Discovery:
The parable of the talents is found in the middle of two teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 25: 1-13 we see the parable of the 10 virgins. This parable tells of 5 foolish and 5 wise virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom. The wise ones came prepared with oil for their lamps and thus were ready when the bridegroom came in the evening. The foolish ones were not prepared and thus had to go and buy oil and thus missed the arrival of the bridegroom. The moral of the story is that we need to be prepared for the coming of Jesus.
In Matthew 25:31-46, we see the story of the sheep and goats. This describes the return of the Son of Man in which he separates the sheep from the goats. The ones that are chosen and blessed are those who showed mercy and compassion to the "least of these brothers of mine." The ones who are separated and judged are those who didn't not serve the least, the last, and the lost as if it were Jesus Himself. These are led into eternal punishment. The moral of this story is that we will all need to give an account for our lives.
The parable the talents is perfectly placed between these two stories. If the parable of the virgins is about anticipating the return of Jesus and if the story of the sheep and goats is about the judgement of Jesus when He returns, then our story is about the "in-between" time. It is essentially a lesson of how we should live our lives.
Each of the servants were given wealth (talents) that the master wanted invested and multiplied. It is a story of biblical stewardship. In verse 15 it says that the servants were given talents "each according to his abilities." Our parable reminds us of a very simple yet powerful truth: everything is from God and we are merely stewards of God's wealth.
The sad part of this story is in regards to the one bad servant. While the other two invest and return the initial investment two fold, the bad servant doesn't do anything with it. He simple buries it and is content in not losing it. His remarks in vv. 24-25 tells us of his view of the master, "Master I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. so I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you."
My main point in my sermon was that bad theology leads to bad giving. If our view of God is small, tight-fisted, legalistic, and ultimately cold-hearted then our giving (as many other areas of discipleship) will be limited and shallow. But if we know that God is gracious, generous, extravagant, and flowing with love then our lives will reflect our theology.
Application:
My view of God has become too small.
My good friend Pauline Fong came and shared with us this past Thursday at our monthly Joint Soul Care about her ministry with InterVarsity and her new position as Regional Director of the Northwest region. As I was hearing her speak, I was fondly reflecting on my days as a campus staff worker with IV. I remembered how hard it was to fundraise and the internal turmoil that I experienced from it. I remember having to overcome my parent's objection to me being a "full-time beggar" and my own personal sense of failure and inadequacy in this area of trusting God. And yet, it was through fundraising that I truly experienced living by faith. When I first started, I didn't know if I could raise enough to be on staff for more than a year and yet God provided so that I could spend 5 of the best years of my life living, trusting, and serving Him.
The challenge for our family now is to continue to be stretched in terms of trusting God with our finances. I have to keep remembering the thrill that I received every time I would get my monthly statement from IV and see a new name on my donor list. One of the best donation was a gift of $5 from a elementary student at MVCCC. This little girl was just someone that I got to know when I came back and served at the church during the summers. To see someone who was so young take the time to give $5 to my ministry was so touching... in fact it was inspiring.
I realize that I am now on the giving end of the exchange with my fellow ministers of the gospel. I need to remember to think, pray, and support those who are on the front-lines of ministry and missions. I need to remember the call to be not only be a good steward of my money but to be a great steward of God's blessings to those who are actively serving the King. I still need to walk in faith in this new phase of my life. I still want to experience the thrill seeing God come through and save the day.
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 25:35
Prayer:
Remind me of the countless ways that you blessed me throughout my life. Help me be a great steward of the ability to bless my fellow brothers and sister through the share of Your wealth.
