Final Account with God Matthew 25:14-30

I. Life Stewardship II. Settling Account III. Deciding Factor Final Account

I. Life Stewardship 1. Entrusted Assets 2. Different Ability

1. Entrusted Assets 14 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.

2 Facts: 1. Assets not Mine “Entrusted his property to…” 2. Owner not Around “Going on a journey”

Life is a Stewardship Everything we have are Entrusted, not Owned

We have NO control over our Life : Birth, Death, Health Gene, Parentage, Appearance, Intelligence

Entrusted : We are Answerable to the True Owner for the Usage of these Assets

The Master is Away only for a time, but He will surely Return someday. How will I face Him?

How do I View these entrusted Assets ? Do I Think on behalf of the Owner ? Do I Act in His best Interest ?

2. Different Ability 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

Everyone has a Different Ability. Each is entrusted Talent / Assets According to one’s Ability.

God knows our Weakness and Limitation. We are normally given what we can handle.

II. Settling Account 1. Different Response 2. Giving Account

1. Different Response 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

How they View the Talents/Assets Decides How they would Respond

His money: “I am responsible for what is entrusted to me” His Master’s money: “This is not Mine so I am not responsible.”

My MoneyMy Master’s Put it to work Actively Using Diligent Productive (gaining) Hid in the ground Passively Hidden Lazy Unproductive (no gain)

2. Giving Account 19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

“After a long time”: Possibly Longer than my Normal Expectation Beyond my Conscious Waiting

“the Master returned ” He may Delay, Even for a Long time, But He Surely will Return

“ Settled account ”: The Day will come when we must Face our Master to Settle Account

III. Deciding Factor 1. Good and Faithful 2. Wicked and Lazy

1. Good and Faithful 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "His master replied, ' Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

The one with 5 talents, and the one with 2, received the same Approval: “ Well done, good and faithful servant!”

The Key issue is Productivity : 5 gaining 5: 100% 2 gaining 2: 100% 1 hidden away: 0%

The Judgment is not about Talents, but about our Productivity

2. Wicked and Lazy 24 “ Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“ Wicked ”? Viewing his master as “ a hard man ” = unreasonably demanding, and impossible to please

Blaming his Master: “It is your Fault. You are impossible to please. It is useless for me to even try”

Note the Judgments : “ Good & Faithful ” “ Wicked & Lazy ” Why?

“ Faithful ” & “ Lazy ” describe Ability and Performance “ Good ” & “ Wicked ” describe the condition of the Heart

Our Heart Determines How we Handle our Stewardship !

We are given Stewardship according to our Ability, but we are Judged according to our Heart !

Key Question: Am I productive in putting my talents to work or do I just hide it away unused ?

I. Life Stewardship II. Settling Account III. Deciding Factor Final Account