Knowing what to do with what God gives you!

Matthew 25 brings forward the servant with one talent, and his words sound religious: “Lord, I knew thee.” The servant knows the lord is gone, knows he will return, and knows there will be an accounting. But the servant’s actions tell a different story. The servant buries what was placed in his hands, then tries to excuse doing nothing by saying he was afraid.

Jesus does not make this a lesson merely about being lazy or making money. The parable gets down to the heart of knowing God. Knowing about God, quoting scripture, knowing church language, and having a religious pattern do not mean somebody has a relationship with God. A life that truly knows Jesus will be changed by Jesus. The relationship will show up when trouble comes, when money is low, when the body hurts, and when worship is not easy.

God gives talents according to each person’s ability because God knows each person. God knows what somebody can do, what somebody cannot do, and what is already in that person’s hand. The talent is not the reward. The talent is the responsibility. The question is not simply, “What do I have?” The question is, “Why did God place it in my hands?”

The servant with one talent had energy, because he dug a hole, buried the money, covered it up, and knew exactly where to find it later. But the servant spent his energy on the wrong thing. The danger is not only doing nothing. The danger is getting comfortable doing everything except what God has called somebody to do. Comfort, excuses, family plans, entertainment, and personal routines can all become a hole in the ground where God-given gifts are buried.

God’s will requires faithfulness before titles, positions, and bigger opportunities. God has already opened doors through salvation, forgiveness, deliverance, and the ability to praise Him with a sound mind. Faithfulness means using what God has already given, telling somebody about Jesus, serving where there is need, and worshiping through the battle. The one who is faithful over a few things receives the words, “Well done.”

God also works on the areas where people ask for help. Financial blessing may require a budget and changed spending. Healing may require somebody to stop harming the body that belongs to the Holy Spirit. God is the potter, and people are the clay. Real knowledge of God means allowing God to change what needs changing.

God calls His people to come close, pray, leave burdens at the altar, and walk away trusting Him. Salvation begins in the church before the church can reach the souls outside. God’s goodness, forgiveness, healing, and restoration make His people responsible to work, labor, and use every gift for His glory.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Knowing God changes daily choices. The servant claimed, “I knew thee,” but his fear and inactivity showed that he did not know the lord’s heart. A real walk with Jesus cannot stay locked inside church words or Sunday habits. Christ changes how somebody responds to trouble, temptation, worship, and responsibility. [34:11]
• 2. The talent is a responsibility. God gives ability, time, opportunity, and gifts according to what He knows each person can handle. The gift is not given merely to be protected, admired, or buried. God places something in every hand for His glory and for the good of somebody else. [42:30]
• 3. Faithfulness comes before bigger doors. God does not call people to chase titles while ignoring the opportunities already in front of them. Salvation itself gives a person a reason to praise, serve, and tell others about deliverance. The faithful servant uses the open door before asking God for another one. [46:58]
• 4. Comfort can bury God-given gifts. The servant was not without energy, because burying the talent took work. Comfort becomes dangerous when people stay busy with personal plans but leave God’s assignment undone. God may call somebody out of familiar routines so that His will can take first place. [50:56]
• 5. God’s help includes God’s correction. Financial needs, health needs, and personal struggles may require more than asking for a miracle. God works on budgets, habits, rest, discipline, and the choices that keep bringing harm. The potter does not only bless the clay; He shapes it.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:24] - Do You Know the Lord?
• [29:01] - The Servant Who Buried His Talent
• [30:53] - Knowing God or Knowing About God
• [33:48] - Worshiping Through Every Season
• [38:54] - Understanding God’s Assignment
• [41:10] - Gifts According to Ability
• [44:28] - Faithfulness Before a Bigger Door
• [49:05] - Energy Used for the Wrong Thing
• [53:30] - Letting God Change the Comfort Zone
• [56:54] - Prayer, Bible Reading, and Relationship
• [58:56] - Bringing Burdens to the Altar
• [67:01] - What Are You Doing With God’s Goodness?
• [73:49] - A Call to Use Your Gift

Bible Reading

Matthew 25:14-30
“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. 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. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [23:30]

James 1:22
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” [36:54]

1 Corinthians 4:2
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” [43:32]

Observation questions

1. What differences can the group observe between the actions of the servants who received five and two talents and the action of the servant who received one talent?
2. What reasons did the one-talent servant give for hiding his lord’s money, and what did his lord say he should have done instead? [27:48]
3. What does Matthew 25 say about why the servants received different amounts, and what does that show about the lord’s knowledge of them? [41:10]
4. What examples were given of ways a person may use energy for personal routines and comfort while leaving God’s work undone? [49:11]

Interpretation questions

1. The servant said, “I knew thee,” but his fear and inaction told a different story. What does this reveal about the difference between knowing facts about God and truly knowing Him in relationship? [34:11]
2. Why is a talent better understood as a responsibility from God than as a prize to keep safe? How does this change the question from “What do I have?” to “Why did God put this in my hands?” [42:30]
3. Both faithful servants received the same words, “Well done,” even though they began with different amounts. What does this show about what God looks for in a believer’s service?
4. James says that hearing without doing deceives a person. In what ways can church language, Bible knowledge, or a worship routine give someone a false sense that they are walking closely with God? [36:54]

Application questions

1. What has God already placed in your hands—time, encouragement, a testimony, a skill, the ability to serve, or the ability to speak with people? Where could you use that gift for God’s glory this week? [42:34]
2. Is there an area where fear has caused you to hold back from doing what God has placed on your heart? What would one faithful step of obedience look like?
3. Are you waiting for a title, position, or bigger opportunity while overlooking an open door that is already in front of you? What is one simple way you can serve or tell someone about Jesus now? [47:10]
4. Where have comfort, family schedules, entertainment, projects, or personal plans begun to take more of your energy than your walk with God? What adjustment could help put God’s will first? [51:49]
5. When trouble comes—financial pressure, sickness, stress, or disappointment—what usually happens to your prayer, worship, and church participation? What would it look like to worship God through that battle instead of withdrawing? [35:24]
6. Is there a practical area where you are asking God for help while He may also be calling you to change a habit, make a plan, or accept correction? This could involve spending, rest, food, health, or another daily choice. [55:14]
7. What burden do you need to place before God and stop carrying by yourself? How can the group support you in trusting God and walking forward in faith? [59:03]