Today we begin a new 4-part teaching series called “The Talents”

Throughout this series we will seek to understand and answer the question:What does God expect of me?

We believe whole heartedly that it is only by the grace and mercy of God that we can be saved. There is absolutely nothing we can ever do to EARN our salvation.
But truths such as the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God do not nullify the fact that He has expectations about how we are to live our lives.

Our teaching series is based on the parable of Jesus in Matthew 25 known as the parable of the talents.

The parable has a surprise ending for one character in the story, and it becomes clear- this is a hard truth. God’s expectations matter. The issue of how we utilize what God has given us isn’t just a nice idea, it’s not extra credit, it’s central to our life as believers.

And it has dramatic consequences one way or the other.

The "again" of verse 14 is linking this with the parables before, illustrating what the kingdom of God is like.

It’s like a man going on a journey, calling his servants or employees together and entrusting his wealth to them.

Depending on your translation what is given may be talents, silver, or like the NIV translates here “bags of gold”

The original word here is where we get the English word for talents. It was a unit of measure- in this case of money. We don’t know exactly the value of a talent; some scholars estimate the value of one talent being between 400,000-600,000 dollars.

The first two servants were given millions, and the third was given over a half million.

These were gifts entrusted to his servants. With no further instructions, the man leaves on his journey.

Two of the servants take it upon themselves to utilize what they had been given. The 3rd servant takes a different approach. He takes his half million and buries it in the ground for safe keeping.

The first servant has put his master’s money to use and doubled it to 10 talents.

The master is well pleased and praises the servant’s efforts. “Well done good and faithful servant- I have many more things in store for you”

The second servant steps up, he also has doubled the master’s money. Again, there is increase.

Both servants were commended equally for their stewardship of the master’s money.

The third servant is different, and Jesus wants us to see that clearly.

What we do with what we are given, always reveals the true condition of our heart. This servants’ actions are motivated by fear- and he tries to shift the blame back onto the master for his actions.

This last servant seemingly does less than the least- He could have at least put it in the bank to earn interest, but he didn’t even do that.

Had he truly known the heart of his master, he would have done SOMETHING with it. But rather he is shown to be apathetic to the desires of his master-and he receives a harsh and vivid sentence.

"Throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Seems harsh right? Friends, that’s the emphasis of this parable.

What we do with what we have been given matters to God.

He has expectations of his people to invest in his kingdom, to utilize their talents for the growth of his Kingdom.

How are you investing what God has given you?

Throughout this series, we are focusing on 4 different talents, 4 different areas of our lives and how God expects us to invest them for his glory.

We will seek to understand what God expects from us with regards to our time, our spiritual gifts, with our money, and ultimately our very lives.

While we may have different amounts of money, a wide variety of gifts and skills, there is one area that we are all equal, and that is time.

We don’t know how many days we will have, but, within each day, you know precisely how much time you have – and so do I.

Regardless of your age, social status, abilities, or even charming, good looks, you have just 24 hours everyday.

So, what does God expect from us with our time?

That we would invest it with urgency, with intentionality.
That we would use our time for the growth of his kingdom.
That we would understand that He gives us every minute for a reason.

We’re busy, we’re tired, we’re overwhelmed- honestly most of us struggle with time in our own ways, so it's easy for a message about time to feel overwhelming.

But the parable of the talents isn’t about doing more…achieving more. This is about giving back to him what he’s already given us.

It’s about obeying more, loving more
Every day, making the Master’s will, your will.