Topical · Week 5 of 6

The Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

Stewardship and risk

Main Point

God doesn't expect equal results — He expects faithful investment of whatever He's given you.

Application Ideas

What has God entrusted to you that you've been burying out of fear? Take a risk with it this week.

Discussion Questions

Why was the master angry with the one-talent servant? Is this parable about money, or something deeper?

Detailed Sermon Outline

Primary Text: Matthew 25:14-30

Supporting Texts: 1 Peter 4:10; Luke 12:48; Proverbs 12:27

Big Idea: God entrusts each believer with gifts and abilities, and faithfulness in using what we've been given is more important than the magnitude of our accomplishments.

Target Length: 35-40 minutes

Introduction

A master gives talents to his servants before going on a journey. One gets five talents. One gets two. One gets one. He's giving according to their abilities, his intention being to test their faithfulness.

When he returns, the first two servants have doubled what they were given. The third has buried his talent, afraid to risk losing it.

This parable is not primarily about money. It's about how you steward whatever God has entrusted to you — your gifts, your abilities, your resources, your time.

I. God Gives According to Ability (Matthew 25:14-18)

The master doesn't give each servant the same amount. He gives five talents, two talents, and one talent. Not to be unequal, but because he knows what each can handle.

This is important: God doesn't expect the same from everyone. He knows your capacity. He's given you what you can steward.
Comparison is the death of stewardship. The two-talent servant isn't resentful that he has fewer talents than the five-talent servant. He doubles what he has.

This breaks the perfectionism and comparison that paralyzes many of us. You're not called to do what others do. You're called to be faithful with what you've been given.

II. God Expects Faithfulness, Not Success (Matthew 25:19-23)

Both the five-talent and two-talent servants receive the same commendation: 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' The master isn't comparing results. He's affirming faithfulness.

The one-talent servant is criticized not because he has one talent, but because he buried it. He refused to take any risk with what was given to him.
Faithfulness means using what you have. It means taking risks. It means being willing to fail in service of God's kingdom.

You may not be gifted at public speaking, but you can speak truth in your circle. You may not have great wealth, but you can be generous with what you have. You may not be able to reach the world, but you can impact your neighborhood. Be faithful with that.

III. Fear and Faithlessness Go Together (Matthew 25:24-30)

The one-talent servant says, 'I was afraid, and I went out and hid your gold in the ground.' Fear kept him from acting. Fear made him faithless.

He wasn't lazy. He wasn't malicious. He was afraid. He was afraid of losing what he'd been given. So he didn't risk anything.
But this lack of risk-taking is actually a greater loss. He gained nothing and lost the Master's favor.

In your spiritual life, fear will paralyze you. Fear of failure, fear of what others think, fear of being wrong — these fears will cause you to bury your talents instead of using them.

Appeal

What has God entrusted to you? A job? A family? A skill? A voice? Don't bury it in fear. Use it. Risk it. Take it to the Master and say, 'I'm doing something with what you've given me.'

You're not responsible for success. You're responsible for faithfulness. Be faithful with what God has given you, and you'll hear those beautiful words: 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'