WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.900 Good morning, brothers and sisters. 00:00:02.819 --> 00:00:09.560 I'm going to be reading from Matthew chapter 25, from verse 14 to 30. 00:00:09.560 --> 00:00:19.200 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:27.700 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:29.939 Then he went away. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:37.660 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 00:00:37.659 --> 00:00:43.299 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 00:00:44.259 --> 00:00:50.219 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:56.459 Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 00:00:57.739 --> 00:01:05.920 And he who had received the five talents came forward bringing the five talents more, saying, 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:08.700 Master, you delivered to me five talents. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:11.680 Here I have made five talents more. 00:01:12.519 --> 00:01:14.680 His master said to him, 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:17.379 Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:01:18.099 --> 00:01:20.019 You have been faithful over a little. 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:22.420 I will set you over much. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:25.140 Enter into the glory of your master. 00:01:25.140 --> 00:01:29.540 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:32.439 Master, you delivered to me two talents. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:34.719 Here I have made two more talents. 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:37.120 His master said to him, 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:40.219 Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:01:40.760 --> 00:01:42.760 Enter into the joy of your master. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:47.579 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 00:01:47.579 --> 00:01:55.420 Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 00:01:55.759 --> 00:01:59.920 So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. 00:02:00.620 --> 00:02:02.280 Here you have what is yours. 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:04.060 But his master answered him, 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:07.060 You wicked and slothful servant. 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:13.780 You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed. 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:17.240 Then you ought to have invested the money with the bankers. 00:02:17.780 --> 00:02:22.680 And at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:28.180 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:33.599 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:38.639 But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:48.339 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness, in that place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 00:02:52.559 --> 00:02:53.559 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:58.199 Will you please pray with me as we come to God's word. 00:03:01.019 --> 00:03:08.319 Father, I pray that you would help us to anticipate the day when you send your son back into this world. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:11.000 When we see him in glory. 00:03:11.519 --> 00:03:20.819 And Lord, I pray that you would fill our hearts with your word this morning and anticipate the delight of that day that's coming. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:23.419 I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:23.919 Amen. 00:03:25.539 --> 00:03:29.899 Well, what motivates a Christian to serve Jesus? 00:03:30.419 --> 00:03:32.219 What motivates a Christian? 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:37.620 I believe, at least, our motives are always mixed. 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:39.740 Mine are, at least. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:44.219 Like pure gold with impure alloys. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:46.419 I think our motives are always mixed. 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:49.840 Please, don't go searching for pure motives in yourself. 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:51.259 It's coming. 00:03:51.939 --> 00:03:52.740 It's called heaven. 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:55.860 It's going to be incredibly pure. 00:03:55.860 --> 00:03:58.180 I'm looking forward to that day. 00:03:58.420 --> 00:04:06.020 But I just want to look at a few common motives, at least I find in my own heart. 00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:08.620 It's not an exhaustive list. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:13.880 One is social pressure to serve Jesus. 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:15.780 Someone taps you on the shoulder. 00:04:15.980 --> 00:04:17.740 Hey, have you signed up to church cleaning? 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:20.740 And your heart just bursts. 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:24.639 Oh, I want to love you, Jesus. 00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:30.900 Now, church cleaning, it's easy to pick on that one because, let's face it, none of us want to do it. 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:32.939 Social pressure. 00:04:34.019 --> 00:04:38.500 We fear the consequences of saying no, and we just say yes. 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:40.100 You remove that pressure. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:43.220 Suddenly, the motivation disappears as well. 00:04:43.220 --> 00:04:51.860 Another motivation that sometimes is in us Christians is the fear of not measuring up. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:54.940 And this is a comparison thing. 00:04:55.020 --> 00:04:56.800 We're not measuring up to other Christians. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:03.280 We want to make sure we've done enough to prove our faith is real. 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:10.240 But the cross of Jesus drives that fear out over the course of our life. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:16.240 We're not meant to be gathering more fruits to prove ourselves. 00:05:17.180 --> 00:05:22.980 We're meant to be putting our roots deeper down into knowing Jesus is enough. 00:05:24.980 --> 00:05:28.240 So social pressure, fear of not measuring up. 00:05:28.379 --> 00:05:32.480 Another common one is self-affirmation, self-glory. 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:37.439 To bolster my sense of worth. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:44.779 Again, it's a comparison game we play with other Christians, other churches. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:49.279 It's in contradiction to what we sing. 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:53.399 I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom. 00:05:55.220 --> 00:05:56.980 I will boast in Jesus Christ. 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:00.100 We can sometimes rank. 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:05.040 This service of Jesus is more important than this service. 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:08.640 It's just not true. 00:06:09.280 --> 00:06:14.520 And then when we feel like we succeed, we feel like a somebody for a little bit. 00:06:14.580 --> 00:06:16.620 And when we fail, we feel crushed. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:18.260 I'm a nobody. 00:06:19.200 --> 00:06:23.560 It's what drove Madonna, the predecessor to Taylor Swift. 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:27.040 She said in a Vanity Fair interview in the 1918... 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:27.840 1918. 00:06:29.220 --> 00:06:30.700 Not quite that old. 00:06:33.140 --> 00:06:33.660 1980s. 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:38.720 She admitted that she didn't feel like anyone special. 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:39.340 Madonna. 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:47.740 When I achieve a new level of fame and accomplishment, for a brief moment I feel special. 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:49.900 Then I have to reach further. 00:06:49.899 --> 00:06:55.639 There's a Christian version of this. 00:06:55.639 --> 00:07:02.779 We serve to just fill that void to make sure to feel like I'm someone special. 00:07:05.899 --> 00:07:14.779 Now, others say, other Christians say, our motivation should simply be doing our duty of what is right. 00:07:14.779 --> 00:07:24.199 Any sense of inner satisfaction, that good job Alex was talking to the kids about, is suspected as pride. 00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:27.119 You're suddenly making it about yourself. 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:33.019 We don't know what to do with people saying good job. 00:07:33.359 --> 00:07:36.119 It's like, don't make it about me. 00:07:39.119 --> 00:07:42.500 We do have duty to serve Jesus. 00:07:42.799 --> 00:07:44.159 We're going to see that in the passage. 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:52.019 It sounds humble to say, I don't need a pat on the back. 00:07:52.539 --> 00:07:56.359 It sounds humble, but it's not the most humble. 00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:57.619 It's not childlike. 00:08:00.459 --> 00:08:04.459 For the Christian, there's another motivation to serve Jesus. 00:08:05.819 --> 00:08:07.459 And it's truly humble. 00:08:07.659 --> 00:08:08.679 It's childlike. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:11.879 Brothers and sisters, you know it already. 00:08:12.019 --> 00:08:12.879 You've tasted it. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:14.040 We want more of it. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:15.920 And we're going to see it in our passage this morning. 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:19.379 It's a very gracious motivation we're given. 00:08:23.699 --> 00:08:28.899 Now, I'm not going to tell you what it is yet, because I want you to actually keep listening to me for a few more minutes. 00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:40.959 So just to ground us a bit where we're up to in Matthew's gospel, we're a matter of days from Jesus going to the cross. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:42.139 We're going to tell you what it is. 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:49.960 He's preparing his disciples to live well, to be faithful in the light of his second coming. 00:08:51.259 --> 00:08:53.620 We don't know the day or hour. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:58.320 So like Mad Eye Moody, we're meant to be constantly vigilant. 00:08:58.920 --> 00:09:00.940 We're meant to be spiritually awake. 00:09:00.940 --> 00:09:12.960 he gives us five pictures, five parables to help us see how we're meant to live in light of his return. 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:14.840 We saw three of these last week. 00:09:15.880 --> 00:09:21.780 Like a thief in the night, we're to live conscious that his coming could be at any day or hour. 00:09:22.700 --> 00:09:24.260 We're just to be conscious of that. 00:09:25.140 --> 00:09:30.820 Like servants, fellow servants put in charge of other servants in a household, 00:09:31.640 --> 00:09:34.580 we're all servants, but some have a different authority. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:42.740 We're to use any authority we've got, knowing, conscious, we're going to give an account to our master. 00:09:44.300 --> 00:09:49.380 And the third picture was the ten women who were waiting for the wedding feast. 00:09:49.720 --> 00:10:00.380 Five were wise because they took preparations ready to endure because it could be a long time. 00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:02.160 It's not a sprint. 00:10:03.380 --> 00:10:07.500 They took preparations for it could be our lifetime. 00:10:07.680 --> 00:10:10.020 We prepare for the next generation of churches. 00:10:11.300 --> 00:10:12.420 So there's the three pictures. 00:10:12.540 --> 00:10:15.680 We're going to look at the fourth this morning and then the fifth next week. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:28.120 Today, the picture is, the point is, we're to be like slaves and trusted to increase our master's assets. 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:32.039 We're to be busy. 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:44.220 Now, if we make these five parables a checklist to see if we qualify for the kingdom, we're all going to fall short. 00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:46.159 That's not the point of these parables. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:53.679 The point of these is like a parent sitting down with their child going, think of it like this. 00:10:56.039 --> 00:11:01.459 Using things the child knows to help them think about the situation right. 00:11:01.779 --> 00:11:02.500 That's what he's doing. 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:03.719 He's preparing us. 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:04.759 He's training us. 00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:12.159 The more we have these perspectives, the more our faithfulness will grow and grow over time. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:13.579 This isn't a checklist. 00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:16.139 He's motivating us to be faithful. 00:11:20.160 --> 00:11:22.000 So getting into the parable then. 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:27.860 Slaves in the ancient world are very different from modern slavery. 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:35.800 They could have great social status and privilege depending on who their master was. 00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:37.940 They could be school teachers. 00:11:39.040 --> 00:11:40.440 They could be accountants. 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:43.540 They could be put in charge of many people. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:55.620 Jesus using slavery as a metaphor is not endorsing the institution any more than him using thievery in the night. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:59.840 He's endorsing, oh, great, yeah, let's keep stealing. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:03.900 He's just using something familiar in the time to get a point across. 00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:07.759 Now, the point in the story, this master is wealthy. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:10.139 He's a very wealthy household. 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:16.139 He's going on a journey for a long time and he entrusts a lot to three slaves, three servants. 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:17.959 Now, talent. 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:21.199 Don't think Australia's got talent when you hear talent. 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:22.879 Talent is a unit of measure. 00:12:24.579 --> 00:12:26.059 Think tonne. 00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:28.979 It's not exactly a tonne. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:31.500 I'm not saying that's the exact measurement. 00:12:31.819 --> 00:12:36.259 But think a tonne of silver coins or a tonne of gold coins. 00:12:38.579 --> 00:12:43.099 So it would have been six... 00:12:43.099 --> 00:12:50.000 If it was silver, it would have been 6,000 denarii and one denarii was a day's wages. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:56.059 This is 20 years' wages in one talent. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:01.340 So I just did some quick calculations. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:05.139 Let's say a tradie earns 70 grand per annum. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:10.279 The one talent is entrusting $1.4 million. 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.659 He's entrusting a lot. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:15.860 That's just the one talent, let alone the five talent. 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:19.899 And each is entrusted according to their ability. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:29.720 The one with five talents, $7 million, he went at once and he traded with it. 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:36.759 Now, that's not like the stock market where he just hoped he backed a good horse. 00:13:37.179 --> 00:13:39.480 He went and did business with it. 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:40.759 He put it to work. 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:43.080 He probably started his own business. 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:49.259 And if you have started your own business, if you're a sole trader or whatever, he's working day and night. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:51.460 To get it established. 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:53.759 He's working with it. 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:56.700 He's investing it for the long term. 00:13:58.379 --> 00:14:05.899 And he's doing it passionately, knowing he's increasing his master's assets, not his own. 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:09.899 And I think he's... 00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:13.279 The picture I'm seeing in here, see if you agree with me or not. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:16.579 He seems like this proud child coming before his parent. 00:14:16.839 --> 00:14:18.179 Here, look what I did. 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:24.059 With what you gave me. 00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:33.759 And likewise, the one who gets two talents, millions of dollars, remember, he gets just as busy. 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:41.319 He, too, is filled with the privilege of the task given to him to build up his master's property. 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:54.879 I think our heads turn a bit when we hear someone who has a pretty cool job. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:15:03.279 I think of our brother, our Christian brother, John Anderson, who came to speak at the men's conference once. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.779 He was once a deputy prime minister. 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:08.820 We got a better turn up. 00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:13.840 Or Sinclair Ferguson, he's a Scottish preacher. 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:15.419 He got to preach to the Queen. 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:22.659 Some school students thought my dad worked for NASA. 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:25.959 He couldn't convince him that that wasn't true. 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:30.059 But our heads turn, don't they, when we're like, whoa. 00:15:35.339 --> 00:15:40.759 The one who's coming back in glory, we're working for him. 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:45.860 He's entrusted to us. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.939 His kingdom. 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:56.939 The Christian, it should be a profound privilege to be called a slave of Christ. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:58.340 Paul thought so. 00:16:01.319 --> 00:16:05.460 It's the attitude of Paul when he was close to dying in Philippians. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:09.860 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:14.279 If I am to live in the body, that means fruitful labour for me. 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:23.919 Huge privilege. 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:30.279 Now, the third servant in this story, he's been given a job to do. 00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:36.060 And he digs a hole and puts $1.4 million in a hole. 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:40.959 Verse 24 and following. 00:16:41.119 --> 00:16:44.679 Master, I knew you to be a hard man. 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:53.379 Reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seeds, so I was afraid. 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:56.959 I think he saw himself in a lose-lose situation. 00:16:57.599 --> 00:17:01.959 If he tried to invest his master's money and got a return on his efforts, he doesn't get the reward. 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:04.000 This is no business deal of 50-50. 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:07.220 All the profits go 100% to the master. 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:08.819 Where's the incentive in that? 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.420 He gets the glory. 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.039 He gets the profit. 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:22.140 But if he has a go and he fails, I think he's fearing he will get the blame. 00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:27.240 Lose-lose. 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:31.339 He sees his master as not sharing in the hard work. 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:37.420 His master isn't the one in the field sweating all day. 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.359 He's just gone off on a journey. 00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:42.960 Expects a return when he comes. 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:48.099 He believes his master is a hard man. 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:51.980 Doesn't share the sweat and blood of the hard work. 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:53.500 Succeeds. 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.259 He gets all the credit. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:54.839 Fail. 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:55.759 You get the blame. 00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:02.400 Now, the master's response in verse 26 and 27. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:06.039 He is not agreeing that he is, in fact, a hard man. 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.099 He's not agreeing. 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:10.400 He's going, okay, let's use your logic for a second. 00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:13.640 You think I'm a hard man. 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:24.660 Why didn't you just do the bare minimum and wait in line at the bank for a few hours and just be in the bank? 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:26.700 You did nothing. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:30.440 Nothing at all. 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:33.980 Totally disobedient to the job I gave you. 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:40.440 You didn't even do the bare minimum by your own logic. 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:49.259 This parable, I don't think, is don't ask the question, am I doing enough? 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:52.400 It's not getting us to ask that question. 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:55.920 This wicked servant didn't do a thing. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:58.019 Not a thing. 00:18:58.019 --> 00:19:04.799 The master was away for a long time. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.859 This is not a momentary favour. 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:11.180 He could have changed his mind, dug up the money and had a go. 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:17.480 This is a long, lifetime settled attitude towards his master. 00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:19.120 He's a hard man. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:22.659 That's his root problem. 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:27.060 I knew you to be a hard man. 00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:35.559 Now, before we get to Jesus at this point, if we just look at the master in this story, 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:42.799 it's a fantasy to see his master as contributing nothing. 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:45.899 He's invested everything. 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:49.220 He's entrusted 1.4 million to you. 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:58.420 He seems to fear the master's failure. 00:19:59.620 --> 00:20:02.079 Now, I'm going to use a bit of poetic license here, okay? 00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:03.100 It's not in the text. 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.500 But who knows? 00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:08.559 If he had a go and he lost it all, the master could have just gone, 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.579 that's okay, he had a go. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.259 I knew the risk I was taking. 00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:13.339 Here, here's another talent. 00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:13.960 Have another go. 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.920 Now, that's not in the text. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:21.980 But what we are told in verse 15, the master distributed each according to his ability. 00:20:22.800 --> 00:20:25.200 The servant could have gone, I don't back myself. 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.980 I'm afraid of failing. 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:30.440 But my master backs me. 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:34.620 I don't know why, but he's backing me. 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:41.880 And does this master really take all the profit? 00:20:42.060 --> 00:20:42.940 Yes, he does. 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:48.559 But then he shares it all with his servants. 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.000 Come. 00:20:51.580 --> 00:20:54.220 Come, enter into the joy of your master. 00:20:57.340 --> 00:21:02.180 He has this view of the master that is just wrong. 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.920 It's not who his master is. 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:16.140 Now, I think we all fall sometimes into thinking God is a hard, a hard man, a hard taskmaster. 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:19.060 He's demanding all, giving nothing. 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:25.019 Well, if you're like me at least, I fall into that thinking. 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:31.000 Jesus had to die to cleanse us of that thinking. 00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:42.519 It's possible to see the world, the problems in the world and the hardship of life, the discouragement in the church and just, 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:52.559 God, your heart, you ask a lot of me and you don't really care about me and you don't care about us. 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.639 You don't give anything. 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:56.900 You want all the glory in the end. 00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.700 It's possible to fall into that. 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:04.140 But it's his word. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:04.860 It's prayer. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:09.759 It's often my brothers and sisters who snap me out of that thinking by pointing back to Jesus. 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:16.840 This servant, I think, represents someone, not someone who slips into that thinking. 00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:18.120 We all slip into it. 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:23.959 This is a settled, decades-long, lifetime-long view of God. 00:22:29.959 --> 00:22:31.079 Just demanding. 00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:40.519 If that's your lifetime view of God, you're in real danger because you don't know him. 00:22:43.139 --> 00:22:44.559 Know who he's like. 00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:57.879 If you were to sum up Matthew's Gospel with one verse from Matthew's Gospel, I'll choose chapter 20, verse 28. 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.779 I think that summarises the whole Gospel. 00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:06.219 Even the Son of Man did not come to be served. 00:23:07.979 --> 00:23:09.939 Did not come to be served. 00:23:11.159 --> 00:23:13.539 But to serve you. 00:23:15.679 --> 00:23:17.659 To be a slave for you. 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:22.299 And give his life as a ransom for many. 00:23:24.979 --> 00:23:28.099 That's the character of this master we have. 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:42.899 I hope I pronounced this right, but I always fear mispronouncing this, but in Les Miserables. 00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:43.919 Is that right? 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:45.779 Almost? 00:23:45.899 --> 00:23:46.339 Not quite. 00:23:46.459 --> 00:23:47.399 Yeah, I got it wrong. 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:49.419 Lay miserables. 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.119 How about that? 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.619 Jean Valjean. 00:23:56.279 --> 00:24:02.239 He's been imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving five-year-old niece. 00:24:02.719 --> 00:24:08.239 He gets five years in prison, but he ends up serving 19 years because he keeps trying to escape. 00:24:08.459 --> 00:24:09.039 He gets caught. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.339 He eventually goes out on parole. 00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:16.599 He's just hardened by this point of the injustice in his life. 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:17.899 And he comes to the bishop. 00:24:17.899 --> 00:24:20.000 And he comes to the bishop. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:27.899 And Bishop Muriel gives him food and drink and a place to stay. 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:34.439 And he's just touched by the mercy that he's never found in life. 00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:40.660 But then he steals the bishop's silver and runs away. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:44.820 But he gets caught, dragged back to the bishop. 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:58.500 And the bishop says, I gave it to him. 00:24:58.500 --> 00:25:01.039 Here, you forgot these two candlesticks as well. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:17.299 And that costly price that the bishop pays to set Jean Valjean free from prison, it changes him forever. 00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:29.559 He says after this, one word from him and I'll be back beneath the lash upon the rack. 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:34.339 Instead, he offers me my freedom. 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:38.879 I feel my shame inside me like a knife. 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:40.980 He told me that I have a soul. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.359 How does he know? 00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:46.119 What spirit comes to move my life? 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:47.079 Is there another way? 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:47.740 Is there another way to go? 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:52.519 Jean Valjean is forever changed by this mercy. 00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:54.099 He can't stay the same. 00:25:57.559 --> 00:26:00.240 He's a prisoner now to this mercy. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:06.940 And he spends the rest of his life showing this same mercy to others. 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:10.220 He's so deeply changed by this mercy. 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:16.879 Our master has paid our ransom to set us free from the hardness. 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.519 And the self-absorption. 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:20.519 And the sin and death. 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:24.220 If you taste the mercy of God in Christ, you're changed. 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:28.380 Now, we're not as changed as we want to be, but you are changed. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:32.039 You can't be the same ever again. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:35.539 You're a slave to his mercy now. 00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:38.039 You're never going to be released and you don't want to be released. 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:49.019 If you know this master and what he paid, you've got no problem being called his servant. 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.759 You're a servant. 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.420 You're a servant. 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.259 You're a servant. 00:26:51.259 --> 00:27:02.059 More than that, you know a joy precisely because you're a servant. 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:10.579 If you were just business partners, you wouldn't have a joy that comes from this master, 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:15.619 which brings us to the reward of the two faithful servants in verse 20 to 23. 00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:20.279 Now, many believers have found these verses very moving. 00:27:22.979 --> 00:27:25.519 It's a moving promise of reward. 00:27:26.939 --> 00:27:28.539 You've heard it at funerals. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:39.699 And here we come to the great motivation Jesus gives us to serve him. 00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:46.920 Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:50.160 You've been faithful over a little. 00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:51.920 I will set you over much. 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:54.680 Enter into the joy of your master. 00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.000 Why? 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:06.660 Why is it so moving to anticipate hearing the Lord speak that over your life? 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:10.800 Shouldn't it be demeaning? 00:28:12.800 --> 00:28:13.240 Servant. 00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:15.800 That's all you are, a servant. 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:18.640 I don't find that demeaned. 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.000 Isn't it a bit tame? 00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:21.180 You've been faithful. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:24.820 It's not, wow, you did more than others. 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:26.640 No. 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:28.779 It's not, you made something out of nothing. 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:30.800 No. 00:28:31.860 --> 00:28:33.279 I couldn't have done it without you. 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.759 No, it's just, you've been faithful. 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:36.720 Why is that so moving? 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:50.019 I think our problem is we distort a right and proper desire for praise. 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:55.839 And we try and get it from others, comparing ourselves to others. 00:28:55.839 --> 00:29:04.480 But it's C.S. Lewis in his, he wrote a paper called The Weight of Glory, who really helped 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.379 me to understand. 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:16.559 The most humble thing, the most childlike desire is to be praised by the one who it's your duty 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.720 to please. 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:22.720 That's what a child wants. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:31.720 To have their mum and dad look at them and go, you went out of your way to be kind to your 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.120 sibling. 00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:34.220 I'm so proud of you. 00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.460 You said sorry. 00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:41.059 Well done, buddy. 00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:46.759 You did the job before I even asked. 00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:47.460 Good job. 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:51.899 You included that kid who was left out. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:55.679 To look you in the eye and say, I'm proud of you. 00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.119 Well done. 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:05.799 I think that's the praise we've all been looking for. 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:10.240 Let me just read a bit of C.S. Lewis. 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:19.659 In the end, that face, which is the delight or the terror of the universe, must be turned 00:30:19.659 --> 00:30:26.839 upon each of us, either with one expression or with the other, either conferring glory inexpressible 00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:29.619 or inflicting shame that can never be cured. 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.180 Now, please hear this. 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:39.820 It is only possible by the work of Christ that some of us, that any of us who really chooses, 00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:49.480 shall actually survive that examination and shall find approval, shall please God. 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:52.500 To please God. 00:30:53.060 --> 00:30:56.240 To be a real ingredient in the divine happiness. 00:30:56.240 --> 00:31:06.039 To be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in, as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son. 00:31:06.039 --> 00:31:17.119 To be a real ingredient in the divine happiness. 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:23.700 The one who it's our duty to please, taking pleasure in you, it fills our soul with joy. 00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:39.580 Now, you may not feel like God will be able to find anything good in you or anything unfaithful in your life, 00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:43.700 when it's revealed on that day, it's going to be to the praise of his grace. 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:46.440 We've got nothing to fear. 00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:50.019 Nothing can be revealed that the cross of Jesus hasn't paid for. 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:53.359 It's just going to be, we're going to be praising Jesus. 00:31:53.859 --> 00:31:58.000 And then the things we have been faithful by his power, it's going to be well done. 00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:03.160 Now, you may not believe he's going to find anything, but this is where we've got to accept his word, 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.700 rather than what you feel. 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:12.940 That is the praise we've all been looking for, and we're going to get it. 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:18.160 And it's the most childlike thing to desire it. 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:26.940 And part of our reward in the eternal age is we're going to be given increased opportunities. 00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:29.840 You've been faithful with a little bit in this life. 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:31.720 Here, I'm going to set you over much. 00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:40.320 It's still his, but we've got increasing opportunity to know his pleasure in us, in being faithful. 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:48.759 I think anticipating his pleasure in you on that final day is truly humble. 00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:54.420 We were originally designed for it as the image bearers. 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:59.960 And I think it gives us power to be faithful now. 00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:06.259 If you anticipate that pleasure, his face smiling is coming. 00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:11.000 Because it's got nothing to do with comparing yourself to others. 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:16.519 The five and the two talents, they get exactly, word for word, the same pleasure. 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:20.319 It has nothing to do with comparison. 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:20.819 Nothing. 00:33:25.619 --> 00:33:31.700 Anticipating his pleasure in you will heal you of any inferiority to others that you feel. 00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:39.740 It heals, it smashes your pride. 00:33:45.620 --> 00:33:48.779 People's praise won't be as intoxicating anymore. 00:33:50.360 --> 00:33:59.759 It doesn't sway you to do what's going to please them because you know the true praise you're after. 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:05.720 People's criticism or rejection can't crush you anymore. 00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:10.960 It can only be used by him to keep you faithful. 00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:14.699 It's useful to getting more praise, his praise. 00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:20.779 I know I quote him a lot, but Tim Keller. 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:34.819 You are absolutely and totally adopted, accepted, loved, treasured and delighted in by the only person in the whole universe whose opinion counts and whose opinion will last. 00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:42.220 That keeps you faithful to him. 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:47.960 It will sustain you when you can't see any fruit of your labours. 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:52.000 Your hardship, your pain will be worth it in the end. 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:55.639 I think it keeps you grounded. 00:34:56.720 --> 00:35:01.519 Even in the Christian world, we like, oh, here's the best way to do church. 00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:03.220 No, here's the best way to do church. 00:35:03.340 --> 00:35:03.960 No, here's the... 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:09.240 No, you're grounded because you're like, what do you say, God? 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:10.579 I want your praise. 00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:18.639 Anticipating his smiling face empowers us to be faithful. 00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:25.880 It's his praise I've all been looking for and it's coming. 00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:30.380 And anticipating that keeps us faithful. 00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:39.720 John Calvin used one verse to describe the Christian life. 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:41.160 2 Corinthians 5.15 00:35:41.160 --> 00:35:51.820 He died for all that those who lived might no longer live for themselves, but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:54.700 That's the Christian and I think that's what we're seeing in this parable. 00:35:54.699 --> 00:36:02.919 So I want to finish by asking the question you've probably been wanting me to answer for a while now. 00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:05.480 What do these talents represent? 00:36:05.859 --> 00:36:10.079 We've got the picture, but what do they represent in Christian service now? 00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:18.239 Like always with parables, I think we've got to be careful again. 00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:21.339 Don't narrowly allegorise. 00:36:21.340 --> 00:36:25.720 It must mean this small thing. 00:36:26.620 --> 00:36:27.480 There's one point. 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:40.280 Slaves of Jesus who've been forever changed by his mercy, we know his commission and he's entrusted us to just be busy building his kingdom assets. 00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:44.019 That's our orientation to life. 00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:48.800 With all that we are and all that we have. 00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:50.639 Any situation. 00:36:56.219 --> 00:37:03.880 I know we don't make the use, like as soon as I say that, I think of all the times I haven't made use of the opportunities. 00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:06.719 But he's telling us this to motivate us. 00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:07.800 Time is short. 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.619 Anticipate my praise. 00:37:11.179 --> 00:37:13.000 Get busy with my kingdom. 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:18.960 It's going to look different for each of us. 00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:23.639 Faithfulness will look different for every servant. 00:37:29.340 --> 00:37:38.079 What will it look like to use our money to increase our master's assets, not my own assets? 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:43.679 It's going to look different for each of us. 00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:45.739 There will be some overlap, of course. 00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:48.819 Ambition. 00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:49.739 What's your ambition? 00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:52.119 Ambition is fine. 00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:52.840 It's good. 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.539 But make it count. 00:37:57.679 --> 00:38:00.299 Be ambitious for what your master cares about. 00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:02.079 It says it is truly worthwhile. 00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:05.860 How can you use your retirement? 00:38:07.860 --> 00:38:09.739 Not for the Australian dream. 00:38:11.619 --> 00:38:15.699 But, as Don likes to say, like, die with your boots on. 00:38:17.319 --> 00:38:18.840 In his service. 00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:26.220 Thinking about your job, whatever job you have. 00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:32.240 It's not thinking I'm a school teacher, I'm a disability carer who happens to be a Christian. 00:38:32.780 --> 00:38:33.500 It's the other way around. 00:38:34.039 --> 00:38:38.340 I'm a Christian in his service and I just happen to be a school teacher. 00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:45.180 How can I use this for his namesake, for the good of others? 00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:51.640 It'll change your career choices, probably. 00:38:52.220 --> 00:38:59.820 Like, I heard of one high-flying guy who travelled the world, high job, high status job, lots of money. 00:38:59.960 --> 00:39:04.940 And he traded it all in to invest in his local church youth group and his family. 00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:08.300 Great choice. 00:39:08.340 --> 00:39:12.200 It'll change what you think is valuable. 00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:22.780 Now, to balance that out, he might have stayed in that job because he thought that was the best way to serve Jesus. 00:39:23.680 --> 00:39:24.140 I don't know. 00:39:24.640 --> 00:39:26.140 I don't want to be too prescriptive for you. 00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:27.820 I just want to ask lots of questions. 00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:33.220 How do you use your hardships and chronic sickness and loss to show others around you, 00:39:33.220 --> 00:39:37.680 you've got a hope in someone that this world doesn't know? 00:39:38.340 --> 00:39:44.980 What conflicts, relational conflicts have you got? 00:39:45.059 --> 00:39:50.760 You can advance the reconciling power of the gospel rather than your own desire for justice. 00:39:53.120 --> 00:39:53.559 Safety. 00:39:53.559 --> 00:40:04.299 It may look like you're exhausted after a long week and you're watching your kids sport with a coffee in hand. 00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:06.579 You just want to be left alone. 00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:15.920 But the other parent next to you engages you in conversation and you might be the only sincere Christian they know. 00:40:16.799 --> 00:40:19.159 And so you're like, okay, this is an opportunity. 00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:24.480 I just want to relax, but I'm in the service of Jesus. 00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:27.119 It will look like caring for world missions. 00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:30.340 It will be an anxiety for those who don't know him yet. 00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:36.559 But he sees that text message you send to encourage a fellow saint. 00:40:36.820 --> 00:40:38.760 He sees your private prayer. 00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:43.380 For those who don't know him yet. 00:40:43.380 --> 00:40:45.519 He sees when you visit the sick. 00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:50.280 Even if you give a glass of water. 00:40:54.119 --> 00:40:55.219 He sees. 00:40:58.300 --> 00:41:00.219 Our service will look different. 00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:02.719 Don't worry about who you think has five talents. 00:41:02.719 --> 00:41:06.519 Your idea of five talents and his idea might be very different anyway. 00:41:06.519 --> 00:41:17.780 William Wilberforce, who ended the slave trade in Britain. 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:22.139 He once said, 00:41:22.139 --> 00:41:29.420 If you have health and ability or the wealth, no person has a right to be idle in a world such as this. 00:41:29.420 --> 00:41:33.920 That they may not find some ignorance to instruct. 00:41:34.599 --> 00:41:37.079 Some wrong to redress. 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:40.019 Some want to supply. 00:41:40.860 --> 00:41:42.559 Some misery to alleviate. 00:41:44.700 --> 00:41:46.860 It will look very different. 00:41:49.619 --> 00:41:55.039 But anticipate that day when the one who shed his blood to cover all our unfaithfulness, 00:41:55.380 --> 00:41:58.139 that face of the universe looks you in the eye. 00:41:58.139 --> 00:41:59.679 And says, 00:41:59.799 --> 00:42:00.279 Well done. 00:42:01.839 --> 00:42:02.619 Well done. 00:42:02.799 --> 00:42:04.159 Good and faithful servant. 00:42:04.319 --> 00:42:06.219 You've been faithful over a little here. 00:42:06.859 --> 00:42:08.219 I'm going to set you over much. 00:42:08.519 --> 00:42:10.219 Enter into the joy of your master. 00:42:12.659 --> 00:42:15.500 What a gracious motivation he's given us. 00:42:16.039 --> 00:42:16.699 To serve you. 00:42:20.519 --> 00:42:23.179 So let's use all that we are and all that we have. 00:42:23.299 --> 00:42:25.859 Every circumstance he puts us in for his service. 00:42:28.139 --> 00:42:30.059 Will you pray with me? 00:42:30.279 --> 00:42:30.599 Let's pray. 00:42:30.599 --> 00:42:48.259 Father, fill us. 00:42:48.260 --> 00:42:58.240 Let's conquer any doubt in our mind or any counterfeit alternative that we've got. 00:42:59.640 --> 00:43:04.940 So that we might anticipate the day when you look over our life and say, 00:43:05.180 --> 00:43:05.520 Well done. 00:43:06.180 --> 00:43:07.380 Good and faithful servant. 00:43:07.380 --> 00:43:17.099 We praise you for your grace and your goodness that you actually take pleasure in your servants. 00:43:18.340 --> 00:43:24.400 Please fill us with this motivation more so that we might be faithful to you individually and as a church. 00:43:24.539 --> 00:43:25.320 In his name I pray. 00:43:25.579 --> 00:43:25.840 Amen. 00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:26.280 Amen. 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:26.280 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:56.260 Thank you.