Faithfulness: The Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30 If its appropriate as we approach the New Year to reflect on temporal things in order to make resolutions for the year to come. How much more appropriate is it as we approach the Age Come to reflect on spiritual things in order to make resolutions for eternity? This parable makes the important point that: Jesus will evaluate us and reward us based upon our faithfulness to invest all he entrusted to us to the increase of his glory. After a long time, The Master returned to settle accounts Notice each servant came forward. There is a judgment coming for each one. It is certain. It will happen You will step forward. You will have a day of reckoning A day of holy accounting This is sobering and encouraging. Sobering. We don t want to stand before him with nothing / little gained! We want to live like George Whitefield, who on his birthday wrote "I am now thirty-four years of age; and, alas! how little have I done and suffered for my dear Lord Jesus, who has done and suffered so much for me!" "O that I could do something to promote the Glory of God! Alas! Alas! how little I have done! My sluggish soul, stir up, and exert thyself for Jesus!" George Whitefield
(1) Here is the script for projecting the images (from my manuscript) How we wish the parable would end here but it doesn t. It ends with tragedy. The Sorrowful Judgment of the Lazy Wicked Servant This is the classic picture of someone who is not ready. Notice the insight of the Reformation Era wood cut artist SLIDE 1 (Entire Image) Look closely at the master seated on his throne His treasure store at his feet Look closely at the two faithful servants Look closely at the unfaithful servant
SLIDE 2 (The Master) If we zoom in on the aster, we see values and guards what the servant brought. SLIDE 3 (Showing the Two Servants and the Master) If we zoom back out to the two servants The servants expressions and body language are full of love We see the First servant has one hand over his heart His other hand is toward the Master as he gives the gold and silver. His Eyes are on the master and master s eyes are on him Notice the second disciple is about to present his gain to the Master His hat is off as a sign of respect His hand is about to present the Master s treasure. He is moving toward the Master Notice his eyes are not upon his brother or his brother s gain His eyes, are on the Master Both disciples have their eyes on him, not each other
This disciple is depicted as muscular, strong, from work Notice his feet are shod readiness to preach the gospel. Notice they are both inside the house. Notice they are both Ready. Now the TRAGIC contrast SLIDE 4 (The unfaithful servant) Notice the unfaithful servant is outside the house He s totally unprepared He s rushing to dig out the Master s treasure He s not ready. He has gained nothing for Christ Notice the unfaithful servant is not spiritually fit He hasn t exercised his gifts Notice one hand is ON the earth and one hand is IN the earth Notice His Eyes are on the treasure in the earth. His whole orientation is upon the earth not the master. He gave his life to the earth. And he has nothing gained. Of course, feet are not shod he is barefoot. No concern to spread the gospel. SLIDE 4 FADES OUT (The unfaithful servant) What will happen to him when he comes before his Master? Here s it is Master! its all here. I saved it for you. I hid it, safe, for you.
But you have done nothing with the weight of graces I gave you You saved your life for me? Didn t I tell you that if you save your life you will lose it And if you lose your life if you give away your life If you risk it, invest it, for my sake you will find it? No. You refused to risk your comfort for my glory. You have lived for yourself You suppressed the knowledge I gave you You ignored my command Slide 4 REAPPERARS You buried you life deep in the earth deep in Adam Deep in that which is earthly and under a curse Deep in the dust of death Deep in a grave You had no enduring love for me or desire for the increase of my glory You have been unfaithful (Slide 4 fades out) Of course, His retort is a false accusation showing his hostility I knew you to be a hard man The Master had been extremely generous
He was not a hard or unjust man reaping where he did not sow. If you knew I was a hard man ought you not have served me from fear if not from love? No you were not afraid of me at all. If you were, you would have invested at the minimum. You were Unfaithful, NOT because you were saving your life for me NOT because you feared my severity But Because You are wicked. The picture we have in this parable in this woodcut SLIDE 1 WHOLE IMAGE AGAIN is not just a picture of what these men did but who these men ARE. That s why Jesus says to two of them, You ARE Faithful And he says to this one YOU ARE WICKED. Bill I don t want to be like that WICKED SERVANT! I don t want to bury my life in dirt I don t want to live with eyes, hands, knees, and feet in the earth. I don t want to face the Master with nothing to show. I don t want to be slothful, worthless, unfaithful I don t want to be cast away to outer darkness I want to be ready!