Personal Giftedness: Talents and Skills Matthew 25:14-30

We Are A Multi-skilled Congregation We are also a multi-talented congregation. The two are not the same. Both are needed for us to accomplish God’s will and bear fruit.

Talents and Abilities Matthew 25 – The parable of the talents. Master entrusts possessions to servants. (vs. 14) Talents distributed according to abilities (vs. 15) No servant was left out.

Luke’s Account Luke 19:11-27 – Ten servants Ten minas Master goes away to become king. Remainder of parable very similar.

Successes and Failures Five-talent servant doubles initial investment. Same with two-talent servant. Same with servants in Luke’s account who worked. Investment brought increase. Increase brought reward.

Who were the only failures? Those who didn’t even try. Feared the master. Afraid to risk the initial investment. Buried the talent – refused to work. Wasted their skills.

What does God intend for me to do? Romans 12:6-8 -- We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Judgment for the wicked: Stripped of the initial investment. Declared as worthless by the master. Thrown into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing teeth.