WHEN THE MASTER COMES BACK
“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.”
DDCOG POINT # 1
STEWARDS ARE NOT OWNERS
GOD IS THE OWNER OF ALL THINGS
“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.” (Matthew 25:14, NKJV)
1. The Property Belongs to the Master
Notice the possessive language here—"his own servants," "his goods." Everything in this parable flows from ownership. The master owns the servants.
This is the foundation of biblical stewardship:
• Haggai 2:8 ;First Corinthians 6:19-20
The Heavens belong to God-Psa.89:11 (NIV)
Without the blessings of the Lord the world would perish.
Job 5:10 NIV); Mat 5:45.(NIV);Acts 17:28 (NIV
2. The Permission Is Temporary
Here's where it gets even more real. Not only does the Master own everything, but our access to it is temporary. James 4:14 ; Psalms 90:12
3. The Purpose Is Productivity
Now, why did the master give his servants these talents? Was it so they could bury them? Was it so they could admire them?
DDCOG POINT # 2
BELIEVERS ARE STEWARDS
ENTRUSTED, NOT ENTITLED
“To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability.” (Matthew 25:15, NKJV)
1. The Distribution Is Sovereign
The distribution was not equal, but it was intentional. The master knew what each servant could handle, and he gave accordingly. 2 Corinthians 10:12
i) FIVE MAJOR POSSESSIONS
I.) Our Life- Gen. 2:7
II) Our Time-Eph. 5:15-16
III) Our Talents
ROMANS 12 MENTIONS THE FOLLOWING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
FIRST CORINTHIANS 12 adds (without repeating those already listed from Romans)
EPHESIANS 4 adds (again, without repeating any of the above)
IV) Our Possessions
V) Our Finances
ii) GOD ENTRUSTS WHAT HE OWNS TO US
Gen 2:15, Gen. 3:1-5
2. The Responsibility Is Personal
Now here's the flip side: While the distribution is sovereign, the responsibility is personal
Matthew 25:16-18; Romans 14:12
3. The Risk Is Required
Here's where the rubber meets the road. If you're going to be a good steward, you have to take risks.
Matthew 25:24-25; Hebrews 11:6
DDCOG POINT # 3
STEWARDS ARE REWARDED-FAITHFULNESS HAS A FUTURE
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21, NKJV)
1. Faithfulness Is Commended
When the master returned, he didn't ask the servants how much they had. He asked them how faithful they had been with what they were given.
• Matthew 25:21 says, "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.'"
Notice he didn't say, "Well done, successful servant."
He didn't say, "Well done, talented servant."
He said, "Well done, FAITHFUL servant." Because at the end of the day, success is measured by faithfulness, not by size.
First Corinthians 4:2 says, "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." God is not asking you to be the biggest, the richest, or the most famous. He's asking you to be faithful with what He's given you.
2. Increase Is Granted
Let me show you something fascinating that even sociologists have discovered.
In 1968, a sociologist named Robert Merton coined a term called "The Matthew Effect."
He named it after this very passage in Matthew 25!
He noticed that in society, those who have resources and use them tend to accumulate more resources, while those who don't use what they have tend to lose even that.
It's a principle that shows up everywhere—in education, in economics, in career advancement.
But here's the difference between the world's Matthew Effect and God's Matthew Effect:
• In the world, the rich often get richer through greed and exploitation.
• But in God's kingdom, the faithful get more through stewardship and obedience.
• Matthew 25:29 makes this explicit: "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away."
3. Neglect Is Condemned
But there's a sobering reality we can't ignore: neglect has consequences.
• The Servant Who Buried His Talent faced harsh judgment. Matthew 25:26-30 records the master's response: "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.' ... 'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"
This is strong language. Wicked. Lazy. Unprofitable. Cast into outer darkness. Why? Because he did nothing with what he was given. He didn't lose it. He didn't squander it. He just neglected it. And neglect is a form of rebellion.
• Proverbs 18:9 says, "He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer."
• Doing nothing with what God has given you is just as destructive as misusing it.
Daytona Deliverance Church of God
601 George W. Engram, Daytona Beach, Florida 32115
386-253-2612
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