GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Based on the things happening in the world, it is evident that Jesus is about to return to this earth. When he returns, as his manager, He expects us to give an account of how we have managed His resources. He will expect a return on His investments.
We have been looking at how to manage the money and resources God has given us successfully. We have determined that successfully managing money and possessions involves getting our priorities straight. In setting our priorities, we must put God first in everything we do and value people and relationships with others over money and possessions.
Like everything else, when it comes to living eternally, we must have faith and trust in God for our eternal salvation.
Though we are not saved by the good that we do, yet from examining the Bible, we find that as faithful managers of His resources, God expects us to do good.
Thus, we now look at what God has promised us and the assurance that we will get what He has promised.
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Asking God for Help
Father, you have given us resources to manage and use for the advancement of your kingdom; help us manage them wisely so that when you return, we will be deemed good and faithful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
When Jesus was about to leave this earth, He painted a picture of what it would be like just before he came back. In Matthew 24:3, curious to know the sign of Jesus’ second coming, His disciples came to Him and privately asked him to tell them what they could expect just before His return.
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)
Knowing that they were going to experience some difficult times before his return, taking up two chapters in the book of Matthew, Matthew 24 and 25, He took time to give detailed signs of his return.
In Mathew 24, He told of signs such as wars, pestilence, and disasters happening in the world just before His return. Then, In Matthew 25, to provide instructions on what they should be doing while waiting, he talked about the conditions in the church and gave examples of good and faithful managers. Read Matthew 24 and 25 to get a full picture.
To help them understand the conditions just before His coming and what they should be doing as faithful managers, he told three stories.
One of the three stories is a parable many refer to as the Ten Talents. It is found in Matthew 25:14-19. It is about a rich man who goes on a long trip. He leaves some of His riches in the hands of his servants to manage.
This parable depicts how God has given His people the responsibility of managing the resources he has given them. It addresses how His managers have used what He has given them. And it demonstrates God’s expectations of those to whom he has given responsibility.
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (Matthew 25:14–19)
Many think of gifts or talents as natural gifts, such as singing, speaking, writing, and so on. But God’s gifts are so much more than these things.
For instance, Luke 19:12–26 talks of talents in terms of money. Thus, talent is not merely the ability to speak or teach; it also has to do with money and possessions.
What’s important here is how we use the talents God has given us. This is the point made in Matthew 25:20–23.
Notice what God says to the faithful managers of his work.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:20-23)
For the managers that were faithful in the management of His resources, God offered them a place in His Kingdom, the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
What do you think about the one with the one talent who buried it?
As humans, we have the natural tendency to think that another person has more talents than we have and is, therefore, more accountable to God. Yet, in this story, the person with the one talent was the one who was unfaithful and lost the right to enter God’s kingdom. This brings up an important point about looking at the responsibilities and resources of others. Rather than focusing on someone else resources and responsibilities, we should focus on the responsibilities and resources God has given us, no matter how large or small they may appear.
The story in Matthew 25:24–30 shows us that though a person may appear to have more money or talents does not mean that God expects more work from the person with more and less work from the person with less. (Split)
Because the person in the parable refused to use the one talent, he forfeited his right to enter the kingdom.
So, we should not worry about what God asks other people to do. We should concern ourselves only with what God has given us and use it to the best of our ability. So that when he returns, his response to us will be well done, my good and faithful servant, enter into my kingdom.
God has not promised all of his managers equal responsibilities or resources. But he has promised that he will supply all our needs. What is most important is not this world’s riches, for he has a far greater reward. In the meantime, what must we do? Find out on Day 6: Eye on the Prize
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