Jesus wasn’t politically correct. When He tells the parable of the talents (bags of gold), if He were PC, He would have given everyone the same amount. However, when Jesus tells the story you see He mixes it up. I can hear someone whining already, “Hey, he got more than me!”

 

Stepping In: READ IT

Read Matthew 25:1-46

 

Building Up: STUDY IT

Focus on Matthew 25:18, 30

 

Verse 18 shows us what that dude did: nothing. Verse 30 shows us the consequence. Ouch.

 

The man with 5 bags and the guys with 2 put theirs to work and actually doubled them. But know this, while Jesus is using money to make His point, it’s about a lot more than money. He’s talking about what we do with the life we’ve been given. Some are five talent people, others are two talent people and some seem to have one. It’s not how much you have of time, ability, money, or opportunities…it’s what you do with them that matters.

 

Living Out: APPLY IT

 

Application questions (Is there a… 1. Sin to CONFESS 2. Promise to CLAIM 3. Attitude to CHANGE 4. Command to OBEY 5. Example to FOLLOW (or not) 6. Prayer to PRAY 7. Error to AVOID 8. Truth to BELIEVE 9. Something to PRAISE GOD FOR). 

 

I asked you to look at the one negative example. If you have a couple minutes, re-read the story and focus on the positive examples. There’s two of them. Now, ask yourself one very important question: Am I putting what God has given to me to use for His glory or am I wasting or even burying it?

 

Dear Father, I’m glad I’m surrounded by people who are using their lives to make a difference in this valley. I don’t want to waste or bury any part of the life you’re giving me to live.