*Matthew 25:14-30* - “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. 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 journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents *went and traded with them*, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 

 

19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘*Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things*. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 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.’

 

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.’

 

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘*You wicked and lazy servant*, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 *So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents*. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant (V)into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

 

*Three wisdom to glean from this parable*:

1. The REBUKE

2. The TRUST

3. The COMMENDATION

 

*The REBUKE*

The unfaithful servant was he that had one talents. Doubtless, there are many that have five talents and bury them all - great abilities, great advantages, and yet do no good with them. If he that had but one talent be reckoned with for burying that one, much more will they be accounted offenders, that have many or more and bury them.

 

*Lessons from the unfaithful servant*

1. Gifts, talents or resources not traded in the promotion of Kingdom enterprise is not multiplied.

2. Your relationship and preconception of God have a direct relationship with how you choose to employ the gifts and talents he has invested in you.

3. Slothfulness in God’s Kingdom is akin to wickedness.

4. The perceived smallness of your receiving will not excuse you from a reckoning.

5. None shall be called to an account for more than they have received.

 

Father, I repent of pride, slothfulness, and bitterness that make men ungrateful to you. Whether five or one talent, teach me how to invest and trade all that you have given me to serve You and extend Your Kingdom. Every scarcity or bankruptcy of Your blessing in my life comes to an end today IJN.

 

 

*The TRUST*

*Matthew 25:14-30* - “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. 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 journey.

 

*Ephesians 4:8* - Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”

 

When Christ went to heaven, he was careful to furnish his Church with all things necessary for it during his personal absence. For, and in consideration of, his departure, he committed to his Church the 5Ps - the *Person of the Holy Spirit, Prophecies, Principles, Promises, and Powers*: these were the *parakatatheke - the great depositum* (1 Tim 6:20; 2 Tim 1:14).

 

He sent His Spirit to enable his servants to teach and profess those prophecies, to observe and commit to those principles, to improve and apply those promises, and to exercise and employ those powers.

 

Just as he gave gifts to men, he gave one five talents; another two talent and another one talent - according to their respective abilities. Then He went away.

 

*Prayer Point 2*

Father, I acknowledge that the Earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof. I thank You for all that You have given me. Help me to steward faithfully all that you have given me both in the physical and spiritual dimensions. I receive the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit as I trade the talents that You have given me.

 

*The COMMENDATION*

*Matthew 25:16* - “Then he who had received the five talents *went and traded with them*, and made another five talents.”

 

Believers are spiritual tradesmen. The Greek word *ergazomai* which is *trade* is “*to give one’s strength to the work which the Lord wishes to have done*.” So Matthew 25:16 will thus read, “Then he who had received the five talents went and gave his strength to the work which the Lord wished to have done.” Fruitfulness and multiplication are natural results of committing oneself to Kingdom enterprise. Faithfulness produces results!

 

It is noteworthy that two of the three servants were diligent and faithful, trading with the talents God invested in them. However, there some believers who still remain slothful in the things of the Kingdom.

 

Firstly, a closer look at the lord’s commendation of “*Well done, diligent and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things*” of two of the three servants suggest that:

1. A believer can be diligent but not faithful. The consequence of this is an unstable or unreliable believer, or one that is not loyal.

2. A believer can also be loyal but not diligent. The result of this a believer that lacks results in their life.

 

Secondly, the commendation proposes that:

1. Diligence and faithfulness are required for a seed planted (or talent traded) to bear fruits. Further, wisdom is required to fill and subdue one’s domain through the multiplication of the seed (or the trade of the talent), and the sovereign blessing of God is required to give you dominion in life.

 

*Genesis 1:28* - “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion…”

 

As an aside, note that the greater talents or gifts you have, the more challenges you have to face, and hence the greater your sphere of dominion.

 

- If you have the talent of Moses, you have to be ready to conquer your Pharaoh

- If you have the talent of David, you have to be ready to conquer your Goliath

- If you have the talent of Esther, you have to be ready to conquer your Haman

- If you have the talent of Elijah, you have to be ready to conquer your Ahab and Jezebel

- If you have the talent of John the Baptist, you have the ready to conquer your Herodias

 

2. Failure to be faithful in the few things God has committed into your hands disqualifies you for rulership over many things. God will only give according to your ability.

 

*Prayer Point 3*

Father, I obtain the grace to be diligent and faithful in all the things that you have committed into my hands. I submit to the guidance of your wisdom. Make my hands to profit in every area of life, career, ministry, employment. I receive the grace and tenacity to be faithful over a few things in readiness for the elevation to rule over many things IJN.