Thank you for stopping by the blog for another edition of the Weekend Sermon. I hope everyone is well. Each week it is a blessing to be able to post the sermon.
This last week I had a couple of days off around Independence Day. It was nice not to have to go into work for a couple of days. I am still trying to get back to writing full-time. Please pray that I will be able to do this. I haven't been feeling well, and I would also ask that you would pray that I can get back to feeling better. I've been missing my folks and my friends this last week. I know that they are with Jesus now, but I still miss them and get sad. Would you please pray that I will get back to feeling better in this area as well. Thank you for your prayers.
In prayer this week, please pray for those in Japan who are dealing with flooding. Also, continue to pray that the cholera outbreaks in Yemen and South Sudan will come to an end. Pray for an end to the polio problem in Congo.
Syria and Iraq are two countries that really need our prayers right now. War has deeply affected these two nations, and they are in great need of peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for the nations of Mauritania and Saudi Arabia. Pray that those in these two countries will hear the message of Jesus' love and forgiveness.
For most of this year, we have been in a series a messages on the parables of Jesus. We have a few more messages in this series, and we will continue studying the parables today. Today, our focus will be on the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30.
The parable goes something like this. A man was going to go on a journey. He left a some of money with each of his servants. He gave five talents to one servant, two to another and he gave the third servant one talent.
The first servant traded and did business turning his five talents into ten. The man who had two talents increased his amount as well. However, the third servant went and buried his talent in the ground.
The man came back from his journey and asked the three servants what they had done with the talents they were given. The first servant told the man that he had doubled his money. The man said to the servant, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." The same thing happened with the second servant.
Then the third servant came forward. He told the master that he had buried his one talent and presented it back to the master. The master was angry because the man had done nothing with the talent. He had the third servant cast away from his presence.
Let''s examine what we can learn from this parable. First of all, this parable is often used as the basis for sermons about giving and the use of financial resources. While that certainly has something to do with this parable, that is not the only meaning of this parable by any means.
This parable is a parable about the final judgment when Jesus returns to set up His eternal kingdom. He will rule and reign forever with power and great glory.
Jesus ascended into Heaven after he appeared for forty days post-resurrection. While Jesus is in Heaven awaiting the time of His return, He has entrusted each of us who are His followers with the task of using the abilities and resources that He has given us to make this world a better place and telling others about His love and grace.
All of us who are followers of Jesus have been given a great gift and a great responsibility. The servants in this parable were entrusted with significant amounts of the master's wealth. Those of us who are in Christ have been given the gift of His great grace, love and forgiveness. The Lord has given each of us the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. He had provided each of us with gifts, talents and responsibilities. It is our duty to use those things that the Lord has blessed us and graced us with.
Not everyone has the same measure of gifts nor the same measure of resources. We are to do the best we can with what we have.
I believe that everyone has been given a spiritual gift. Some are called to be teachers, pastors or missionaries. Some have been given the gift of helps or administration. There are several spiritual gifts mentioned in both Romans and I Corinthians. Whatever gift the Lord has blessed us with, we are to use that gift for the honor and the glory of the Lord. We need to make this world a better place and shine our light into the dark places of this world.
We all have also been given a measure of financial resources by the Lord. Many of us can easily give the basic ten percent tithe that the Scriptures call upon us to give. For others, giving ten percent is nothing. You may be wealthy enough to give much more. And if you can, you should.
That is what this parable is all about. While we are here on this earth waiting for Jesus to return, we should use whatever gifts and resources we have to bring honor and glory to Jesus.
One day, when Jesus returns, we will give an account of what we have done with what we have been given. It will not be a judgment that determines our eternal salvation. We are saved by grace through faith. Good works have nothing to do with it. However, Jesus did say that each person will be rewarded according to what he or she has done.
I believe that when we stand before Jesus, some will be given greater enjoyment and rewards in Jesus' kingdom than others will. This is based on what we have done for the Lord while we had the chance here on earth.
The Bible speaks about crowns that we can receive for what we do for Jesus. The apostle Paul speaks about this day of judgment this way. He says that we will stand before Jesus and our works will be tried as by fire. Some will have gold, silver and precious stones that represent their works for the Lord. When tried by fire, these works will remain. Others who only worked for themselves or for money and those things which have no eternal value will have works represented by wood, hay and stubble. When tried by fire, these works will be consumed with nothing remaining.
I know that I want to receive a good reward from the Lord Jesus. I want to try to do what I can for Him while I have the time. That is what is frustrating me so much right now working so much at my current job. I feel that I am going through life wasting so many opportunities for doing things for the Lord. In a fundamental way, I feel I'm not doing all that I should be doing.
It is may desire, and I hope it is the desire of all followers of Jesus, to hear Him say "Well done good and faithful servant." That is what will make all the struggles of this life worth it. To hear those words will make everything all right. All the suffering and sorrow in life will be washed away just to hear those words.
I hope to strive harder to make a difference in this world and bring honor and glory to Jesus. I hope that that is your desire as well. Let us all do our best for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Next week, we will step away for one week from our parables of Jesus series, and I will post a message on a different topic. On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will have a review of an excellent dog book. May God bless you all. Amen.
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