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REFERENCE VERSE: (Matthew 25: 14-30)

Which of the parables of Jesus is the most famous? Well, if we want to talk about the love of the heavenly Father, none like the "prodigal son". That one that was called: "The world of the most perfect story".

If we want to find which is the most tender of them all, none like the parable of the "lost sheep" also known as the "parable of love". And if you asked me what is the most comforting story for the homeless, I would tell you the story of the "rich and Lazarus", for being so moving in his approach of presenting us the miserable life of Lazarus and the opulence and selfishness of the rich, for see them at the end in two totally different states.

But if you ask me what is the parable of the "mathematics of heaven," and the most practical of them all, I have to tell you about the parable of the talents. It shows us how far we are good stewards of all the blessings that the Owner has given us. The parable tells us that Christ has no servants to be idle; they have received from him "their goods" and are called to administer them.

But also that the day of accountability will arrive where we will be examined as to the good that we have achieved for our soul and also for our neighbor. The end of this parable tells us that the lazy servant is sentenced to be deprived of his talent. In this way we see that it does not matter if what I have is a talent, the Lord expects me to be faithful and on the day of giving account that he is praised for the work.

It is obvious that the parable shows us the overflow of the grace of heaven, because while two of the three servants bring the fruit of their negotiation, considered to be "faithful in the little," the Owner grants a bountiful reward. What is that "sky mathematics" about? My brothers our actions are determined by earthly mathematics.

Everything is calculated, even what we do for God. In light of this, let's consider the importance of being faithful in the little. God does not ask for more than that. The result is that "I'll put you on a lot".

THE OWNER OF EVERYTHING WORKS ALWAYS WITH THE LITTLE

1. It is one that is on a long journey v. 14. The present parable is framed within the discourse of the Lord about the end of this age and its second coming. Therefore it is not difficult to interpret that the man who went away is the Lord Jesus Christ. The "long journey" is a clear reference to the time since his ascension there on the Mount of Galilee until our time.

The parable uses the figure of a rich man, especially for the value of talents, who went to do their business in the best style of those oriental men. I wonder sometimes, what will the Lord be doing on this long journey of more than two thousand years? What will your business be like, especially what you do with your heavenly Father? In this regard, Jesus himself said: "My Father works until now, and I work" (John 5:17).

And the truth is that it is not necessary to speculate much to reach the conclusion that there are two areas where our "distant traveler" has gone. To his saddened disciples he said: "I am going to prepare a place for you, so that where I am you may also be." But there is something more still. There will be new heavens and new land where we will live. His business is going very well in heaven, the question will be how are the people of the earth going? Are we also negotiating while he returns?

1. It is one that has its own servants v.14b. In this parable, nothing can be counted as a particular property. Both the blessings (talents) and the men themselves belong to the owner. The word "servant" is equivalent to slaves. That was them neither more nor less. Such a condition accentuated more the position that the owner had over them.

When sold, everyone lost their identity and their name. After this, they made the decision to belong to their master for life, becoming their exclusivity. This makes a big difference in this story. In the Christian life the situation becomes the same. We are all servants to whom God has endowed with many blessings.

And he has had the confidence to deposit his possessions in our hands when he ascended to heaven. But unlike the earthly masters, who treats his servants as mere objects, he considers them part of his business. In this way we recognize that "everything is yours, and we receive you from your hand" (1 Chron 29:14). We do not own anything because we are stewards.

1. He is one who entrusts his assets v. 15. The first thing that should be noted is that the person who takes the initiative in the call is the Lord of the servants. He is an owner who fully trusts them. Note the significance of the words: "He gave them his goods."

There is a great deal of confidence in this. What a temptation it will be to manage such a large sum of money! The calculations for a "talent", which at the beginning was known as a weight to measure, amounted to a large sum of a day laborer's labor for many years. In commercial currency, today it would simply be "a lot of money" that the Owner gave to his three servants.

But more than seeing it in the context of money, the talents become all the ways the Lord has "entrusted us with his goods". Put your abilities here, if you are a father to your children, your time, your work, your spiritual gifts and any other "treasure" that has been given to you. The "talents" have been left in the hands of their servants with the hope that they would start producing their goods. There is a sense of wonder and joy in this.

The Lord came and left, but trusts that the business that started does not stop. What an immense honor we have been granted! What a privilege to represent such a distinguished Owner! How will we administer the blessings given? How faithful will we be?

THE FAITHFUL IN THE LITTLE WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN THE MUCH

1. Even if we receive five talents. This parable has something curious. On the one hand only three servants are chosen among many who surely had that master. On the other hand, in the distribution of talents there is no progressive order, since it was assumed that if the first was given five, the second corresponded four and the third three.

However, the distribution was 5, 2 and 1. What's in all this? Why is this apparent "discrimination"? Why is it that God has not given all men such talents? Well, do not ask God that, remember that he is sovereign and has the right to do what he wants with his own; At least that is what Roman 9:20 tells us. But the sense of this "discrepancy" is that God loves variety.

The sky, the earth, the sea and everything in general is full of diversity. He imagines that we were all the same. How boring the world would be if everything were the same. God has given five talents to some men because of their abilities. What does he expect from them? Be faithful! Observe that this first servant did the right thing in the duplication of talents, why did the Lord not say to him, "How much have you been faithful"? Were not they five talents? We can never be faithful in much.

1. Even if we receive two talents. The fact that one has received only two talents means that some men and women are not very talented. There are men who suddenly feel very smart and successful and assume that everyone else should have the same results. But the truth is otherwise.

We see this in the life of the church. Some members may be judged to be pious and sincere, but they have no power of attraction, and they are even labeled as lazy and lazy because they do not do many things for the cause of the kingdom.

But have we begun to think that such brothers have only little talent, and are making the best use of what they have and therefore should not be censored for the smallness of what they are able to achieve? We can not require a brother to produce five talents when God gave him only two. God will not judge men by the abilities that He has not given them. Your judgment will always be according to your fidelity.

See that the man who received two talents did not get complexed by the one who had five. He immediately negotiated two other talents. He came with the same enthusiasm as the other. He did not envy the other, he simply managed the received well. That is what God seeks in the end. Now observe the same praise: "About you have been faithful, about much I will put you". And this was faithful in the little, compared with five talents. Is not this amazing?

1. Even if it is only one talent. We have no idea of ​​the characteristics of these three servants who came before the master to receive each one his gifts. Well could our imagination move to that moment and see the face, body and capacity of each, and come to the conclusion that the man to whom God gave a talent, had a face of fatigue, laziness, discouragement, pessimism and questioning .

But regardless of those traits, the owner also gave him at least one talent. This proves that although God is sovereign in bestowing his blessings, he will not leave any of his servants without participating in his gifts.

THE MUCH OF HEAVEN WILL BE THE JOY OF FEW

1. It will be a day of satisfaction (v. 16, 17). The man who received the five talents, immediately began to negotiate. Because he knew that the Lord had entrusted him much, he could not afford to waste an opportunity to grow his lord's business. So did the one who had received two. By the time they did not know the time when their owner would come again, all their attention was focused on how to duplicate what they received.

And the day arrived. Without notice, the master returned from the long trip. The text expresses it: "After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them" v. 19. For these two servants that meeting had to be very emotional. The talent was equivalent to about 34 kg of silver, which was the same to a salary of an ordinary worker for fifteen years.

If this is so, the first servant would give his master 170 kg of silver and the other 68 kg. The gain was 100%. The joy for both could not be greater. Beloved, this is the truth of the gospel. No matter how many talents we have, we have to negotiate it for when Christ comes. Will I have the satisfaction of having doubled it?

1. It will be an award day (v.21, 23). The words of the owner are touching. To the first two he said: "Well, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you much; enter into the joy of your Lord. " The first thing we see is a compliment to character and dedication.

The dedication so that the talents were duplicated implied discipline, perseverance, work, effort and dedication. And for all this to happen, the distinctive mark of both servants was their fidelity. Although the talents were equivalent to a monumental sum of gold or silver, the master tells them "you have been faithful over a little". This is how the Lord works.

Beloved brothers, the award that one day the Lord will make will not be for the times I attended church, I participated in some activity, I stood out with my singing or my teaching. The sentence will be: "You have been faithful over a little, I will set you much". It is fidelity, and not my religiosity, that will be taken into account in the end. And what is the award? If we are faithful in what little then he will tell us: "I will set you much". See the Illustration "You Have to Be Ready to Do Things in Your Time"

Although the context of the parable speaks of the second coming of Christ, and this award seems to be ready for that occasion, we must follow the principle that tells us about "much I will put you". Is not this true? Are they not the faithful men whom God uses exceedingly? Let yourself be used more by him, being faithful! Do not lose your blessing and the award!

1. It will be a day of lamentation (v. 24-30). Some have considered that the central theme of the parable falls on the "bad and negligent servant", since of the sixteen verses that it contains, eleven have to do with him. Well, whatever it is, this final part of the story is very graphic and descriptive. The day also came for this servant.

As it was fair, the master asked him to give an account of what he had done with the talent given. And, what a pity! This servant's thing was a lament since his master rebuked him, until he came to the eternal lament.

This servant committed two grave sins: one of omission and another of commission. The one of commission that consisted of a blatant disobedience when hiding the talent and not even putting it to gain interests. The omission, to ignore the character of the master. Which it was the result? He lost the privileges and the blessing. Its end could not be more tragic. The truth is that blessings that are not reversed end up giving them to others.

If you are not faithful with your talent, do not complain if God gives you another. And if in the end it will be pleasant to hear: "Well, good and faithful servant ...", the worst words we would ever want to hear are: "Bad and negligent servant". Which of these words will you hear at the end?