Episode Transcript
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Greetings, friends.
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Welcome to Walking in His Word,
the podcast where we embarked on a short,
faith filled journey
through the scriptures
and episodes that are both concise
and impactful.
Each week,
we take an 8 to 10 minute,
purposeful stroll
through the pages of God's Word,
offering insights, wisdom,
and inspiration to enhance our day.
So join us as we explore each topic,
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uncovering the treasures
hidden within the scriptures
and learning how
they can be applied to our lives.
So let's take this brief
but powerful journey of walking
in His Word together.
In this episode,
we're going to close out our series
on the parables of Jesus,
and we're going to look at the subject
of utilizing their talents
taken from the parable of the talents
found in Matthew 2514 through 30.
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So let's read
the first few verses together
that talk about this parable.
Verses 14 and 15 Matthew 25 again,
for the kingdom of heaven is a man
traveling into a far country,
who called his own servants
and delivered them
his goods, and onto one
he gave
five talents, and the other two,
and the other one
to each man according to his ability,
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and straightway took his journey.
We looked at the parable of the pounds
in our last episode.
In this
parable is very similar to that parable.
In the last episode,
we learned that everyone was given
the same amount
and expected to bring an increase.
In this episode,
we see that each man
was given something different
a and it says according to their ability.
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And just a reminder
that in this time of history,
a talent was a unit of monetary measure
equivalent to about
6000 denarii,
and one denarius was one day's wage.
So one talent
would take an ordinary laborer
about 20 years to earn.
Again, this parable is a little different
because each man was given
according to his ability.
The master had a unique understanding
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of what each man could handle
and gave them
that opportunity accordingly.
This is a key thing for us to note
because in last episode
the focus was on time.
We're all given the same amount of time,
the same amount of hours in a day,
and we're expected
to bring an increase
in the Kingdom of heaven with this time.
Here,
the differences in their goods
received is linked directly
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with their ability.
So let's read the next few verses
with what each man did
with what they were given.
So let's read the next few verses
and find out what the men did
with what they were given.
And these are in verses 16 through 18.
Then he had received
the five talents, went and traded
with the same,
and made five additional talents,
and likewise
he the received two,
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also gained another two,
but he the received one, went
and dug a hole in the earth
and hid his Lord's money.
Two of these men
doubled their initial investment.
It didn't matter to them
how much they were given.
They went out and do the best
they could with what they were given.
The other man,
however, buried his in the ground
and brought no increase whatsoever.
Now in verse 19,
we learn that the master returns
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after a long time.
He wasn't expecting immediate results.
He knew it would take a long time.
So he went out and then he returns.
Likewise,
we don't know how long it will be
before the Lord requires
an account for our lives.
I work in the field
of project management,
and one of the things
I learned throughout my career
is that there are some people,
when given a deadline,
they will wait until the day
before the task is due
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to actually start working.
Inevitably, this leads to delays
and complications.
These servants had no idea
when the master would be returning,
and they immediately went to work
to accomplish the most
with what they had been given.
When the master returns,
two of them
were excited
to present their results to him.
I'm paraphrasing a bit here,
but they both say, master,
look what I have done
with what you've given me,
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and the master is pleased.
He praises them for the work and says,
well done.
He commends them
as good and faithful servants,
and he rewards them by promoting them.
You were faithful over a few things.
I will make you ruler over many things,
and he invites them
to share in the happiness
by saying, enter
into the joy of the Lord.
But the last response to the third man.
I'd like us to read together.
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It says, master,
I knew you were a hard man,
reaping where you did not so,
and gathering where you scattered
no seed.
So I was afraid.
I went and hid your talent in the ground.
And here you have what is yours.
The servant
who hid his money
faces the master and begins
by making excuses.
Lord, I knew you were a hard man.
I was afraid
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and I went hid your talent in the ground.
You know.
He seeks to appease the Lord
by returning what he had
given the places. Look. What?
Here's what you have.
Here's what you gave me.
But this is clearly not a good way
to endear yourself
with a master or a boss.
As we'll see his response,
he calls his servant wicked.
He says, you wicked and slothful
or lazy servant.
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You knew that I report.
I don't sell in
you gathered where I scattered
no seed,
that you should have invested my money
with the bankers.
And am I coming?
I could have received interest at least.
So take the talent from him
and give it to them.
Who has ten talents?
He calls him wicked.
He calls him lazy.
He says he could have at least deposited
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in a bank account for the interest,
and has this unprofitable
servant cast into outer darkness
what it says in that in the parable
with weeping and gnashing of teeth.
So what are the heavenly principles
that we can glean from this parable?
The first point is that
we must faithfully use the opportunities
and talents that the Lord provides us.
Ultimately, whatever
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we have, opportunities or abilities,
they all belong to God.
We may possess them, but God owns them.
We are simply to be faithful
stewards of what he has given us.
So maybe give it a little, then some,
maybe give it a lot.
But what really matters
most is what we do with what we're given.
I grew up in the church,
and I have lots of friends
that are also in the ministry,
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and they are all
extremely talented people.
Some have written books,
some have written songs,
and some are even producing
their own TV show for children.
But our talents are not just ministry
gifts like writing, singing or preaching.
I've also known this lady for
my home church
since I was a little boy,
and she has since gone
on to be with the Lord.
But to my knowledge,
she never preached,
led worship,
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or wrote a book or visit a mission field.
Even she didn't have a lot of money
and actually lived quite modestly.
But her gift was to pray for people.
When I was in Bible school,
she would send me greeting cards
with a little handwritten,
three by five cards
with verses on them, and a little prayer
that she wrote out for me.
And they were always right,
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exactly what I needed
when I was in the church
and it was my birthday
or something like that,
she would give me a greeting card
and it would have a three by five card
on the inside of it,
with a handwritten verse
and a little prayer on the back
saying how much she was praying for me.
And then when I moved away
to Bible school,
she would continue to send them
several times a year.
She was a friend of the family,
and so I thought it was just me.
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And we were,
you know, family acquaintances.
But then one day I went down
to the classroom
when I was going to Bible school,
and several of my fellow
students were there,
and they were opening cards,
and each one
had a little letter
from this lady from my home church,
and we all cherish them.
I learned later on that she would do this
for anyone
that the Lord laid on her heart.
Missionaries around the world
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would get greeting
cards from her
with these little verses
that were handwritten,
and it was so precious.
So she truly utilized everything
she had been given for the Lord.
And it might not have been much,
but it was an impact around the world,
and I have no doubt in my mind
that when she got to heaven,
she heard Jesus say to her, well done,
good and faithful servant.
You've been faithful
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in these little things,
and I will make you ruler over many.
Enter into the joy of the Lord.
It is such a blessing
to know that,
just as in this parable,
you might have different talents, skills,
or opportunities
compared to the person
sitting next to you,
and some of you might have
a gift of leadership,
while others excel
at acts of kindness or prayer.
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And perhaps you have a talent
for teaching,
singing or listening in
comforting or praying.
Whatever it is
that God has entrusted you
with something special
and utilize
that to the fullest possible
that you can.
There might be times
when you felt fear or insecurity
and held you back from using these gifts.
Maybe you've made excuses thinking
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that your gift isn't good enough,
or that it's not big enough,
or that your contribution can
really make a difference.
We can all relate to moments like that.
I certainly can,
but there are ways to overcome
that and just focus on
God has given this to me
and I want to use it
to the best of my ability.
This lady, like I said,
she would just write out,
write out cards, and pray
and write words of encouragement.
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It was such a blessing and I mean, I,
I don't have a number of how many people
she's affected by every person.
I've taught.
Many of the people that I've talked to in
who are missionaries and others,
several received cards from her.
So take a moment to reflect
on your own talents
and reflect on opportunities
that God has given you.
What is he entrusted you with?
Are you using those abilities
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to your fullest potential,
or have you let fear and excuses
hold you back?
So remember
that God has given you
something specific
and a specific opportunity.
A specific reason.
And I want to encourage you.
Don't bury those talents.
Don't bury them out of fear
or complacency.
Commit to maximizing your God
given talents for his glory.
Imagine the impact you can make
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when we as a church community,
as a community of believers,
actively support
and actively engage
in maximizing our talents.
This includes encouraging others
to build up their talents.
A lot of times
if we're not careful, fear
and even jealousy can come in
and say, well,
that person's got a greater gift
than I do,
but encourage other people
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in the use of their talents.
Encourage people
to engage with
and give and offer
everything that they have.
And it builds such a community of support
and a community of people
who feel empowered to use the gifts
that God has given them.
It is such a blessing
remember the eternal perspective.
The rewards in God's kingdom far outweigh
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any challenges
or fears that we will face.
So let's fix our eyes
on the joy of hearing the Lord say,
well done, good and faithful servant.
So what is your talent?
The number or quantity of the talent
is not significant.
It is what we do with what we are given.
The Lord knows our abilities
and he gives us according
to those, each of those abilities.
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Some might feel like you only have one,
or maybe you don't feel
like you have any.
Generally,
I find that people who feel like
they don't have tools
that are good enough
is because they get focused on
comparing themselves with other people.
Remember, we're not all the same.
I'm not the greatest singer.
I'm not the greatest writer.
I'm not the greatest preacher.
But I do my best with
what God has given me.
I had another friend during Bible school
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who has a great gift
with mechanics
and built in cars,
and I know nothing
about any of these things.
But my friend, he can fix anything.
The during Bible school
he helped me out with several broken down
car situations,
and as a poor Bible school student,
I was, extremely worried
about how he would get out of those.
But every time I would try to pay him,
every time he would refuse,
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he say, this is my gift
and I do it to bless you.
Well, I was blessed
and I've been blessed,
and many others have been blessed
in the same way.
And I'm reminded
of these famous verses
from first Corinthians 1218 to 20,
which said,
but as it is,
God arranged the members of the body,
each one of them, as he chose.
If I were a single member,
where would the body be?
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As it is, there are many parts.
You are one body,
so whatever your talent may be, know
that you are critical
to the kingdom of heaven.
A critical piece of the body of Christ.
I trust this
parable has encouraged you today.
If you don't know what your talents
are, ask God to show you.
Chances are, though, you already know.
So whatever your talent may be,
don't compare yourself to others.
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Go out today
and use that talent
for the kingdom of heaven
and don't hide it.
I trust that we will all one day
hear the Lord Jesus say, well done,
good and faithful servant. God bless you.
Thank you so much for joining us
on this enlightening journey
through the parables
of Jesus and the Walking
in His Word podcast.
We hope you found inspiration, wisdom,
and a deeper connection
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as we navigate the parables.
Remember, these timeless stories
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even in the midst of life's challenges.
Keep walking in His Word
and may his light shine upon your path
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until our next parables.
Let your journey be blessed.