1. How to
Your Life

2. How to Invest Your Life
Matthew 25:14-30

3. Matthew 25:14-16 (ESV)
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 

4. Matthew 25:17-19 (ESV)
 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

5. Matthew 25:20-21 (ESV)
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 

6. Matthew 25:22-23 (ESV)
 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

7. Matthew 25:24-25 (ESV)
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 

8. Matthew 25:26-28 (ESV)
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 

9. Matthew 25:29-30 (ESV)
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

10. Introduction Two powerful truths:
(1) Compared to eternity, life is extremely brief.
(2) God has a plan and purpose for your life.
There are three things you can do with your life. Three basic options.
(1) You can waste your life.
(2) You can spend your life.
(3) You can invest your life.

11. Principles for Investing Your Life
The Principle of Ownership
Everything belongs to God.
God is the Creator, and since He made everything, He owns it all. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
We belong to God because He created us.

12. Principles for Investing Your Life
The Principle of Ownership
We belong to Christ because He redeemed us.
1 Cor. 6: 19b, 20: “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.”
So, we belong to God because He made us and redeemed us with the precious blood of Jesus.

13. Principles for Investing Your Life
2. The Principle of Allocation (Distribution) Mt 25: 14-15: Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.” Romans 12: 6: “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.”

14. Principles for Investing Your Life
3. The Principle of Accountability Mt 25:19: “After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.” Romans 14:12: “Each of us will give an account to God.” 2 Cor. 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

15. Principles for Investing Your Life
4. The Principle of Remuneration (Rewards)
The first one received five talents, and the other two talents, each according to his ability (15).
The servant who had received five talents, invested the talents and gained five more. The man with two talents gained two more.

16. Principles for Investing Your Life
4. The Principle of Remuneration (Rewards)
Both received the same three rewards given by the master. Look at verses 21 and 23.
First, the Affirmation: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Secondly, Promotion: “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”
Thirdly, Celebration: “Come and share your master’s happiness.”

17. Applications
Three Lessons: 1. This parable is about faithful stewardship. 2. This parable has bearing on the church. 3. This parable teaches us how to evaluate people the right way – according to effort and faithfulness, not according to performance or results.

18. How to Invest Your Life
Matthew 25:14-30

19. Matthew 25:14-30
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

20. Matthew 25:14-30
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. 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!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

21. Matthew 25:14-30
23 “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!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold 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 gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

22. Matthew 25:14-30
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.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’