Sal's Blog 3/24/2020
Wednesday Men’s Thought for the Week
Think about the talents people have…
We all have things that we are good at…talents… it seems like we are gifted with abilities and talents that we don’t know why we are good at…
Why do you think God has gifted some people with certain talents and others with other talents?
There are also talents and strengths that we have grown through diligence and determination and repetition and being faithful and God has grown those things in us…
Why do some talents require work and prayer and faithfulness?
Jesus talks about talents in this one parable…
Lets read from Matthew:
Matthew 25:14-30-Parable of the Talents-Jesus is preparing His followers for the day of His return by telling them stories
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
So a man going on a journey gives portions of his estate to three servants, who each make choices regarding what to do with the Master's money. They do so with the knowledge that they will someday give an account of their management…
After a long time the Master returns and the accounts are settled.
What is Jesus telling us right out of the box? We have an entrustment…
Everything we have is given to us by God…
So in this story each servant has a different amount entrusted to him “each according to his ability” everyone receives something, but not all the same amount…
Do we use that as an excuse to not do anything with what He has entrusted to us…
So each servant in the story presents the master with the results of their stewardship…they tell their own story first as the Master listens, but the Master has the final word…
The 1st servant demonstrates that he has managed his affairs well, the Master speaks…
This is the most surprising aspect of the story…the Master invites the faithful servant to share in the Master's happiness…
Sometimes our view of Jesus coming back is so centered on the Judgement that we overlook the joyful nature of His return for those who are prepared…
On His return, Jesus will look for those who He can invite into His joy…
There will be judgment but the Master's motivation is to share His happiness with all those who have longed for His coming…
The Master extends His invitation…”Come share in My happiness!”
~Pastor Sal Reyes
Think about the talents people have…
We all have things that we are good at…talents… it seems like we are gifted with abilities and talents that we don’t know why we are good at…
Why do you think God has gifted some people with certain talents and others with other talents?
There are also talents and strengths that we have grown through diligence and determination and repetition and being faithful and God has grown those things in us…
Why do some talents require work and prayer and faithfulness?
Jesus talks about talents in this one parable…
Lets read from Matthew:
Matthew 25:14-30-Parable of the Talents-Jesus is preparing His followers for the day of His return by telling them stories
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
So a man going on a journey gives portions of his estate to three servants, who each make choices regarding what to do with the Master's money. They do so with the knowledge that they will someday give an account of their management…
After a long time the Master returns and the accounts are settled.
- What does this parable teach us about living our lives today as we await His coming?
What is Jesus telling us right out of the box? We have an entrustment…
Everything we have is given to us by God…
- Do we see ourselves as stewards or owners?
- What is a steward?
So in this story each servant has a different amount entrusted to him “each according to his ability” everyone receives something, but not all the same amount…
- Do you ever look at a brother and say how come he has more than me?
- Is it wrong to look around at what God is doing through others?
Do we use that as an excuse to not do anything with what He has entrusted to us…
So each servant in the story presents the master with the results of their stewardship…they tell their own story first as the Master listens, but the Master has the final word…
The 1st servant demonstrates that he has managed his affairs well, the Master speaks…
This is the most surprising aspect of the story…the Master invites the faithful servant to share in the Master's happiness…
Sometimes our view of Jesus coming back is so centered on the Judgement that we overlook the joyful nature of His return for those who are prepared…
On His return, Jesus will look for those who He can invite into His joy…
There will be judgment but the Master's motivation is to share His happiness with all those who have longed for His coming…
- So is there a lesson for us from the third servant?
- How do you see the Masters's return?
- Our view of God will determine the choices we make. Do we see Christ as a “hard man” with unfair and unrealistic expectations of us?
The Master extends His invitation…”Come share in My happiness!”
~Pastor Sal Reyes
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