.  You know, what is happening in the context is Jesus has been asked who might be able to set at his right hand in his kingdom.  If you go back to verse 20,

"(20) Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him and desiring a certain thing of him."

And that was the topic at hand.  Is it possible that my two sons could sit at your right hand in the kingdom?  Well, notice, if you go over to verse 24,

"(24) And when the ten heard it" — the other ten apostles — "they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

"(25) But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

"(26) But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister."

And that word 'minister' carries with it the definition and the meaning of 'servant.'  And whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant.

Verse 28 — and this is the verse I want to focus on.

"(28) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Here, Jesus uses himself as the example, the proper and perfect example.  Because Jesus didn't come to be ministered unto.  He didn't come to be served.  But Jesus came, instead, to minister to or to serve.

Think about that, if you would, for a moment.  Jesus, the very Son of God, our Creator, left his home in heaven, came to this earth, put on the form of mankind and took on the form of a... servant.  Humbled himself.  The very Son of God didn't come to be served.  But instead, he came to serve.

Back to the scripture reading from a few minutes ago this morning, over in Philippians Chapter 2, and I'd like to read a few of those verse again: Philippians 2:5.

"(5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

"(6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God."

And of course, the gospel of John opens up with Jesus referred to as the Word, being there in the beginning, from the beginning, an eternal being, part of God.  Not a thing was made except through him.  And here he was, there in heaven, he thought it not robbery to be equal with God.  Of course, it was not. (Philippians 2:7)

"(7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men."

And he was the servant of servants... because verse 8 tells us,

"(8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

And why was it that Jesus went to that cross?  It was to serve us, to give us the opportunity for God's grace and God's mercy, to give us the opportunity for forgiveness that we must have in order to have the hope of a home in heaven, 'cause we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

Let's think about this.  With Jesus as our example — and let's think exactly in those terms — that this is an example, an example that we are to follow, in the concept that we are to be servants.  Notice that in verse 5.

"(5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

Let this mind be in you.  But how much do we really work on this?  See, I'm afraid that when it comes to the church, that there are some — or perhaps there are many —who want to know how they can be served by the church, rather than focusing on how they should serve the church.

Think about that for just a moment.  There's a big difference in that.  Instead of focusing on how we can be served by the church, we should focus on how we should be serving the church.  Following the example of Jesus.  Not with the idea of how can others serve me, what can others do to benefit me, what can others do for me.  No, no, no.  That's not the attitude and the focus we should have.  The focus we should have is what can I do to serve others, what can I do to help others.  How can I serve a purpose?

As we've been studying the last couple of Sunday evenings on the topic of joy and I mentioned that back in Danny's class, in the back, there's a poster on the wall that says, "Joy, Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last." That's what we've been talking about these past couple of Sundays, and that fits in with the lesson this morning.

But I've heard of those, and I've seen those, who put very little into church... and don't understand why they don't seem to get very much out of church.  It's important that we put forth an effort:  into church, into the work of the church, into worshiping our God in spirit and in truth, into the labor of the church, the preaching of the gospel.  Because if we do not put an effort in, I do not think it's fair to expect to get anything back (phonetic).  Because we are to serve, not to focus on being served.

But sometimes, I'm afraid that people focus so much on what others are doing toward them — now, don't get me wrong.  I don't want to give a misunderstanding.  We have duties and responsibilities to one another.  And that is the whole purpose of this, that we should serve one another.  And so, yes, there are times when we are the recipients of good tidings.  As a matter of fact, the bulletin board back here, we put up those examples that were turned in about how people experience or saw the phrase that we have back here, "Be ye kind, one to another."  Yes, we are to be kind to one another, so yes, we are recipients.  It's not wrong to receive good from others.  I'm not saying that.  But that should not be our focus, in receiving, but in giving, serving others.  But again, I'm afraid some get so focused on the treatment from others instead of the treatment to others, that we easily become discouraged, because we set our expectations high.  And with that, in focusing on being served, we can easily become frustrated, discouraged.  We need to be careful of that.  Let this mind be in you....  Focus on that.  Let's think about that and see how we can do that.  "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

If we would sincerely work on this, I believe that this is one of the topics that would make a big contribution to the health of the church and the strength of the church, as a whole, in this congregation and in other congregations, if we would focus on service.  First and foremost, service to God, but then also to our brothers and sisters in Christ and those outside of the church, to try to influence them and to encourage them to become a part of the church.

If you'll turn to Matthew Chapter 25, I'm going to read several verses if you'll bear with me, please.  Matthew Chapter 25.  Here we have the parable of the talents, as it is referred to usually.  I want to begin in verse 14. (Matthew 25:14)  And again, I'm going to read several verses here.

"(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 give talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

"(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.

"(18) But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

"(19) After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

"(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."

So he had doubled the talents.

"(21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

"(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."

He also had doubled what he'd been given.

"(23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

"(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."

So he said, I'm giving you back what you gave me; I didn't lose it.  But the problem was, he didn't do anything with it.  Notice the reaction: verse 26.

"(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."

That word 'usury' — 'interest.'  He could have at least received some interest with it.

"(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."

Notice this, in verse 30.

"(30) And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

So here we have this parable, and we see the various ways in which the people, who had received these talents, used these talents, and we see the reaction of the master in accordance.  Let's back up all the way to verse 15 for just a moment.  Notice it says,

"(15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one...."

But why give different amounts to these different people?  Well, we're told, to every man according to his several ability.  See, these men had different abilities; therefore, they were given these talents accordingly.  That word 'several' means, literally, 'one's own.'  According to one's own abilities.  So they were expected to do what?  To use those abilities.  To use those talents.

And when we think about this parable, let's think of the word 'talent' as we use the word today, not as a measure of money, but an ability.  Could we say 'a gift' that we have?  Because we need to make sure, in the church, that we're using our talents, with the idea of how can I serve the church, of which Jesus is the head, for which he gave his life on that cross to establish that kingdom that we have the privilege to be a part of.  And we need to remind ourselves and remember, it is, indeed, a privilege to be a part of the church; and therefore, how can we serve the church of which we have the privilege of being a part of?

We need to use our talents.  We need to use our abilities.  We do that outside of the church.  We use our abilities in the work force to get positions that we hope to have.  We use our abilities in school to get the grades that we hope to have.  We use our abilities in a variety of ways outside the church, but are we using them within the church, the place of the most importance?

In Ephesians Chapter 4, we receive some information here regarding the spiritual gifts, miraculous abilities that existed in the early church.  As a matter of fact, that's going to be the topic of the sermon this evening, and Lord willing, part two of that sermon will take place next Sunday evening.  But in Ephesians Chapter 4 and verse 11, Paul talks about the variety of these gifts.

"(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

"(12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

"(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

Here there was a variety of gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.  Different people being used in a variety of ways, of which they were to use those talents and abilities that they had for the perfecting of the church, the edifying of the church.  That word 'edifying' carries with it — the Greek word that is used — 'the act of building.'  According to Vine's Dictionary, it says, "In the New Testament, it is used for the 'promotion of spiritual growth.'"  And that is exactly the case of it.  These spiritual gifts and the different talents and abilities that were given in a variety of ways were to be used together with the attitude of how can I serve the church?  What was the purpose of this?  For the edifying of the body, the strengthening, the building up of the body.

Notice that, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith."  These things were to be used together.  That means we all need to have our input, we all need to be a part of this.  We need to have unity with each other in the efforts that we put forth in the church to benefit the whole.  So when it comes to church, we're not to say how can others serve me, but how can I do my part to use the abilities that I have to help the church, to serve the church, for the strength of the church, the growing of the church, the edifying of the church.

In I Corinthians Chapter 12, similar passage with the same thoughts. (I Corinthians 12:4)

"(4) Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."

So it was through the same spirit that these gifts were given, but there was a variety of gifts given for the benefit of the whole.  Notice in verse 5.

"(5) And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord."

That's talking about what we were just looking at in Ephesians 4.

"(6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

"(7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

"(8) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

"(9) To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

"(10) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:"

But notice, in verse 11,

"(11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally" — again, here is our same word that we saw back in the parable: severally — "as he will."

They are to be used together for the benefit of the whole.  Notice in verse 12,

"(12) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are on body: so also is Christ."

And Ephesians 1:22 through 23 tells us that Jesus is the head of the body, and of course 'the body' being the church.  But think about this.  Here we have a comparison — we see this is several places in the scriptures — that the efforts of those within the church were compared to that of a body.  Now, the church is the spiritual body of Christ, but we have a comparison here to the physical body, our physical body.  Can you imagine what it would be like if your hand decided sometime, "You know what, I'm tired of doing everything, putting forth an effort to help this arm and this shoulder and the rest of this body.  It's time they do something for me"?  And just sit there?  And do nothing?  Can you imagine what it would be like to do that, if all of a sudden your hand just quit working?  What about your leg?  Or your foot?  Or your eye?

See, we need all the parts of our body working together for the benefit of the body as a whole.  Guess what, when the body as a whole benefits, well, so does the hand and so does the leg and do the eyes.  That's the case within the church, the spiritual body.  When we all work together and we do our part and we use our abilities and our talents together, with the attitude that Christ had, how can I serve others... guess what, we benefit too.

But we're not to do it out of selfishness so that we can benefit.  We're to do it out of love, one for another.  Love thy neighbor as thyself.  We're to do it so that others can benefit around us.  And if others are benefiting around us within the church, we, as part of that church and part of that same body, are going to benefit as well.

But you know, in Corinth , there were some problems regarding spiritual gifts.  We see that in I Corinthians Chapter 14.  It seems that what was happening here in Corinth — and we see parts of this also in I Corinthians 12 — as a matter of fact, let's back up to I Corinthians 12, in verse 16 — actually, let's back up to verse 14.

"(14) For the body is not one member, but many.

"(15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?"

That's the example I gave earlier.

"(16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

"(17) If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?  If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?"

So if we all did the same things, that would not be beneficial, because we all need to use a variety of gifts and efforts and talents for the benefit of the whole.  But notice this in verse 18.  I think this is extremely important.

"(18) But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him."

That's where it all gets down to the real purpose of all of this: not to please ourselves, not to please those around us, but to please God.  That's what we are to do.  To present our bodies a living sacrifice, to serve God in the things that we do.  We are here this morning to worship Him in spirit and in truth, but service to God is seven days a week... or it should be.

Here in Corinth , it seemed that they were trying to exalt themselves with their spiritual gifts and say, "You know what, my spiritual gift is better than yours.  Mine's more important that yours.  Mine does more good than yours."  And we see that in I Corinthians 12; we see that in I Corinthians Chapter 14.  And all that was doing was causing contention, causing discouragement, causing frustration and causing confusion.

I Corinthians 14:33

"(33) For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."

In order to have that proper peace, the edification within the church, we need to focus on having that same mind that was in Christ and look to the church.  Instead of asking what can others do to serve me, what can the church do to serve me, we need to look toward the church and say, what can I do to serve the church.  That's only going to happen if we put forth an effort to use whatever talents and abilities that we have — and there's a large variety — but to use our talents.  Regardless of what that talent is, to use it, to put it to work for the purpose of pleasing God, for the edifying of the church, the strengthening of the whole.

Now let's go back to Matthew 25, the parable of the talents. (Matthew 25)  Once again, let's look at and see verse 16.

"(16) Then he that had received the five talents went and traded" — see, he took some action: he 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."

He took action.  Notice what happened to him (phonetic) in verse 20.

"(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.

"(21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant...."

What a wonderful statement to hear, well done, thou good and faithful servant, and to realize that that can represent what we hear from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ upon the day of judgment: "Well, done, thou good and faithful servant."  The only way that we're going to hear that is through obedience to God's word, an effort to serve the church by using our talents and abilities in the ways that we can.  Because notice the opposite here.

"(18) But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money."

Think about this for just a moment.  He didn't do anything with that talent.  Instead, he hid it, he buried it.

Now, when this topic comes up, there are always people that say, "But I just don't feel that I have any abilities.  I just don't feel that I have any talents."  Yes, you do.  I promise you, yes, you do.  See, the problem is, a lot of times, we do as this person with the one talent, we bury it.  We all have talents and abilities.  They vary in a wide spectrum of ways, but let's not bury those talents and abilities within us.  Let's not knock ourselves down and say, "I'm not any good. I can't do anything. I don't know enough.  I can't help."  Yes, you can.  I promise, you can.  God promises you can.  But don't bury the ability, don't bury the talent.  Put them to use.  Does that mean we'll never make any mistakes, always be perfect?  Absolutely not.  But the fact is, we'll be trying to do what we can.  And together with the edification of the body, the support and encouragement of fellow Christians, we can use our abilities to help one another.  So don't bury the talents and the abilities, please.

But notice, when he did bury that talent, notice what happened.

"(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...."

A lot of us are afraid to use our abilities and our talents, because we're afraid we're going to embarrass ourselves, afraid we're going to make a mistake.  We need to use our talents.  Yes, if we make mistakes, let's learn from them and go on... and be strengthened as a result.

We, as fellow Christians, need to help, to uplift those around us, to encourage those around us.  If there's a mistake that is made, help them to correct it and go on.  Don't know them down; help to lift them back up.

"(25) And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine."

He says, See, I've still got it. But notice the response.

"(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."

Notice this.  I think this is a very important point that we miss in this parable many times.  The man with the five talents doubled those five talents.  The man with the two talents doubled those two talents.  Notice here, Jesus doesn't say, You with one talent, you should have doubled it also.  That's not what he says.  Because He realizes that people have different abilities, different talents.  And Jesus wasn't expecting this person here to double that talent, but to simply do what they could and at least gain some interest.

And I guarantee you, from working in banking, and you all know, that if you're drawing any percentage on CDs or anything, that interest doesn't double your principle.  It takes an awful long time.  So the master wasn't asking for much.  Just a little bit of interest.

Oh, but there's another key (phonetic).  We need to have interest in the church.  We need to put our interest into the church.  Again, have this mind of Christ, how can I serve others?; most importantly, how can I serve the church?  Because that's what we need to do.  And I guarantee you, if you serve the church and put forth and effort and use your talents and abilities, you will be served by the church also, because you will be encouraged and instructed, strengthened.  We are to grow as Christians so we can be strong and so we do not fall away, so that we can go to that judgment with confidence, knowing that we are a child of God and we have a home in heaven.

Notice this person who did nothing, who hid the talent because of fear, who took no interest, gained no interest, notice in verse 30,

"(30) And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Whether our talent is teaching, whether our talent in song leading, whether our talent in preaching, doing devotionals, whether we have some artistic abilities that we can use for Bible class things, for bulletin boards, for bulletins, special events, youth days, whatever it may be, whether our talent is being a good listener, maybe even counselor — you know there are some please that can listen to a person and just know the right things to say to encourage them and help them.  I respect those people very much.  They serve a wonderful role... if they'll serve in that role.  Maybe it's baking.  Maybe it's cooking.  Maybe you can bake some things and take them by a person's house, give them a word of encouragement.  Maybe it's taking a meal to someone who is struggling with health or can't get out of the house.  Maybe it's just sending a card.  There are some people who have the ability to write just the right words in a card.  I never have been able to do that.  I respect those who can.  And I could go on and on and on and on with the different types of talents and abilities that we may have that we can use with the attitude of How can I serve the church with this ability?  We all, every one of us, have ability.  Let's use it.

One more time, Philippians Chapter 2 verse 5.

"(5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

"(6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

"(7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

"(8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

He did that for me.  And He did that for you.  Because we all have sinned, and we must have forgiveness to have the hope of eternal salvation.  But Jesus serves as a sacrifice for those sins.  If we'll respond to the word of God, be obedient to it, we'll find a place within the church and be privileged to have that place in the church.  And therefore, we should strive to do what is right, to continue to grow and learn and do, according to God's word.  And if we do that, we're going to be serving a role within the church, doing what we can.

But the importance is that, first and foremost, we are in that church, the body of Jesus Christ.  In order for that to take place, we must obey the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We must believe in Him as the Son of God. (John 3:16).  We must have the willingness to confess that belief.  (Matthew 10:32)  We must repent of our sins.  That was the message that Jesus went out preaching. (Matthew 4:17)  We must be baptized for the remission of sins, the reason that Jesus shed His blood upon that cross.  Acts 2:38 , "...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...."  And we are to serve God in heaven by living according to His word.  "If [you] love me, keep my commandments," Jesus said in John 14:15.  I John 5:3 says the love of God is that we keep His commandments and they are not grievous.  Are you keeping His commandments?  If you've strayed away from obedience to God, you can come back to Him, repenting of your sins, confessing those sins, asking for His forgiveness.  I John 1:7-9 tells us, promises us, that He will forgive us our sins.  Are you in the church?  Are you serving God through the church?  If not, you can change that, and we encourage you to do so, by coming forward as we stand and sing.