Duscovering God's Will week 5
Introduction
Learning to Love Week 1
Learning to Love Week 2
Learning to Love Week 3
Learning to Love Week 4
Learning to Love Week 5
Learning to Love Week 6
Learning to Love Week 7
Discovering God's Will Week 1
Discovering God's Will Week 2
Discovering God's Will week 3
Discovering God's Will week 4
Discovering God's Will week 5
Discovering God's Will week 6
Discovering God's Will Week 7
Time for a Checkup week 1
Time For a Checkup week 2
Time For a Checkup week 3
Time For a Checkup - week 4
Time For a Checkup week 5

Taking Risks
Matthew 25:14 - 30

risks.jpg

 14 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.       20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'  21 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22 The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24 Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?   27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.    28 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.  29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.    30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

There is a place you can invest that has no danger of 'crashing'.  A place where it doesn't matter what the politicians do or don't do.  A place that assures you that the more you invest, the more you will gain.  "Where is this place?" you ask.  If you invest in God, He will never fail you.  
 
Today's study looks at the Parable of the Talents.  Wouldn't it be nice if God would just send us a heavenly email telling us exactly what our gifts and calling are?  That way we could get to work without wondering whether we are doing what he wants us to be doing.  But, that isn't the way He works.  Instead, finding and following our calling, whether in our career or in our role in the body of Christ, involves taking risks. 
 
We're all given a different starting position. (each according to his own ability) Some of us are born into abundance (five talents).  Others are born into scarcity (one talent).  But what matters isn’t what we’re given — it’s what we do with it that matters.  So Jesus acknowledges the unfairness of life, but he also suggests that our starting conditions are irrelevant.  One person earns five talents, another earns only two, but both are congratulated equally because both achieved a 100% gain.
 
An interesting aspect of this parable is that our talents are entrusted to us.  For example, if I can write or sing fairly well, those are talents entrusted to me.  I can bury them in the ground out of fear, or I can push out of my shell and strive to use my talents to increase the Kingdom.
 
Another notable quality of the parable is the lack of competition.  The servants aren’t competing with each other for their master’s favor.  It’s not a zero-sum game.  The first two servants both contribute something of value to their master’s estate.
 
You may notice that the master does not praise the amount of gain the first 2 servants received.  He does, however, praise their faithfulness.  This faithfulness is the quality that allows the master to trust him with greater responsibility.   In contrast, the third servant is afraid that if he loses the money he will get into trouble, so he simply buries the money.   Instead of praising the servant for taking care of his money, he chastises the servant for being lazy and wicked.  Judgement is passed on the servant , what he has is taken from him and given to the first servant and he is turned out 'into the darkness'.
 
What does this mean to us?  God gives us each talents and abilities.  We don't all get the same amount, but we are each given according to 'our ability'.  It is up to each of us to use these abilities to increase the Kingdom.  Sometimes this will involve taking risks and stepping our of our 'comfort zone.'   If we don't, we stand to lose what we have. 
 
Here is a link to a different, but interesting look at this parable: http://paulswritings.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/howard-wrong-on-parable-of-the-talents/

THINK ABOUT IT:
Why do you think the servant who was ginen one talent hid his money?
 
What motivates you to use your time, resources and abilities for God's kingdom?
 
How do you feel about the way you are currently investing your life?   What changes would be necessary in order for you to be more satisfied with your life's investment?

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