Matthew 25:14-28 “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.”
Text John 9:4 “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
If you have been saved any length of time, you know that the only perfect example of the Christian life is the Lord Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews, said, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (12:2). Jesus is our perfect example of how to live, how to love, and how to labor. In our text John 9:4, Jesus makes a statement about Himself that reveals three great principles about His labor. We notice the first principle when Jesus said, “I must work.” Jesus came to earth as a man to work! In Matthew 20 when Jesus was describing those that were the greatest among His disciples, He said the greatest was not those that were being served, but those that were serving! To reinforce this truth He used Himself as an example, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister” (vs.28). In our Scripture reading in Matthew 25, the servant who was entrusted with one talent got in trouble with his master because he was too lazy to work! When the master gave out talents, the man with five and the man with two went to work, “he . . . went and traded” (vs.16). The word “traded” means to toil as a task or occupation. These two men went to work with what they had been given! The man with one talent did nothing the whole time the master was in the far country. One day too, our Master will return to monitor the work of His servants; busy or buried; how are you using your talents?