I. Gifts/Talents

A. The Master Owns Everything 14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. Matthew 25 Moses 5 ….Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” Ex Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. Ex 9 Question: What do we have of our own?

A. The Master Owns Everything B. God's Ownership Enhances Our Relationship with Him 1. Always Reminded It Is His - Car, Bodies, Garden, Thoughts, DVD’s, Time Rather than, `How much of my _______ should I give to God?' we learn to ask, `How much of God's ______should I keep for myself?'

A. The Master Owns Everything B. God's Ownership Enhances Our Relationship with Him 1. Always Reminded It Is His 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Cor 6

A. The Master Owns Everything B. God's Ownership Enhances Our Relationship with Him 1. Always Reminded It Is His 2. Trust and Grace 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Cor 6 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. Rom. 12

A. The Master Owns Everything B. God's Ownership Enhances Our Relationship with Him C. He Handpicked Talents/Gifts For Me 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journeyMatthew And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Matthew 25 To Think God Gave This To Us…

A. The Master Owns Everything B. God's Ownership Enhances Our Relationship with Him C. He Handpicked Talents/Gifts For Me Solomon 16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? 18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Eccl 5 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil— this is a gift of God. Eccl 5

II. Settled Account

A. The Misuse of Talents 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground… Matthew 25 1.Wasted Potential - Saul - Father who was a mighty man of valor (1 Samuel 9:1). - When "worthless" [sons of Belial] men insulted him at his inauguration, Saul was silent (1 Samuel 10:27). - Saved these men's lives (1 Samuel 11:12, 13). - Choose by God to be Israel's first king (1 Samuel 9:15-17) - Given God's Spirit (1 Samuel 10:6) What Saul became was not at all what God knew Saul had the potential to be.

A. The Misuse of Talents 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground… Matthew 25 What Have I Lost Because Of My Apathy What Am I Failing To Do… Are We Just “Playing It Safe” Spiritually? If I Stood Before God Would He Be Let Down Let’s Ask Ourselves Tough Questions….

A. The Misuse of Talents 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground… Matthew 25 1.Wasted Potential 2.Doesn’t expect us to do the impossible…only what we can do 13 …but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Cor 10 - Mk 12:41-44

A. The Misuse of Talents B. The Use of Talents 1. Didn’t Make Excuses 24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ Matthew 25 “Only one bag of gold”, “Two bags of gold isn’t have as much as five!!” “Five bags of gold isn’t really that much?”

A. The Misuse of Talents B. The Use of Talents 1. Didn’t Make Excuses 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Matt Realized They Didn’t Have Forever

III. Reward

A.Everlasting Regret (v30)

B.No Comparison If Faithful (v29)

23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25