Children in a Boston school
system were asked to write down some of the things they had learned in their
short lives; and I think it will make you chuckle:
(1) “Never trust your dog to watch your food.” Patrick, age 10
(2) “When your dad is mad and asks you, ‘Do I look stupid?’ Don’t answer.” Hannah, age 9
(3) “Never tell your Mom her diet’s not working.” Michael, age 12
(4) “When your Mom is mad at your dad, don’t let her brush your hair.” Taylia, age 11
(5) “Never let your three-year-old brother in the same room as your school assignment.” Traci, age 14
(6) “You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.” Amir, age 9
(7) “If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.” Naomi, age 15
(8) “Permanent felt-tip markers are not good to use as lipstick.” Lauren, age 9
(9) “When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your Mom when she’s on the phone.” Alyesha, age 13
(10) “Never try to baptize a cat.” Eileen, age 8
(1) “Never trust your dog to watch your food.” Patrick, age 10
(2) “When your dad is mad and asks you, ‘Do I look stupid?’ Don’t answer.” Hannah, age 9
(3) “Never tell your Mom her diet’s not working.” Michael, age 12
(4) “When your Mom is mad at your dad, don’t let her brush your hair.” Taylia, age 11
(5) “Never let your three-year-old brother in the same room as your school assignment.” Traci, age 14
(6) “You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.” Amir, age 9
(7) “If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.” Naomi, age 15
(8) “Permanent felt-tip markers are not good to use as lipstick.” Lauren, age 9
(9) “When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your Mom when she’s on the phone.” Alyesha, age 13
(10) “Never try to baptize a cat.” Eileen, age 8
The First Principle in this Parable is to realize that, what we have is not our own. (v. 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.” What these servants were given was not their own it still belonged to the master it is called “his goods” and considered “his property.” Has it ever bothered you that the master in this parable did not give his servants the same amount?
The Second Principle of being a steward is to realize that, we are given all
that we can handle. We are to use it and improve it. (v. 15) “And to one he
gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his
own ability;” If we don’t make the best use of what we have, why should we be
given more?
I’m sure many of us have
heard people excuse themselves from doing anything in the church by appealing
to what they do not have…I will give you the excuse, and tell you what they are
saying they don’t have…… “I’m too old.”… ( I don’t have the energy )
… “I’m too young.”… ( I don’t have the experience )
… “I’m not educated.”… ( I don’t have the right training )
… “I’m too busy.” … ( I don’t have enough time )
… “I’m not good enough.”… ( There are others more qualified )
… “I could never do that.” ( I don’t have the desire to even try )
When God asked Moses to tell Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go, Moses used a number of phrases to complain about what he did not have: “Who am I that I should go…? “Suppose they do not believe me?”… “I have never been eloquent…” After listening to Moses’ complaints, God said to him: “What is that in your hand?” In essence, God was saying: “Moses, I am not interested in what you do not have; Take what you have and I will use it to accomplish that which I have intended for your life.”
The word “talent” has come into our language from this parable. Rather than money, however, it has come to mean abilities and special gifts. We must be careful not to interpret the parable of the talents simply on the meaning of the word “talent” or money. I would submit that everything we have and everything we are comprise the talents entrusted to us by God. This includes our abilities; each precious moment of every day, every week, every month, and every year given to us…or our time; our material and financial resources; even our relationships with loved ones and friends…the gift of God’s salvation and our testimony - in short—our very lives! All of this is entrusted to us by God, and we are called to be God’s stewards!
The Third Principle of being a steward is to realize that, we will be accountable
for what we have done with what we have been given. (v. 19) “After a long time
the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.” Notice
carefully that each servant is only accountable for what his master has given
him. The two-talent servant does not have to give account for the five talents
entrusted to the other servant. Each man will give an account of himself unto
God. Instead of comparing ourselves one with another, we are better off making
sure we give a good account of what we have…and what we have done with it. God
calls all of us to realize the potential of our lives…and to maximize the years
of our lives!
The Fourth Principle of being a steward is to realize that, what we do with
what we have been given reveals our view of God (vv. 20-25) The true character of the third servant was
revealed as soon as he opened his mouth. I want you to notice that the third
servant talked more than the other two combined. The first two servants use a
mere sixteen words each to report their gains, but the lazy servant used 51
words in an attempt to justify why he had basically done nothing! If we truly love
the Lord like we say we do, then we will do whatever we can to please Him. If
we don’t know how, then we will find out how.
The Fifth Principle of being a steward is to realize that, what we do with
what we have been given has benefits beyond this life. (vv. 28-30) We are to be
pitied if we only look for rewards in this life.
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