What are we to be doing while Christ is away – while we wait for His return?
------------
- Matthew 24: Signs of the end of the age and no one knows the day of Jesus' return.
- Matthew 25: The day is coming when He will return as Judge of all mankind.
- Matthew 26: Passion narrative - last supper, betrayal, and arrest in Gethsemane.

Three parables purposely braided together give a complete understanding of how to be faithful as we await the return of Christ:
------------
- Parable of the servants commends the virtue of expectantly watching for Christ’s return.
- Parable of the virgins is a lesson about being prepared and patiently waiting for Him.
- Parable of the talents is a reminder that we must be diligently working while we look for Him.

When Christ returns, he will not ask if one had the date right but ‘What have you been doing?'

(14) For it will be like a man going on a journey.
--------------
First mistake we can make while we wait is to think what we have is ours – think on loan not own.

(15a) To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one.
------------
Just as the word “talent” has taken on more generalized meaning in English, so also must our application. This is, after all, still a metaphorical narrative, not (merely) a lesson in economics. The purpose is not just to address money. Jesus is using familiar imagery to symbolize spiritual truth. Everything God grants us he commands us to steward well.

(15b) to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
------------
- Not everyone is given the same responsibility, because not all have been given the same level of ability.
- Second mistake we can make while we wait is to compare our unique calling to others.
- God gives different abilities and God assigns different responsibilities – don’t compare, steward.

(16) He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. (17) So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
------------
“At once” stresses the vigor with which the faithful servants undertook the responsibility that had been given them. Not knowing how much time they would have, they quickly set to work.

(18) But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. (19) Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
------------
- There will come a time of judgement.
- If the kingdom is about anything, it is about accountability to the will of the Father.

(20) And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ (21) His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' (22) And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more. (23) His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
------------
- The five talent and two talent servants received the same reward.
- Third mistake we can makewhile we wait is to be overly concerned with the return.
- It’s not a test of return, it’s a test of faithfulness.

Excuses Made:
------------
(24) He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, (25) so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ (26) But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? (27) Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

- Hiding resources in the ground is as senseless and useless as hiding one’s lamp under a basket.
- Forth mistake we can make while we wait is to focus on us and not on others.

“Our nature, by the corruption of the first sin, being so deeply curved in on itself that it not only bends the best gifts of God towards itself and enjoys them, or rather even uses God himself in order to attain these gifts, but it also fails to realize that it so wickedly, curvedly, and viciously seeks all things, even God, for its own sake."
- Martin Luther

Judgement Pronounced:
------------
- Wicked: because of his unjustified slander
- Lazy: shrinking or hesitating (as opposed to "at once"), this was real reason for zero-growth performance.

Responsibility Removed:
-------------
(28) So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. (29) For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

- Trust was squandered, the assignment was removed and the responsibility reassigned.
- Fifth mistake we can make while we wait is not fulfilling obligations to share the gospel and grow the Kingdom.

Experience Consequences:
------------
(30) And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Means separation from everything good, specifically God. The function of the language is to arrest, warn, and force consideration - not a literal description of the judgment - but trying to get the point about separation from God is awful

APPLICATION:
------------
- With what gift, skill, talent, ability, and opportunity are you burying?
- Why are you really burying them – afraid, hoping to just to keep it for yourself, being lazy?
- What are the excuses are you making?
- What is the appropriate, godly, healthy opportunity risk that you need to take ?

"Ambitions for self may be quite modest - ambitions for God, however, if they are to be worthy, can never be modest. There is something inherently inappropriate about having small ambitions for God. How can we ever be content that he should acquire just a little honor in the world? No. Once we are clear that God is King, then we should long to see him crowned with maximum glory and honor, and given his true place, which is the supreme place. We are to become ambitious for the spread of his kingdom and righteousness everywhere."
- John Stott