I invite you to turn with me tonight to Matthew 25. Matthew 25. In that chapter we find three different parables. The parable of the ten virgins, the parable of the talents, and the story of the sheep and the goats. We're going to consider together tonight the middle, the parable of the talents, verses 14 through 30 of Matthew 25. The context of this parable, of course, is that it takes place, our Lord tells this parable in the shadow of his cross. It was believed that he told this on Tuesday of the week of Passion Week, of the week of his crucifixion. And in chapters 24 and 25, Jesus has been answering the questions of his disciples regarding about the end of the ages, what it will be like. And in some respects, this parable we might call a cousin of the one right before, the parable of the ten virgins, as both of them look forward to Christ's second coming and teach what is expected of God's people in preparation for his return. We consider together verses 14 through 30 of Matthew chapter 25. Hear now the word of God. Again, it, and that is the kingdom of heaven, It will be like a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 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. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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. 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. The man with the two talents also came. Master, he said, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more. 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. 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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you. 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. Well, then you should have put my money on deposit with the banker so that when I returned, I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 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 and throw that worthless servant outside into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Beloved in Christ the Lord, are you preparing for Christ's return? Are you preparing? How are you preparing for Christ's return? You see, that's not an unimportant question. It's not a question that we ought to ignore because He is coming again. As the three parables alone in Matthew 25 teach us. And because of that fact that Jesus Christ is coming again, for believers, it is not business as usual. We are not to be like the world which simply minds its own selfishness and doesn't give any thought to anything beyond this life. It has no consciousness of Jesus Christ coming again. But as God's believers, we are to live with an attitude of readiness. We are to be ready. And that attitude of readiness is to be demonstrated in activity. The parable of the ten virgins right before this one teaches us indeed that we must be prepared for Christ's second coming and that we are to watch faithfully to the very end. And then with this parable, our Lord teaches us what watching means. It does not mean packing our suitcase and sitting around simply waiting and doing nothing. Kind of like in an anxious mode, boys and girls, Sometimes if you know that you are going to go to a friend's house overnight, you might be so anxious for that you pack your duffel bag, you're standing out in the driveway watching and waiting, even long before the time that they're supposed to come. That's not what this watching means. It does not mean that we are to go stand on the tallest mountain peak and look up forsaking everything else as many have done who have joined themselves to some sort of a cultic leader. And we know that many of them have met a tragic end. But this watching means working hard and working faithfully in the station and calling in this life in which God has placed you and me. Working hard and faithfully for the Kingdom of Christ Jesus. Being used of God to build His Kingdom in this time. We are to be at work for Him. We are to prepare for Christ's second coming by living as Christians in this world. You see, beloved, watching and working go together. We learn that already in Nehemiah. When Nehemiah and his crew are busy building the wall with enemies around them, we read in Nehemiah 4, verse 18, And each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. Watching and working go together. And therefore, Jesus teaches here that we are to be actively preparing. Actively preparing for Christ's second coming. And we are to do so, first of all, with the resources given. The resources given by our God. Now, like with any parable, we need to consider the details a little bit. Now, I believe that the man going on a journey represents Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ, as He has ascended, physically left this earth and now is at the right hand of the Heavenly Father. He has, as it were, gone on a long journey. And the talents that this master gives to his servants points to the man's wealth, his great wealth, because it is reported that one talent was the equivalent of 20 years of the average wage. And therefore, the one received 100 years' worth. The second one, 40 years. And the third one, even the third one, 20 years of wages. Unimaginable wealth. Something that you and I, and I'm sure even these servants, couldn't even begin to comprehend. like the undeserved gift of salvation that you and I cannot begin to put a price on, the eternal riches of the glory of heaven. Now with regard to these servants, it was customary in the culture of that day that the Master would have his servants, his slaves, conduct business for him while he was gone. Because the Master did not want his possessions, he did not want his money to sit idle. Just like us today, he wanted his money put to work in order to gain a profit. And these servants, we should understand, were not simply hired men who worked for a wage, but they were the property. They were owned by the Master. They belonged to Him. And it was to these servants that the Master gives the resources. These bountiful resources, these servants, you see, were not expected to produce something from nothing. like the Israelites were expected to produce bricks without straw. No, these servants were not expected to produce something from nothing. Well, I believe that's how we are to understand some of these details as to what they are talking about. But even further than that, what is the spiritual truth of some of these details? Well, even as the man represents Jesus Christ, as we've said, the servants represent the church. The church whose calling as a church and as individuals is to serve God in all that we do. But here, even more specifically, I believe, this is a picture of the visible church on this earth. The visible church. Even as the visible church includes both believers and unbelievers sitting side by side, here we have wicked servant along with those who were not wicked servants. There are those who do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in the visible church, in the church outwardly. Yet in reality, they have no claim to Christ. Now, it's a little more difficult when we come to the resources that we're talking about here. And I think that we are to understand these this way. As Paul says to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1, that good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. You see, Jesus Christ left His Word. He left His testimony. He left His witness to His church. And He gave His church, He gives His church, concrete responsibilities and obligations within His kingdom to spread His Word and to be used of Him to advance His kingdom. And the talents in this parable that were given to the servants to be worked with, to be handled, to be put to use, I believe we ought to consider them to be opportunities for service. Opportunities for service in the kingdom of God. Because notice that the talents were given each according to his, according to the servant's abilities. Not all have the same abilities. And by abilities, we are to understand the natural endowments that God has given to us, our skills and our intellect. But notice, there are differing abilities given by God. God has given different abilities, with different strengths and weaknesses, different likes and dislikes, different resources and interests. And of course, these differing abilities among us are endless, aren't they? This includes that there are some with musical ability, There are some with speaking ability, some with teaching ability, some who have the ability to work with their hands. Others have the ability to encourage and instill others to comfort. Some have the ability to admonish in Christian love. The abilities that God has given to His people are simply endless. But the opportunities for service that God gives in His kingdom are given in relation to the abilities that He has given. They fit the abilities. You see, God does not call you and me to service for which He has not or will not prepare us or equip us. It might not always seem like that because often our God pushes us clear outside of our comfort zone, but He does not call you and me to service for which He has not or will not prepare us. Christ calls His church. To active service. To use the abilities that He has given in order to face the responsibilities and the obligations and the challenges that we confront and to seek to advance His kingdom. He gives differing abilities for various opportunities. You see, beloved, God assigns us, each one of us, to a place in His kingdom. And we have certain responsibilities in a certain calling which is unique to each one of us. And for example, we are to be busy in the service of Christ as office bearers, as preachers and teachers. Also, we are to be busy as parents who have received a special, one-of-a-kind assignment to raise godly children. The next church, the church, the future church. The next generation of saints, if it is the will of God. As well, some are called to maintain and uphold the cause of Christ in the home. Boys and girls, in the school. Beloved, in the office or in the shop or on the job site or very simply in the whole arena of life. And still others are called to fight the battle of faith. Particularly during suffering, sickness, and affliction, they are called to do so with patience. But all of us, beloved, are called to confess and testify to the saving grace of Jesus Christ in whatever our station of life in which we have been placed. we are to demonstrate that we are busy working out our salvation with fear and trembling with great love and adoration for the God who saved us. All the while understanding our bankruptcy, that we have nothing to offer of ourselves, but it's all of God's provision. You see, He gives the necessary resources for service. He gives both the opportunities and He gives the abilities. To some, He has given much. To others He has given little. But not one can ever say, God expected more of me than I was able to give. We are called to be actively preparing for Christ's second coming. In the second place, with the reckoning promised. The accounting that would be given. The question that each one of us must ask is, how am I doing with what God has given to me? In this parable again, our Lord is teaching us to prepare for His second coming. And we see in this parable that there will be a reckoning. And we are to consider that from the standpoint of this parable because of the honor that we're shown. Because of the great value of the talents, as I mentioned a moment ago, we need to see that the Master exalted. He showed honor to these servants by trusting them with so much. And it's clear with regard to the first two servants that they understood that honor and they demonstrated that they understood that honor. They went to work. They were eager to make a profit for the Master. They were eager to labor for His benefit, for His advantage. Each had received according to their ability and their increase was according to their ability. They didn't waste an opportunity. And on the day of reckoning, on the day in which they were called to give an account, they reported eagerly. They came with excitement. And they gave proper credit. Did you notice that? Master, you entrusted me with five talents. You entrusted me with two talents. In other words, it isn't my work. But it's your work done in me. These two servants recognized their ability to do nothing apart from the resources and the provision that had first been given to them. You see, beloved, only when we recognize God's gracious benefits and His blessings first given to us, only then can we truly honor Him with our kingdom service. Only when we recognize that it is Him, He who gives us that precious gift of salvation. It is He who gives us that new life. It is He who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose. Only then can we truly honor Him with our kingdom service. And our motivation for kingdom service is to be that incomprehensible wealth of salvation that you and I have received. That uncountable wealth of salvation which is more precious, boys and girls, than all the silver and the gold that one could ever find in this world. See, God has chosen to put us to work in His kingdom. He is working through us to build His kingdom. He, of course, gives the increase. But He uses you and me, as the Bible says, to plant and to water. Yet just as He gives us the invaluable treasure of salvation as our very own possession at the very same time. That is our treasure to invest in the world. To bring the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, the greatest promise that we could ever give to someone, to bring that to those who have never heard. These servants provided evidence of their faithfulness, the increase, five and two. Of course, again, it is God who truly gives the increase in His kingdom. But He calls us, He puts us to work toward that end. And as well, we are to understand again that this, again, is not some sort of a proof text for works righteousness, but this is a proof text that true faith will have evidence. As James says in James 2 verse 18, I will show you my faith by my works. Beloved, Christians will not stand before God one day boasting in the works that you and I have done. We will not stand before Him boasting about how many people we may have brought to the Lord. As the next parable, the next story about the sheep and the goats teaches, there our Lord teaches us that the righteous Master will on that day have to tell the sheep exactly what it is they did. It's so natural for the child of God to do kingdom service for Him. It's so natural that our Lord will have to tell us on that day, this is what you did for me. But we must also see here that there's no room for pride among those who have been given much in this way. And also there's no room for discontentment among those who have not been given as much. because it's not the amount, it's not the quantity of the opportunities and the privileges and the abilities and the provisions that God gives to you and me in this life that counts. What counts is our faithfulness in what we did with them. The test will be, were you and I faithful? Were you faithful in the use of your abilities? Were you faithful in working with the responsibilities and the opportunities and the obligations that God placed before you and me? Will you and I show that we indeed understood the greatness of salvation through our kingdom service? Or will we play ostrich, ignoring our kingdom service, burying our heads and therefore our abilities and opportunities in the sand? Again, there will be a reckoning one day. And we must consider this also because the parable places before us the dishonoring of the honor shown. And that dishonoring comes from the third servant with the one talent. He wasted his talent. He demonstrated that he did not honor the Master, nor did he consider it an honor to be trusted by the Master to handle the Master's money. He increased his guilt. The longer the Master was away, the longer that talent lie buried in the ground, he increased his guilt. And he lost the opportunity to work with that talent because the Master did return, we are to remember that Jesus Christ is coming again. And the moment that He appears in the clouds of heaven in all of His glory, the opportunity to repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, it will be over. Boys and girls and young people. It will be gone. And there will be no second chances. And it's clear here that this servant dishonored the honor that he had been shown because of his failure to understand the Master. Notice his dishonoring words in verse 24. I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you. It's clear that he did not have an intimate relationship with his Master. Just as those who do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ do not truly have an intimate saving relationship with Him. And this is seen in his accusation. He accuses the Master of being what he was not. He accuses him of doing what he really did not do. He accused him of taking advantage of others, of taking advantage of their work, of exploiting them, but not caring about them. Yet even though the Master in essence says, sowed. That's how you see me. Well, then why? Yet it was a false accusation. Because it was the Master who gave the resources. The Master had sown. And therefore, the Master had the right to reap. You see, beloved, the true hard man was this servant who only cared about himself, who refused the responsibilities that were placed before him. You see, beloved, But even the unbelieving world is faced with responsibilities. They are called to see that there is a God even as they look in the realm of creation, but they reject Him. The unbelieving world too is called to repent of their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but they reject Him. As one commentator says with regard to this third servant, and I think this is helpful, he says, Was his place one of confessing the truth by a godly life in his daily work? He did not do it. Was he called to comfort someone who was stricken with sorrow? He refused. Was he given the opportunity to serve Christ by instructing his children in the Word of God? He let his talent lie useless. Did Christ call him to suffer affliction with patience, courage, and contentment? He was rather rebellious, grumpy, and dissatisfied. and notice this one who said that he was afraid of the master tries to justify himself he returned what rightfully belonged to the master here's your talent it's yours you ought to be happy I didn't lose it and the master shows that this servant really was not afraid of him he did not have true fear or reverence for the master because if he did, he would have at least deposited his money with the bank. And it's reported at that time he would have earned anywhere from 8% to 12% interest. He simply did not understand the truth of the Master. And beloved, the same is true with so many in the church today and outside of the church who think that they know God. There are so many who have a wrong understanding of God. They do not know, they do not understand His love in Jesus Christ. They do not understand His rich treasure of salvation. And therefore, they are hardened to His kingdom work. Their abilities are wasted, and God's call and kingdom service are ignored by them. For some, they see God as a sort of a tyrant who is unfair and unjust and picky. He expects too much. Others see Him simply as a God of love who tolerates absolutely everything, even though His Word clearly says that certain sins are horrendous and horrible. All sin, but particular ones are horrendous in His sight. People who live in that way still think that God is tolerant. None of them see the mercy of God that He condescended to save us from all of our sins. And yet they have a faulty expectation. They do nothing with the call to repent and believe. They do nothing with the opportunities and the abilities that God has given to them for service. Yet they fully expect God's favor upon them. Why? because for many of them, outwardly, they're not doing anything against Him. Oh, their hearts are not right. But they don't go out of their way to do bad and evil things. They don't go out of their way to hurt His kingdom or His church. They haven't done anything for which God should keep them out of heaven in their sight, in their thoughts. God should be happy with them. I mean, look at the wicked servant. He did not gamble the talent away. He did not spend it foolishly. He didn't lose it. He simply didn't want to get involved with the Master's business. And we too are not to be fooled, beloved, because sometimes I think it's too easy for us to think that what we don't do for God are sins of omission that we omit. We tend to think that they're not as bad as the things that we do commit against Him. But the fact is, true resurrection life produces active kingdom service. Those who truly have true life in Christ Jesus will be active in some way, little or much, in kingdom service, doing what God commands, not doing what God hates. And there's an earnest warning for us here that failure to produce evidence of true faith by active service in God's kingdom in whatever your station in life, whether great or small, whether little or much. It will not go unnoticed. It will not go unchecked. We will all have to give an account. But on that day when Jesus Christ returns, those who were faithful by the grace of God will find to be true what they believed to be true all along. As this parable also shows us, that we are called to actively prepare for Christ's second coming with the rewards revealed. God reveals to us the rewards. Our God is not like a hard man. His true character, the true character of our Master is that He has sown His love. He has sown it by sending His Son to take His wrath and His punishment against the sins of His people. He has saved us. He has given us that priceless treasure that you and I can't put a value on. And at the same time, He has entrusted His kingdom work to us. What a privilege! And on that day, you and me, as God's people, we will hear those most blessed words, well done. It means wonderful. Well done, good and faithful servant. And as amazing as it will be to us, because of the forgiving love of God, He will graciously accept our kingdom's service. Committed with all kinds of stains, yet cleansed by the Holy Spirit. He will accept our kingdom service done out of a true heart of faith, done with a sincere desire to please Him. And notice, He will pour out greater responsibility and honor, greater kingdom service upon His children. To those whom Christ has saved, He will give the care of the new and the glorious and the heavenly creation. They will reign with Christ forever and ever. And, beloved, those who worked faithfully by God's grace will enjoy the reward that was earned by Jesus Christ alone, and that reward is the joy of the Master in heaven. Maybe, like me, for you, the idea of rewards in Scripture is somewhat difficult to understand. Really difficult to understand. But we do know one thing is true. The rewards that you and I will receive are not rewards of merit. Not things that we have earned. but rewards of God's grace because of what Jesus Christ has done. And our kingdom's service, for which our God will say, well done, good and faithful servant, our kingdom's service is done in response to that priceless treasure of salvation that Jesus Christ has given to us. And our greatest reward can only be that God be well pleased with us. You see, on that day, On that day, the righteous judge will honor them that honored Him. He will honor them that responded to His redeeming love with love and obedience and a desire for others to share in that redeeming love. He will honor those who honored Him with a crown of righteousness, with a heavenly throne, a heavenly kingdom. But again, we must also not forget the peril of rejection. There will be no part of the joy of the Lord for those who rejected Christ and His kingdom. Those who rejected the Lord Jesus Christ will not share in the kingdom of heaven because they were wicked and lazy. And instead, they will share in the agony of hell with their true master, the devil, the place of agony, the place of horror, the place where there will be no rest. And to those to whom God and His kingdom and his treasure of salvation were worthless, they will be considered worthless by God. And that's why our task is so very important, beloved. God calls us to bring the Word to the lost world. He calls us to invest that treasure, that priceless treasure of salvation into this world to teach the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who have never heard. And in that way, God will be pleased to bring to faith those whom He has chosen. But we must remember too, we are called to this service. In another parable, Jesus condemned the fig tree. He condemned the fig tree to ongoing barrenness. It would never bear fruit. He condemned it not because it bore wild fruit, not because it bore poisonous fruit, but because it bore no fruit. Those who confess Jesus Christ are called to actively prepare for His return by serving Him, by serving His kingdom, by doing it today, by honoring Him, defending Him, instructing about Him, and obeying Him. And you and I are to remember, beloved, that every wasted opportunity for kingdom service is a lost one. And remember too, God's expectation. He doesn't expect, He doesn't require more than He has prepared for you and more than He has equipped you for. And the excuse that you're too busy or that you don't have the gifts or that God expected too much simply won't do. But praise be to God that just as we will not stand before Him and boast one day in what we have done, in the same way by His grace we will not be punished for missed opportunities because Jesus Christ died in your place and mine and we are forgiven. But because He has revealed that comforting truth to us, may it be our desire even more to be used of Him to make His precious treasure of salvation the possession of many, if it be God's will. We are called to represent our Master and Savior with all we have in all that we do. We are called to give evidence of our attitude toward Him and His salvation with what we do, with what we have been given. And may our prayer be with Paul as he was on the Damascus Road, Lord, what would you have me to do? May our prayer be, Lord, make me faithful for you. And indeed, may we look forward to those most beautiful, precious words from his lips, well done, good and faithful servant. Come, share your Master's happiness. All because of Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ has given us every reason to eagerly prepare for His second coming. Why? Because He is coming. Because He's coming for us. And because we will be with Him forever. Let's pray together. Father, indeed, You have bestowed upon us as Your people a most precious treasure. The gift of salvation, which is beyond our comprehension, beyond all the riches and the treasures of this world. At the very same time, You have given us that very same treasure to take to the world. To demonstrate in our living. To make heard through our speech. That others may indeed hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ that there is good news for those who are desperately lost in sin. Lord, make us active. Make us busy even as we keep our eyes on heaven looking forward to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we not sit around idle in this life but in all of our activities and in all of our work and in everything we do, we pray that in all these things, Lord, we might be witnesses of that glorious truth of Jesus Christ and His saving love. May it not be something that we take for granted, but may it be something that is precious to us that we think on every morning when we open our eyes and is the last thing we think about when we close our eyes that night. Father, we praise Your holy name. Equip us to be faithful servants of Yours. Hear our prayer for Jesus' sake and in His name alone. Amen. Thank you.