April 5, 2016
A WASTED OPPORTUNITY
Matthew 25:14–30
Drew Mosier
Central Truth
God gives each of us time, gifts, and resources to steward for His purposes. Don’t waste your opportunity to serve and glorify God because you fear failure or are focused on your own interests. God provides all we need to faithfully serve and honor Him.
Key Verse | Matthew 25:24–25
"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, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'" (Matthew 25:24-25)
Matthew 25:14–30
The Parable of the Talents
14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants 1 25:14 Or bondservants; also verse 19 and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, 2 25:15 A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 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. 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. 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. 3 25:21 Or bondservant; also verses 23, 26, 30 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.’ 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. 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. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Dive Deeper | Matthew 25:14–30
If I’m honest, it seems a bit harsh that the master deemed the one-talent servant a "wicked and slothful servant" (Matthew 25:26). The servant didn’t waste the money—he returned exactly what he had been given. But he did waste an opportunity.
Through this parable, Jesus wants us to understand how to be faithful. The other two servants demonstrated faithful service: they went to work immediately and multiplied the resources their master had entrusted to them. And for this, the master rewarded each with praise, greater responsibility, and joy.
In contrast, the one-talent servant chose to play it safe because of his fear of failure. He prioritized his own security and comfort over the opportunity to work hard, take risks, and grow the resources entrusted to him.
God has similarly entrusted each of us with talents—time, gifts, and resources. He expects us to work diligently and steward these talents to serve others and glorify Him. We are saved by grace through faith. But we should respond to this grace in love for, and obedience to, our Father by doing the work He has prepared for us.
It’s convicting to think about how often I act like the one-talent servant. Out of fear, I avoid sharing how Jesus’ redeeming love has changed my life. Out of laziness, I don’t invest time and energy in the relationships entrusted to me: with my wife, my community group, my friends, and my neighbors. Out of selfishness, I use God’s resources for my own comfort, security, and glory rather than sacrificially investing in others and trusting that God will continue to provide for my family and me.
It might feel overwhelming that God expects us to provide Him with a return on what He has entrusted to us, but this parable should also reassure us.
The master provided each servant with everything he needed. Application: God has provided each of us with all that we need to effectively serve Him.
The master considered each servant’s abilities. Application: God does not expect us to provide Him with a greater return than what we are able.
The master generously celebrated and rewarded his servant’s faithfulness. Application: May we be faithful so that we, too, may hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Discussion Questions
1. How will you apply this Scripture to your life today?
2. What prevents you from faithfully stewarding what God has entrusted to you? Fear of failure? Passivity? Something else?
3. Read Luke 19:11-27. How does this passage affect your understanding of today’s parable?
4. How are you stewarding your resources to serve others? Spend some time thinking about this before you check out tomorrow’s reading.