Mar. 10, 2024

                             “What in The World are You Doing for Heaven’s Sake?”

                                                             Matthew 25:14-30

March 10, 2024                                                                                                        Dr. Don Bazal

      Jesus by telling this parable divides His servants into two groups:

         A Profit Giver or A Hole Digger.

Five Truths a Profitable Servant must not Forget.

 1. Our Expectations are to Exceed our Reservations:  v.19a.

      Luke 19:13 – And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said 

     to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’

 2.  We know our Master will Expect a Return when He Returns:  v.19b.

       Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for 

      us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

       John 21:21-22 – So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this 

      man?” ²² Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is 

      that to you? You follow Me!”

       Luke 19:15 – When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that 

      these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he 

      might know what business they had done.

3.  Our Revelation will give Evidence of Our Dedication:  vv 24-25.

       TRUTH:  Our actions reveal our attitude.

      Proverbs 16:2 – All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
      but the Lord weighs the motives.

      Romans 14:12 –  So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

     TRUTH:  Our limitations are determined by our reservations.

     Mark 6:4-6 – Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his 

     hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” ⁵ And He 

     could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people 

     and healed them. ⁶ And He wondered at their unbelief.

     TRUTH:  God is not looking for superstars but successful servants.

     Oswald Chambers:  “God’s revelation of Himself to me is determined by my 

     character not God’s character”.  Psalm 18:25-26

     Psalm 18:25-26 – With the kind You show Yourself kind; with the blameless   

     You show Yourself blameless; ²⁶ With the pure You show Yourself pure, and,
     with the crooked You show Yourself astute [or twisted].

4.  Our Sense of Obligation is Evidence of Our Salvation:  vv 25,27.

      Romans 1:4 – who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection 

      from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,

      I Corinthians 4:7 – For who regards you as superior? What do you have that  

      you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had 

      not received it?

      TRUTH:  The use of our gifts governs our joy:  vv 21,23.

5.  Our Examination will Elicit our Commendation or Condemnation:   vv 21-24.

      John 15:4,8,11 – ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit 

      of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  

      . . . ⁸ My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be 

     My disciples. . . ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in 

     you, and that your joy may be made full.

     Luke 19:15 – When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that 

      these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he 

      might know what business they had done.

     Hebrews 3:15 – “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, 

      as when they provoked Me.”

      I Corinthians 4:2 – In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be 

      found trustworthy.

      James 2:14-18 – What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but 

      he has no works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without 

      clothing and in need of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in 

      peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is 

      necessary for their body, what use is that? ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it has no works, is 

     dead, being by itself. ¹⁸ But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have 

     works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by 

     my works.”

      Matthew 25:30 – Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that 

      place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

      2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 

      so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to 

      what he has done, whether good or bad.