19″Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20″The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, `Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’21″His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”22″Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, `Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’23″His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’24″And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.25`And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’26″But his master answered and said to him, `You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.27`Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.28`Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’29″For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.30″Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:19-30

In this parable, the talents represent three graces we have received as the chosen of God: redemption through Jesus’ blood, the Holy Spirit, and God’s truth. The servants who make a double return are those who live faithfully by nurturing and growing these three graces. Because the last servant, who buried his talent in the ground, did not take care of what he had received, the Master took away his talent and chased him out. Similarly, God, who knows our hearts, will judge us according to how we have used the gifts we have received. 

Why are we studying this passage this afternoon again? It is important that we truly realize that we will all stand before God and be held accountable for how faithfully we lived with these three gifts God has graced us. What will God say to us? All our church leaders like Sunday school teachers, ministers, group leaders will stand together and receive judgment. Moreover, all who serve in the church have responsibility for all in their flock to be successful servants.

“You were faithful in a few things” refers to how we have lived our lives of faith during our short time in this world. Our time in this world is but a short part of our lives if we consider eternal life in heaven. If we live faithfully, the master says he will give a greater gift: our eternal salvation. In this world, whether we are rich or poor has no bearing on our value in heaven. Being admired in this world or despised has no real consequence. While living healthy is great, being healthy or ill again has no impact on our eternal value. All these things do not matter when we face God’s judgment.

What matters, because God will hold us in account for it, is how we embrace God’s truth, inspiration, and redemption during our time here. We must live to receive the praise God gives here to the good servants in this parable. This is where we should put all our effort. Do not invest in achieving success, reputation, or material success in this world. There is nothing more blessed than receiving God’s praise when he holds us in account. 

The master says, `Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ In this phrase, there are five praises the master gives the faithful servant for us to consider deeply. 

1. “Well done.” Receiving this praise means we have worn his redemption by living without sin, lived righteously, and were connected to God. We lived according to God’s truth, following his direction in each moment in our lives. We have lived to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
2. “Good.” You were good because you lived according to God’s purpose and gave everything you had to serve God in every way. 
3. “Faithful.” Being faithful means you were loyal in serving God and never wavered in your commitment.
4. “Faithful in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.” You succeeded in the small thing – you lived this life well and righteously. In your time spent on this earth, you lived the blood, truth, and inspiration of God fully. As a result, you will be put in charge of great things, eternal life. 
5. “Enter into the joy of your master.”  Because you have lived a good and faithful life, you will enter the eternal salvation of heaven.

Receiving this praise from God when we are judged should be the ultimate goal in our lives on this earth. Rather than investing all our energy and efforts towards being rich, healthy, respected, famous, we must focus on nurturing and building the “talents” we have received through God’s grace. Repent and fix what is wrong, persevere, and focus on when we meet God. We do not know when we will die. Whatever we do, we must live to hear these five praises at that time. We must ask ourselves in every moment we face: how will God receive my thoughts and actions when I appear before him? Will I hear these five praises from God? What do I need to repent and fix so that I can stand before God and be praised? 

The wise life is one where we review and adjust and act to receive these five praises when we face God on Judgment Day. We do not know when this will happen, we must begin now, today. We must put every effort into living our lives to hear these five things when we die in this life and are held accountable.

Click for Korea sermon https://soundcloud.com/yhpaik/1987-8-16-mixdown-123