Faithfulness

Matthew 25:14-30

E. J. Davis

V. 14 - “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.” The term “kingdom of heaven” is not in the original text. It should read, “For as a man traveling into a far country...” In this parable, the man speaks of the Lord Jesus and the far country is heaven. So it represents a portion of this age. There are some special lessons pertaining to us, even tho Jesus is speaking especially of Israel. God wants people who are trustworthy. The subject is primarily of faithful service and putting to use what the Lord gives.

V. 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.” The Lord commits special trusts to His servants. “Talent” here does not mean our individual natural capabilities, although God does use them and increases them as He gives us responsibilities. The thought here is faithfulness and trustworthiness. If we have these before the Lord, God will invest in us and He wants us to return back to Him a profit from our lives.

V. 16-18 - “Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.” Let us take the things He gives us, no matter what they are in life and use them for His benefit. It appears that these talents make us responsible in the measure that they are given. I believe they are opportunities that He gives each of us. It is clear that they increase with the wise use of them. The sphere of service grows larger as we serve. There must be no hiding of the talents. We must make use of all we are and have. Ecc. 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Open doors are set before us. Let us take advantage of every one of them. No one is shut up to uselessness in God’s vineyard. There are opportunities for all of His people and possibilities of increasing our talents. We can add to His riches. Praise God!

V. 19-23 - “after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 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. 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. 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. 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.” He who gained 5 more and he who gained 2 more were recognized alike, as good and faithful servants. No matter what a persons life is like in this world, he is going to receive according to faithfulness.

V. 24-27 - “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 (scattered): And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 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: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury (interest).”

Is this the kind of Lord we have? No, He only gathers where He has sown. The work of the cross is so precious to the faithful ones, but not to this one. He saw Him as a hard Man. We see Him as a loving Man. Most people want to be profitable, but unto themselves. You talk to people, even God’s people and they are more interested in material things than how their lives can be profitable to the Lord.

There are degrees of responsibilities. The one who received but one talent is called upon to gain only one more; but he hides it. This one may have had little natural ability and few opportunities for service and so imagines he is not responsible to do anything. But each one is entrusted with a charge. Let us not despise the little way. The Lord says it is according to our ability. The Lord asks no more of his people.

V. 28-29 - “Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto everyone 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.” The majority of Christians drop out of all responsibility and become weak because of inactive faith and practically give up their talents into the hands of others whom they esteem better qualified. So they get the benefit of the unused talent or opportunity.

Suppose we have but one talent, a very small despised sphere of service. Every day’s wise use of it lends to the doubling of its value. So we are not shut up within the limits of God’s first gift to us. But we can shut ourselves up by hiding our talent in the earth and so we lose what we have and the capacity for gaining more. God’s principle is: “To him that hath shall more be given.” The one that steadily makes use of his opportunities increases accordingly. “But from him that hath not even that which he hath shall be taken away.” It is not the amount we are entrusted with that determines the reward, but our faithfulness to that which was given us. It was possible for the one with one talent to win the same commendation and reward if he used the one talent.

I like the thought here of adding to the joy of the Lord. I believe the one who is faithful to serve in a humble capacity as cheerfully as others in a more exalted sphere, may add to the joy of the Lord in a greater measure. That is service born of a “love that seeketh not its own.” The principle found here applies to every true Christian, yet the one described that hid his Lord’s money, is not even classed with the people of God.

V. 30 - “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” There are those who are called servants that are not of God at all, they are only professors. His conduct is of total unbelief. So arrogant and no fear of the Lord in spite of his empty words. The servants own mouth condemned him, for if he knew his Master was as he thought, he should have loaned his Lord’s money out so He might have received interest on it. This one pictures the legal spirit which often exists in true believers, which must be judged or we will be incapable of using fully all that we have for the blessing of others. Let us not be guilty of this attitude and be found unfaithful, but let us make use of every advantage we have to glorify our Lord, enriching Him and ourselves eternally.