PARABLE OF THE TALENTS [podcast]

The Eternal Consequence of Obedience vs Neglect

A parable is an earthy story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus’ parable of the talents is a teaching and severe warning of stewardship and the eternal consequences of obeying or disobeying God in the matter of our handling of His resources in this fleeting life.

“And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” 1 Corinthians 7:31

It is said that of the 38 parables Jesus taught, 16 of them involve stewardship. To further underscore the divine importance placed on stewardship, we should note that there are 500 verses in the Bible on faith and 2,500 on stewardship. OUR stewardship plainly reveals if we are serving Christ or self (Matthew 6:19-24).

God only increases the blessings, the responsibilities, the stewardship of those who are using what He already gave them for His glory. In fact, Jesus may just take away what we have if we aren’t generous in our giving.

“For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” Matthew 25:29

Are you using what God’s giving you for His glory? We “remember” God by using what He gives us to “establish his covenant.”

“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18

Many times we hear people saying things like “When I get rich THEN I am going to start giving to support God’s work.” Yet this is not according to the teachings of Jesus who taught that as we are thankful and faithful with what we ALREADY have, THEN He multiplies it – for eternal treasure and perhaps here also. Read Christ’s parable of the talents afresh in Matthew 25:14-30.

Read Jesus Parable of the Talents. Matthew 25:14-30.

So you pretend to want God to use you and yet you don’t even read His Word and seek His face in prayer each morning? You don’t even contribute to His work? Not going to happen. The LORD only rewards those who are faithful with what they already have. Read Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25. Repent and lay down your life. You are backslidden and heading to hell (Revelation 2:4-5; 3:16-17). The phony pastor you sit under won’t tell you this.

As you are faithful with what the LORD has already given you, then, and only then, will He multiply it back to you, perhaps here and for sure in eternity. Are you faithful to abide, to obey Him by obeying His Word, by stewarding His resources for His eternal glory? If so, Jesus and the Father are dwelling rich with you and will multiply and prosper you according to your wise, faithful stewardship of what is already in your possession – which is all from Him (1 Chronicles 29:14; John 14:21-23).

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 28:20

God is not going to add to, He’s not going to multiply His supply and blessings to anyone who is sitting around, doing the church attendance thing, and not doing His biblically stated will – of loving, tending to, giving to, serving, and blessing others (Matthew 22:37-39). Every true disciple is a doer of the WORD (James 1:22; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.). True disciples are not known by being a church attender, which any old dead fish counterfeit can be. No, the true servant of Christ is known by his supreme love for, and faithful obedience to Christ his King, his “first love” (Revelation 2:4-5).

“For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 29:14

Every good gift and blessing is from God (James 1:17). We take from what He’s given us and we share it with others – whether that be supply, or spiritual blessings in Christ, or material blessings.

“Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8

According to Matthew 25:14-30, What we do with what our Lord has given us on this earth has serious eternal consequences! Our own actions (or inactions) as ones who are “called” and are “his own servants” determine whether we will spend eternity in Heaven with our Lord and Master, or if we will be cast irrevocably into outer darkness where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth”!!!

Matthew 25:14-30

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

¹⁵ And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

¹⁶ Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

¹⁷ And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

¹⁸ But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

²⁰ And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

²¹ His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

²² He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

²³ His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

²⁴ Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

²⁶ His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

²⁷ Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

²⁸ Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

²⁹ For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

³⁰ And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Please understand “that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” (Romans 2:4), and “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Yet Jesus taught that it’s only those who are faithful with what He’s already given them who will be promoted and rewarded in His kingdom! Parable of the talents, Matthew 25.

So you don’t even apply the diligent daily discipline of waking up and seeking the face of the LORD in prayer and His Word and yet, you still want God to use you, to give your more responsibility in His kingdom? Not going to happen until you obey Him in the seemingly small things (Psalms 5:3; 63:1; Matthews 6:6; Mark 1:35, etc.). 

Also, understand that God is severe in His judgment of rebels of which there are “many” who claim they are saved. Eternal damnation awaits all rebels (Matthew 7:13-23, etc.).

“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:22

Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth (remains) in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide (remain) not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 5:5-6).

As we abide in Christ (“the vine”), and Christ in us, His grace enables us to bring forth “much fruit” if we remain in Him. However, “If a man abide not (does not remain) in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 5: 6).

Charles Pray writes:

“Christianity has become a give take Religion. JESUS gave, False Christian leaders are TAKING advantage of every opportunity to get what ever they can for themselves. I am tired of hearing Christians saying we shouldn’t judge. Jesus says to “judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) God calls us to be good stewards of everything He gives us including and I believe most importantly, our money. because of how hard it is for us to part with. Here are some scriptures on giving and being a good steward! King James Bible Titus 1:7-9, Colossians 3:23, 1 Corinthians 4:2, Hebrews 13:5, 1 Timothy 5:8, Matthew 25:20-21, 1 Peter 4:10, Mark 12:41-44, John 2:15-17, Proverbs 3:27, Acts 20:35, lastly read all of Malachi chapter 3, Amen!”

PRAYER: Holy Father, in the name of Jesus, I come to You now in repentance for having squandered Your resources, for being hardened in heart, for not truly trusting You to replenish what You gave as I give it out, for not caring for others, for being selfish, and for not supplying Your labourers. Please forgive my sins. Right now, if never before, I lay my life into Your holy hands, I release my spirit unto You now LORD and all that is in my temporal possession in this brief life. In Jesus’ Name.

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