Application:
God wants children to use their talents for His work.
Text:
Matthew 25:14-30.
The Master Distributes His Money:
Jesus told a parable about a man who was going on a journey. So he
called his servants, and entrusted his money to them according to their
abilities. To one he gave five talents (that was a lot of money!)
To another he gave two talents and to a third he gave just one talent.
The man then left on a long journey.
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to
work (probably in a business) and gained five more talents. And the
one with the two talents did the same and gained two more. But the man
who had received only one talent went and dug a hole in the ground and hid
his master's money.
The Five Talents:
After a long time the master of the servants returned and settled accounts with
them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five.
"Master," he said, "You entrusted me with five talents and I have gained five
more for you."
His master replied, "Well done, you good and faithful servant! You have
been faithful with a few things. Now I will put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
The Two Talents:
Then the man with the two talents came and reported. "Master," he said,
"you entrusted me with two talents, and now I have gained two more."
His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been
faithful with a few things. Now I will put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your master’s happiness!"
The One Talent:
Lastly, the man who had received the one talent came before his master.
"Master," he said, "I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have
not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was
afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is
what belongs to you."
His master replied, "You wicked, lazy, unprofitable servant! So you knew
that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered
seed? You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that
when I returned I would have received it back with interest!"
The Penalty:
"Take the talent from him," the master declared, "And give it to the one who
has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he
will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will
be taken from him."
"And throw that worthless servant outside," he ordered, "Into the darkness,
where there will be weeping, pain and torment!"
The Master's Property:
Jesus was talking about taking good care of God's property. It is those
people who reject Jesus as Saviour who will be separated from God forever.
They are thes ones who are like the unprofitable servant who just
the one talent.
But, you have accepted Jesus as your Saviour, so you belong to God and are His
child. God now wants you to serve Him and seek to please Him in all you
do and say. God wants you to do more that just going to Sunday School.
Using Your Talents:
God has given every boy and girl different talents. A talent is a skill
or something special that you can do. God wants to use your talents to
do His work. What work you ask? In spreading the Gospel (the Good
News that Jesus Saves), telling people what God has done for you and in
winning other children for the Lord. There are many things that you can
do at Sunday School and Church, at school and at home.
You could be a helper in Sunday School, read the Bible out loud, play a musical
instrument, sing a solo or in a choir, pray for the sick and those that have
needs, visit and encourage those who are sad, disappointed, discouraged or
grieving, invite children to Sunday School or special meetings, and in many
other ways!
You do have Talents!
Everyone has talents that he or she can use for the Lord. Think about
what you can do and ask God to show you where you could serve Him. It
does not matter how young you are, because God can use anybody. The
most important thing is to want to serve, and to be keen to do anything
that God wants you to do.
Go now, and start to use your talents for God!
God bless.