On Friday I got to kick off our Youth series for the term. The series we are doing, is the same as the rest of the church on Sunday, with the idea to help people think about how they can use their gifts for the church and beyond. At youth, we have reduced this series to some pretty targeted questions. The one below helps to answer "How to use our gifts for others"
Since we are still in lockdown, you can watch me give this talk to no one and make poor eye contact with the camera. (I could have delivered it live via our big combined zoom, but I was worried about the tech not working, and on Friday my camera decided to cut out for about 20 minutes at the start so I am glad I did record it beforehand):
Have you ever been caught out because you were lazy? Not because you forgot something, (which I am doing all the time), but because you simply didn’t want to do it, or it seemed too hard to even try?
At uni, I had to do macroeconomics for my IT degree. I couldn’t see the point in that, as I didn’t want to be an accountant or some finance guy, I wanted to be a programmer. What do I need to know about macroeconomics? During that semester I would skip classes and not do the readings, which was fine until the final exam came. Then I was in a bit of a panic. It was worth at least 60% of the grade, and so far that term I was barely making it through. 13 weeks of not paying attention in class or reading the textbook had caught up with me. Being lazy for the term was fine until now, and I wasn’t happy at all. And surprise surprise my parents weren’t much comfort. I remember them saying, “well sometimes in life you have to do things you don’t want to do”. I learnt my lesson that term about putting things off.
The parable
In our story today there are three servants who are given a financial task by a wealthy man. In this story, two set off and do some work, and one does very little. Like me, he probably doesn’t understand macroeconomics.At the start of the story, we see the man giving out bags of gold. I’m not sure he is a leprechaun, but those are the guys I normally think of with bags of gold.
So each servant doesn’t get the same amount but is given bags based on their abilities. Even one bag of gold has people estimating that it could employ 20 people for a whole year[1]. I think it is kind to give money based on abilities as it also helps with coping with the responsibility[2] as some people have different personal circumstances[3]. I would be freaking out if someone told me to invest $5 million dollars for them. I wouldn’t know where to start and what to do. However, if they gave me $2000 and asked if I could make a website that combines weather data, your personal calendar of events and what you have in your wardrobe, and then spits out what you should wear for the day, then I probably could do that and make a few bucks off it too[4].
The return (Parousia)
Now after ages and ages the rich guy who probably isn’t a leprechaun comes back to see how things are going. The first two servants arrive with a spring in their step. They both have doubled what was given to them. The master replies to both, “well done, I trusted you with a few things, I’ll entrust you with more. Come and share in my happiness”. They are warmly greeted and included.But not the third guy. The third guy doesn’t mention what he has made, because he hasn’t made any more money. Instead, the first thing he says to his master is that he is a meanie. And since this man was mean the servant was scared so he didn’t do anything. This to me doesn’t make sense. First off, if this leprechaun guy was so mean and you were so scared of him, wouldn’t that motivate you to do something out of fear? Also, if this guy is super mean and your boss, why say that to his face? What do you think is going to happen after that? If your super mean teacher that no one likes gives everyone around you the same task, you don’t say to their face that you are mean so I’m not going to. What do you think will happen? This third guy seems a bit off the mark.
Besides, how did the master respond to the first two guys? With anger or joy? He gives them more responsibility and welcomes them in to share in his joy. It seems this third guy has a wrong view of his master; he possibly doesn’t really know who he is.
The master goes along with the third servants’ line of thinking. He calls him wicked, lazy and in verse 30, worthless. The master instantly comes up with a better plan than just burying the money. Why didn’t the guy at least put it in a bank? Now don’t ever come to me for financial advice, but I think I would of thought putting money in a bank would be a better place than old mates backyard. At least you get a bit of interest out of it.
In the end the third servant is cast out, away from the master.
The point
Jesus tells this story along with two more in this same chapter, all making a similar point. These stories are aimed at followers of Jesus letting them know that before Jesus returns, disciples are called to faithful service to God’s kingdom[5].So how do we do this? What we need is a right view of God to help with a right way of serving God.
A right view of God
It seems in this parable, what we think about our master will affect how we will behave while He is away. We need a right view of God if we are to use our gifts to help others.The third servant’s behaviour came from his attitude towards his master. He thought he was mean. Some people also think that God is mean, or absent or doesn’t care about us, and this results in them not listening or obeying Him. Even Christians may think that God is unloving or not smart enough to know what is best and so stop obeying Him[6].
The first two servants were faithful to their master and the way they approached him, they didn’t seem scared of Him. And in the end, they both were welcomed in to share in their master’s happiness. They were blessed for doing what was asked of them. They weren’t paralysed by fear.
A right way of serving God
We see that the third servant was called wicked not because he misused the money, but because he was lazy[7]. Its not that he put the money in trendy start-ups or off-brand cryptocurrency that didn’t work out, the guy just didn’t do anything. Do you sometimes feel this, an opportunity arises but you’re not sure, you don’t risk it, you play it safe and do nothing so achieve nothing? Some people are paralysed by inaction because they fear they may do something wrong[8].I remember sometimes when the topic of God or Jesus came up in conversation at school, I would get scared that I would say something wrong, I felt like I didn’t know enough, so I didn’t say anything. But someone told me that it's better to say something about Jesus than nothing at all. If you say something about Jesus, drawing what little you know about Him from the Bible, then you are smack bang on the right track. You don’t have to say everything, but don’t be paralysed by fear and say nothing.
In this parable, it seems to stress that disciples of Jesus do something with what they have been given. Hopefully, it is clear, coming out of last term, we don’t serve God to earn our keep in the kingdom of heaven. Instead, this parable is saying that “sacrificial service is a necessary evidence of salvation. A heart that has truly trusted in Christ and a life that is truly longing for Christ will be consumed with serving”[9].
You may not be a leprechaun with have bags of money, but you have been given lots of things. You have at least been given time, people and skills.
We all have the same time, what are you busy doing? Is it your master's work, are you investing in God’s kingdom with your time?
Who has God placed around you? Your friends, your family, workmates, sporting mates. Are you investing in God’s kingdom in these relationships?
What skills do you have? Can you write, code, play an instrument, learn things quickly? Are you creative and make great art or tell good stories? Are you using these skills investing in God’s kingdom?
Now how you answer these questions may be different, and we will talk about these more in our discussions, but for now, here are two generalise examples.
Love in serving
Think about home at the moment, everyone is in lockdown, parents are trying to work from home, online meets are happing all the time. Rhythms are thrown out. People at home might already be frustrated, or pessimistic. Think of a way you can demonstrate God’s love you have been shown to those you are living with. If you don’t already, maybe you could cook dinner for your family one night this week. Even using your own money to pay for the supplies. I know some of you have an interest in cooking, others you might not. At least try spaghetti bolognese, it’s not that hard, and don’t be worried about failing. Give it a go, and don’t forget to wash up too at the end.Love in spurring
How might you help spur someone along in the faith? You could message someone asking them how they are going in the walk with Jesus? You may not feel like you have the right words at all, but you could say something like, hey why don’t we read a paragraph of Philippians, or Mark or Colossians together, either over the phone or online for about 10 minutes every other day. As you commit to this, you both can use your time and you’re thinking together looking at God’s word, thinking about what it says and investing in His kingdom.
These are just ideas. You may have better ones, but a bad idea from this talk, from Jesus in this parable is to do nothing. Look at the third servant as an anti-example to follow. Have a right view of God, know who He is and what He has done for you, and respond and act and serve your master, investing in His kingdom having the same values and priorities as He does.
Remember that Jesus is coming back. On that last day when Jesus returns. Will you be commended for your love, or condemned for your laziness?[10]
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you are a loving kind Father, who saved us and brought us back to you. I pray Lord that we would seek you and your ways, that we don’t think this Christianity thing is about knowing the right things, but it is about doing. Showing people your love, and telling people about your love. Help us to find ways this week where we can be using what we have, in service towards those around us.
In Christ's name. Amen.
[1] Robert H. Gundry, Commentary on Matthew, says 20 people. Others say it was about 6,000 denarii (Ben Witherington III, Matthew (Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary)) which is about 16 people for the year.
[2] Robert H. Gundry, Commentary on Matthew
[3] R. T. France, Matthew (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)
[4] Someone had once pitched me this idea and I thought it was possible to make, although a bit tedious to set up your wardrobe initially. It is probably true that companies would love to know what you are wearing and then try and advertise you similar items, or more items for a certain weather pattern if you are lacking suitable clothes.
[5] Donald Alfred Hagner, Matthew 14-28, Volume 33B (Word Biblical Commentary) says “faithful and steady service”
[6] Michael J. Wilkins, Matthew (The NIV Application Commentary)
[7] Ben Witherington III, Matthew (Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary)
[8] R. T. France, Matthew (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)
[9] David Platt, Exalting Jesus in Matthew, the quote ends with “men and women who are in Christ.”, perhaps leaning on the next parable (the sheep and the goats). Still, I think this parable is about serving or investing in God’s work including everyone.
[10] David Platt, Exalting Jesus in Matthew
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