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There are three sermons on this page with some similarities...

2 Before Advent/Week 33 : Matthew 25.14-30

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? 27Well 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.'

Four life-long friends, a doctor, lawyer, professor, and a businessman, made a pact. They agreed that when one dies the others will lay Ł5,000 each in his coffin so he'll have some spending money in the after life. One day the professor passes away. At his funeral the three friends took turns going up to the coffin and paying their respects. The doctor was first, laying 10 Ł50 bills inside the casket. Next was the businessman, tearfully placing his Ł5,000 cash next to his deceased friend. Then the lawyer approached the coffin ..... he wrote out a cheque for Ł15,000, laid it in the casket, and picked up the 10 grand in cash.

This joke is based on the knowledge that once you die you can't take anything with you. Today's reading reminds us that we don't really own anything, otherwise we could take it with us. Everything is on loan to us.

Perhaps puts the credit crunch into perspective. Many people finding themselves in debt, maybe even unable to pay back what they owed. Imagine that everything you think that you own is actually owned by someone else. The bank, building society, loan shark, h.p. Company, or even... God.

This parable reminds us that we have a generous God who has given us everything. In the parable each talent equals about Ł50,000! God's gifts are not just material things but our life, abilities, strength, intelligence, freedom, faith, etc.

James 1: 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Unlike the loan of money, we can't pay these things back. We don't own anything! The question that this parable poses is, "What should we do with what is loaned to us?"

God expects us to use what he has entrusted to us for His glory, to further His ways. To help the poor, sick, oppressed, homeless, imprisoned, persecuted. To grow in our knowledge and trust of God and to share this with others.

We must realize that this parable does not teach that we earn our salvation. This, also is a free gift from God. However, it does teach that we have a responsibility to make our salvation visible and secure by using the gifts that God gives.

Each believer has at least one gift to be used to build up God's kingdom. Every believer is expected by God to use to their utmost the gift or gifts he gives. This will involve the Christian taking risks, stepping out in faith, relying upon God and the gifts that He gives. It will involve some, or many failures. The person who hasn't failed has never really tried.

We need more help as a church... Especially worship & evangelism.

Note that the third servant is condemned by his master for doing nothing, not for doing something that was wrong. He had not given a second thought to even cautiously investing what had been entrusted to him for a guaranteed but small return. He just played it safe. What a challenge to those who are complacent in their faith, thinking that they are 'safe' yet failing to live the life that God requires of them.

After spending months writing his book "The French Revolution", Thomas Carlyle took his manuscript to his friend John Stuart Mill for his comments. Mill passed the manuscript on to a lady named Mrs. Chapman, who read it by the fireplace on the evening of March 5, 1834. Before she went to bed that night she laid the manuscript on the mantel.

Early the next morning the servant girl came to clean the room and to start the fire in the fireplace. Not knowing what the papers were, the servant used the manuscript as fuel to kindle the fire. The work of months was burned up in a matter of seconds.

What have we done with what been loaned to us? Something that endures, or something that will be gone in seconds?

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Benjamin Franklin; "Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?" Today's Bible reading is about how we should use the things that God gives us.

1] God is generous.

A talent in Jesus' time was a valuable sum of money worth about two years' wages. We see from this parable that God is generous giving, say, Ł200,000 to the first servant, Ł80,000 to the second and Ł40,000 to the third.

God has given us so much. Think of the many blessings that God has given you.

Life, family, friends, a home, possessions, health, freedom, abilities, energy, etc...

Today we give thanks for the freedom that was secured through the sacrifice of many people including those who died and suffered through two world wars.

Also, God gives every believer at least one special gift to serve the body of believers. Can you think what gift God has given you? You might be better asking a fellow Christian who knows you what that gift is.

On a poster which read: "Be a volunteer Blood Donor," somebody had printed, "That's the best kind."

2] God expects us to use properly what is loaned to us.

Everything you and I have is loaned from God. We can't take it with us when we die! God expects us to use what he has entrusted to us for His glory, to further His ways. To help the poor, sick, oppressed, homeless, imprisoned, persecuted. To grow in our knowledge and trust of God and to share this with others.

We must realize that this parable does not teach that we earn our salvation, this, also is a free gift from God. However, it does teach that we have a responsibility to make our salvation visible and secure by using the gifts that God gives.

Every believer is expected by God to use to their utmost the gift or gifts he gives. This will involve the Christian taking risks, stepping out in faith, relying upon God and the gifts that He gives. It will involve some, or many failures. The person who hasn't failed has never really tried.

It is said that Thomas Edison performed 50,000 experiments before he succeeded in producing a storage battery. We might assume the famous inventor would have had some serious doubts along the way. But when asked if he ever became discouraged working so long without results, Edison replied, "Results? Why, I know 50,000 things that won't work."

We are to step out in faith, trusting God. When we planned the current "Alpha Course" we only had two people who had committed themselves to coming. The eighth person joined us this week and we already have six people interested in the next one we will be running in the New Year.

In the service of God there is one ability that is the greatest ability of all. What is it? Is it sociability, compatibility, accountability, adaptability, or reliability?

The greatest ability is availability. If we are not available to God, no matter what other kind of ability we have, it is no good. Ability without availability is a liability.

What does availability mean? It means to place one's self totally, absolutely, completely at God's disposal for Him to do anything and everything He wants to do in us, through us, with us, for us, when He chooses. Anything less than that is putting restrictions on God and writing fine print in our commitment contract to Jesus Christ. It is his servant-like attitude that provides an example to us of how we should serve God the Father.

Today we remember those who sacrificed themselves for their country and for all this meant to them. How much more should we sacrifice ourselves for God who is so much greater than any country and has given us so much, materially and spiritually. He has opened the way to eternal life for us through the sacrifice of His only Son on the cross.

3] God will judge everyone by their response to His grace.

19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

This is a reminder that one day Jesus will return and, as we say in the Creed, judge the living and the dead. Everyone will be judged by their response to the Lord Jesus. Those who have acknowledged them with their lips but not their lives will be condemned.

The third servant is denounced by the master, `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.

The master is not admitting that he is mean, hard and unjust, merely acknowledging that this is how he perceived by the servant. He describes the servant as wicked and lazy. Wicked because he has failed to use what was entrusted to him. Lazy because he has not exerted himself at all. People who are not true believers can be mean with God, excusing themselves by suggesting he is unjust with unrealistic expectations of them when, in fact, they are cheating themselves out of heaven.

The first two servants readily received their master's gift and joyfully set about trying to use it for his advantage. They doubled the investment that the master had made in them. The master had invested his money with them and in them. The master's response to each of them was identical, `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 master rewarded them by giving them further responsibilities and inviting them to share in his joy. This could represent the differing rewards that there will be in heaven depending on how people respond to God's grace, and also to salvation itself.

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. This is saying "Use it don't lose it". Just as an athlete who disciplines himself, training hard and eating the right foods will improve so the believer who works hard serving the Lord and disciplines themselves will grow in spiritual stature.

We can draw the following points from this parable:

1) Not all followers of God will have equal gifts and talents.

2) Whatever we have should be used in the willing and wholehearted service of God to glorify His name and to extend His kingdom.

3) As these talents are used they will develop and improve.

4) Everyone will be judged upon what they do with their lives in response to God's grace. Some will be condemned not just for doing wrong but for neglecting to do what is right.

5) There will be heavenly rewards for those who wholeheartedly serve God.

I would like each of us to think about three questions:

A] "What am I investing in?"

One way of answering this is to examine how we spend our time, money and energy. If we were to construct a league table using these factors where would God be?

B] Where am I talented?

What gifts has God given you, materially and spiritually?

C] How can better serve God?

We also need people to think about what God has given them materially because we face a Ł4,500 budget shortfall for 2006, or Ł90 a week. Can I encourage people to think about what they give and if they could "Gift Aid" what they do give.

We need more people to help. Like many churches we have a small number of people doing the vast majority of the tasks within the church. We need people to help with the junior church, to welcome people at the door, to join the "Celebration" music group, to help serving refreshments, and many other things. Every member of the church is equipped and called to help to build it up, numerically and spiritually.

Don't doubt your ability, just give your availability and God will honour that and help you to fufil the task he is calling you to.

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2 Before Advent/Week 33 : Matthew 25.14-30

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.'

Today when we speak of a "talented" musician or athlete, we are actually harking back to this parable. A talent in Jesus' time was a valuable sum of money worth about two years' wages. Because of this parable, the word acquired a different meaning. Every believer is given a certain number of gifts and opportunities ("talents") to serve God. We can either waste those opportunities or invest them in a way that furthers God's rule. This will lead to a reward in heaven for those who are faithful, or expulsion from God's presence into hell for those who are not.

Clearly, the man going on the journey is God. The servants are Christians, and the property entrusted to them the gifts and opportunities God generously gives to every believer. We must realize that this parable does not teach that we earn our salvation, this, also is a free gift from God. However, it does teach that we have a responsibility to make our salvation visible and secure by using the gifts that God gives.

15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. The gifts that God gives his followers should not be the cause of jealousy or pride. He freely and graciously gives different gifts to believers depending on their capabilities and expects a proportionate return. So God expects more from those who have more gifts or, what might be considered 'better' gifts.

We see from this parable that God is generous giving Ł200,000 to the first servant, Ł80,000 to the second and Ł40,000 to the third. The first two double their money during the long period that the master is away.

18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

Why did he do this? We read in verses 24 and 25 that he considered the master to be mean, unjust and harsh. Something that is at odds with the gift of two years wages! This reflects many people's view of God. They see him as mean, a spoilsport, whilst they ignore his blessings and want to follow their own way. However, as a result, they endanger their relationship with God and their eternal destiny.

Perhaps there are other reasons why this servant did not, and indeed those who consider themselves to be believers do not, make full use of the gifts God has given them. For some, the excuse can be that they have not received as much as others. But even if this is the case it is clear from this parable, and elsewhere in the Bible that God does not require as much from those who have received less.

Others may have a false modesty saying they have few, if any, abilities and can do little or nothing. Such an attitude displays little faith in God and in what he gives us. If we only have a little then God still expects us to offer it in service for him. Once we do this He will have the opportunity to surprise and bless us. We all have a part to play, however small we may feel it is.

Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 12 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

Those who have less honoured functions within the church may be able to do more good than they think. Unbelievers may relate better to such a person who has a warm heart and draw alongside them more easily.

Gladys Aylward, missionary to China more than fifty years ago, was forced to flee when the Japanese invaded Yangcheng. But she could not leave her work behind. With only one assistant, she led more than a hundred orphans over the mountains toward Free China.

In their book "The Hidden Price of Greatness," Ray Besson and Ranelda Mack Hunsicker tell what happened: "During Glady's harrowing journey out of war-torn Yangcheng ... she grappled with despair as never before. After passing a sleepless night, she faced the morning with no hope of reaching safety. A 13-year-old girl in the group reminded her of their much-loved story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. "But I am not Moses," Gladys cried in desperation. "Of course you aren't," the girl said, "but Jehovah is still God." When Gladys and the orphans made it through, they proved once again that no matter how inadequate we feel, God is still God, and we can trust in him.

19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

The servant had not given a second thought to even cautiously investing what had been entrusted to him for a guaranteed but small return. He just played it safe. What a challenge to those who are complacent in their faith, thinking that they are 'safe' yet failing to live the life that God requires of them.

This is a reminder that there are sins of commission, things we do wrong. For example, stealing money. But there also sins of omission, things that are right that are not done.

For example, failing to tithe.

Please note, that this parable does not teach that those with lesser gifts are necessarily the ones who will neglect their duty to God. Unfortunately, the church has many examples of people who were very gifted but have wasted or abused their gifting and the position that flowed from it.

On a poster which read: "Be a volunteer Blood Donor," somebody had printed, "That's the best kind."

We can imagine that the first two servants readily received their master's gift and joyfully set about trying to use it for his advantage. So that when he returned, whenever that may be, it might have grown. They doubled the investment that the master had made in them. For the master had invested his money with them and in them. The master's response to each of them was identical, `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!'

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. This is saying "Use it don't lose it". Just as an athlete who disciplines himself, training hard and eating the right foods will improve so the believer who works hard serving the Lord and disciplines themself will grow in spiritual stature.

There are great abilities that people acquire, cultivate and demonstrate. In the service of God there is one ability that is the greatest ability of all. What is it? Is it sociability, compatibility, accountability, adaptability, or reliability?

The greatest ability is availability. If we are not available to God, no matter what other kind of ability we have, it is no good. Ability without availability is a liability.

We can draw the following points from this parable:

1) Not all followers of God will have equal gifts and talents.

2) Whatever we have should be used for the willing and wholehearted service of God to glorify His name and to extend His kingdom.

3) As these talents are used they will develop and improve.

4) Everyone will be judged upon what they do with their lives in response to God's grace. Some will be condemned not just for doing wrong but for neglecting to do what is right.

5) Some people regard God as mean and are miserly to God.

6) There will be heavenly rewards for those who wholeheartedly serve God.

As a teenager the Christian author Richard Foster spent a summer among the Eskimo people of Alaska. It impressed Richard that the Eskimo Christians have "a deep sense of the wholeness of life, with no break between their prayer and their work." Richard went to Alaska on the adventure of helping to "build the first high school above the Arctic Circle." The work, however, was far from an adventure. It was hard, often backbreaking. One day he was trying to dig a trench for a sewer line, which was no easy task in the frozen tundra.

An Eskimo man, whose face and hands displayed the leathery toughness of many winters, came by and watched him for a while. After some time passed the man spoke simply and profoundly. "You are digging a ditch to the glory of God," he said. The words stuck with Richard. Beyond his Eskimo friend, no human being ever knew or cared whether he dug that ditch well or poorly. In time that ditch would be covered up and forgotten. But because of that man's words, Richard says, "I dug with all my might, for every shovelful of dirt was a prayer to God."

It doesn't matter what we do, we are to do it for the glory of God. He sees everything that we do, and he knows our motivations. If we serve him in the right way He will bless what we do which will bear fruit in our own lives, and in the lives of others.