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Goodness & Faithfulness

Posted on 29 Oct 2017, Pastor: Tolu Makinde

Title: Goodness & Faithfulness

Text: Matt. 25:14-30

[Mat 25:14] For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, whocalled his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

[Mat 25:15] 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.

[Mat 25:16] Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

[Mat 25:17] And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

[Mat 25:18] But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

[Mat 25:19] After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

[Mat 25:20] 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.

[Mat 25:21] 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.

[Mat 25:22] 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.

[Mat 25:23] 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.

[Mat 25:24] 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:

[Mat 25:25] And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

[Mat 25:26] 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:

[Mat 25:27] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, andthen at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

[Mat 25:28] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

[Mat 25:29] For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

[Mat 25:30] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Introduction

There are two virtues that qualified the two servants to enter into the joy of the Lord: Goodness and Faithfulness
There are 3 servants in this story
- 1 had 5 talents
- 1 had 2 talents
- 1 had 1 talent
- Everyone is given according to their abilities
- Talent here means gifts and abilities
- The amount of talent you are given does not matter, what you do with what you are given matters the most
- However, the gifts and abilities belong to the Master, not to the servants
The 5 gained 5
- He was called good and faithful
- He became ruler over many things
- He entered into the joy of the Lord
The 2 gained 2
- He was called good and faithful
- He became ruler over many things
- He entered into the joy of the Lord
- Notice he received the same reward, because he operated with his abilities….not the abilities of the 5 talent individual. He did not try to be somebody else.
The 1 gained 0
- He was called wicked and slothful
- The 1 he had was taken away
- He was cast into outer darkness
- If he had been faithful with the 1 talent, he would have received the same reward.

Main Topic

Heaven has invested so much in you.
What are you doing with everything heaven has invested in you?
Of what good are your talents?
Of what profit are your abilities?
Are you just sleeping and waking up?
It is only those that are good and faithful that will become ruler over many things and enter into the joy of the Lord

Goodness

The quality of being good
East Germany vs. West Germany story
- East Germans threw garbage over the wall
- West Germans threw groceries over the wall with a note that says “Each gives only what he has”
What are you giving people? Is it goodness or something else
When you come into a situation, is it better when you leave? Or is it worse?
When you exit a room, is the room better than when you entered?
How many people can testify that you are a good person?
Acts 10:38 – Jesus is always doing good
Gen 1 – Everything God made was good
Ps. 107:15 – Oh that men would praise God for His goodness….
Should we not resemble our Father and our Lord Jesus
[Rom 15:14] And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
[Gal 5:22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[Eph 5:9] (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Goodness must follow you for you to enter into the joy of the Lord
There is a difference between gift and fruit
Gift is given
Fruit is developed
Develop the fruit first. It will take your gift far.
Having the gift without the fruit is a disaster.

Faithfulness

Faithfulness is doing what you are trusted to do when nobody is looking
The two servants were faithful over a few things, they became ruler over many things
Unfaithfulness in a few things will result in loses over many things
Additional characteristics of a faithful individual
- [Pro 11:13] A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
- [Pro 13:17] A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
- [Pro 14:5] A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
- [Pro 25:13] As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so isa faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
[Luk 16:10] He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
[Luk 16:11] If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
[1Co 4:2] Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be foundfaithful.
[Rev 2:10] Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
[Pro 25:19] Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Faithfulness requires:
- Commitment
- Dedication
- Hard work
The two servants that doubled the investment of their master were committed, dedicated, and worked hard to double the investment.
Christianity requires the same
- If one is not committed to his/her Christian walk, such person will backslide
- If one is not dedicated, that person will fall when things get rough
- If one is slothful (not a hard worker), such person will not grow in faith
Let’s stop serving and worshiping God out of convenience
- If you do not regularly go out of your way to please God, you are a Convenient Christian
Faithfulness must follow you to enter into the joy of the Lord

Conclusion

Let goodness and faithfulness follow all that we do. Everyday:
- Encourage someone
- Pray for someone
- Bless someone
- Show love to someone
- Put someone first before you

Sermon

Goodness & Faithfulness