14 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them. 15 To one he gave five talents [$7,000,582.85], to another two [$2,800,233.14], and to another one [$1,400,116.57] to every man according to his ability. And immediately he took his journey. 16 He who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. 17 So also, he who had received two gained another two. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 He who had received five talents came and brought the other five talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted to me five talents. Look, I have gained five talents more.’
21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master.’
22 “He who had received two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow. 25 So I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’
26 “His master answered, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not winnowed. 27 Then you ought to have given my money to 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 ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And throw the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:14-30, MEV)
God expects us to be investors.
We must invest in building up others.
33 Sell the things you have and give that money
to those who need it. This is the only way you can keep your riches from being
lost. You will be storing treasure in heaven that lasts forever. Thieves can’t
steal that treasure, and moths can’t destroy it. 34 Your heart will be where your treasure is. (Luke 12:33-34, ERV)
We must invest in building up ourselves.
No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds
and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of
his body. (Ephesians 5:29, MSG)
We must invest in building up the church.
“After a long time
their master returned from his trip and called them to him to account for his
money. (Matthew 25:19, TLB)
God expects a return.
44 “God’s
kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field. One day a man found the treasure.
He hid it again and was so happy that he went and sold everything he owned and
bought the field.
45 “Also, God’s kingdom is like a merchant
looking for fine pearls. 46 One day he found a very
fine pearl. He went and sold everything he had to buy it. (Matthew 13:44-46, ERV)
As
servants of Christ, we are called to be productive.
Learn some lessons from
this crooked but clever asset manager.
Realize that the purpose of money is to strengthen friendships, to provide
opportunities for being generous and kind. Eventually money will be useless to
you—but if you use it generously to serve others, you will be welcomed joyfully
into your eternal destination. (Luke 16:9, VOICE)
“We are inviting you to invest yourself
through the resources that God has given you - your energy, your prayers and
your money - in this work to which God has called us.” (Henri) [i]
[i] Inspired by the sermon “Investing God’s Money:
Managing God’s Money” (installment four, part one)
Sunday January 26, 2020, Josh Boyer (Interim Pastor, CenterPoint Lewis Center, Lewis
Center, OH), CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH.
Pastor Dave
is on a mission’s trip to our international campus (5th) in Nagpur,
India this Sunday.
Additional source used: “Talent (weight)” From Wikipedia
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