Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Matthew 25:14-30
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  November 19, 2023

I know that this is not the most fun way to start a sermon, but what are some of the saddest words that you can think of? “Goodbye” can be a sad word, right? It’s one of the reasons that the Builders for Christ don’t use it when they’re done with a project. That and their certain hope in the resurrection leads them to say, “See ya down the road.” “It’s over,” can be some sad words, especially if whatever is over was something enjoyable. There are plenty of sad words in our world because we live in a sinful one. But today, I’d like you to consider another phrase, another set of words that may perhaps be the saddest of all. “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘what might have been,’’” The poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, penned these words. What did he mean by them? What was his point? Perhaps we can find some answers in our parable today.

We pick up here in Matthew chapter 25 where we left off last week. Jesus is speaking to his disciples three days before he would die. He’s telling them how he would soon be leaving them. He wanted them to be ready for the days to come. But he also wanted them to understand that he had called them to be his followers. They had a job to do, and he was not leaving them unprepared. And like he often did to get his point across, he tells them a story.

There was a man who was going on an extended journey. This man was rich–very rich. And while he was gone, he wanted to give his servants an opportunity. So, he “entrusted his possessions to them.” He knows them. He’s seen them at work. He knows they have his best interest at heart. Not only is this man rich, he is also generous. The amounts he entrusts to his servants are not small. We might think of the gifts he gives in terms of 10, 20, and 50 thousand dollars. Yet, he also shows his wisdom and shrewdness alongside his generosity. He gives to “each according to his own ability.” The man gives something to all of them, but he is only going to give each servant what they are able to handle. He does this to best set them up for success.

So how do the servants do? There are two very different responses to the master’s generosity. Two servants are very similar. “The servant who had received the five talents immediately put them to work and gained five more talents. In the same way, the servant who had received the two talents gained two more.” These two sprang into action at once. They made the most of their gifts, both their abilities and the money entrusted to them. When the master returned, they considered it a privilege to  return the profit to their Lord, who says, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” However, the third servant is a different story! He “went away, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.”  This action took more work than just putting it in the bank…and it earned less! Then he presumes to lecture his master, a man he clearly despises. He has earned nothing because he did nothing with his abilities or the generous gift of his Master.

Can you imagine being given $50,000 to “play with?” Can you imagine what it would be like to be given that amount of responsibility? What would it take to become a trusted servant of a powerful person? What if you wanted to be the personal assistant for Giannis or Elon Musk or the President? Can you imagine what the interview would be like? You’d be thinking, “How’s my resume? How do I look? What should I say?” Because you know that they will only take the perfect candidate: one who has the right skills, a compatible personality, just the right amount of experience and ultimately can get the job done. It would be awesome to be chosen, wouldn’t it! But how many of us would really have a shot? How much more unlikely if we were applying for the same position before the Master of heaven and earth? Why? Because we are not perfect candidates! Sin fills our resumes. Failures fill our report cards. The stains of wrongs cover our best interview outfit. So often, we say the wrong thing: lies and cursing, gossip and grumbling. By nature, we are an enemy of the one who is hiring for the position because “the mind-set of the sinful flesh is hostile to God, since it does not submit to God’s law, and in fact, it cannot.”

And yet, God has chosen us to be his servants! When Jesus, the Master of all, “emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant…was born in human likeness,”  he put himself in our place. He replaces our resume of sin with his perfect life. He exchanges our failures for his triumph. He places his words on our lips and in our hearts. He washes the stains from our suits with his blood. He does it all on his dime. His gift will never fade. It lasts for eternity. Because of his grace, we may enter the Master’s service.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he promised to fulfill what Moses had wished for and that Joel foresaw: He promised to send his Holy Spirit on his disciples. And each one of us has been filled with the Holy Spirit. He has called us to be his children. In Holy Baptism, he adopted you into his family. In his Word and at his table, he continues to assure us he has taken all our sins away. He gives us called workers to preach and teach his Word among us. We can worship together freely with brothers and sisters in the faith. And he’s also given each of us a unique set of gifts. He gives gifts in many areas of life: skill in working with your hands, athletic ability,m ability in math or science or language, skill in music or drawing or design. We see his gifts in other ways too. There are hard workers, caring encouragers, good friends, gifted leaders, willing volunteers, and on and on.

So, it’s clear, isn’t it? We are gifted servants of the Master! We’re servants who have been given talents by our Master. We can see ourselves in this parable, can’t we? We’ve been given talents to play with! So which servant are we? Most of us do not see ourselves as the five talent guy, We’re just regular people. We have our gifts, but they maybe amount to one or maybe two talents. Our gifts are small compared to others. That may be true. Most of us are not making millions. Most of us will not be on TV. Most of us will never fill a concert hall. Most of us will not be pro athletes. But isn’t it interesting Jesus told the story the way he did? Why wasn’t the five talent guy the unfaithful one? He had all the gifts! If he didn’t use them, wouldn’t that be the greater crime? Wouldn’t that have a bigger impact? Maybe…but then each of us could easily say, “That’s a shame, but I’m not a five talent person! So, I’m sure the Lord is not expecting quite so much of me. It’s no real tragedy if I don’t use my gifts. They’re small, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

But, that’s not how it goes, is it? Jesus pictures the least gifted servant as the unfaithful one. Why? Was it because he had fewer gifts to begin with? Was it because he used his gifts for some evil purpose? No! He was unfaithful because he didn’t use his gifts at all. And that’s the key, folks! When the first two servants made the most of their gifts, both their abilities and the money entrusted to them, their Lord said to them, “Well done,  good and faithful servant!” Notice what they are commended for! For their faithfulness, not for what they earned. No matter what your gifts may be, you are to use them faithfully. Your gifts may be different than someone else’s. Your gifts may be less than someone else’s. But each one of you has gifts–gifts specifically entrusted to you from God! Be faithful with what you do have. That’s what Jesus expects, and that should be our goal!

What might have been? Can you see now why those are some of the saddest words? We are so blessed as individuals, as a congregation, and as a synod! We have so many gifts at our disposal! We’ve been called into the service of the King of kings and Lord of lords. He supplies everything we need to be successful and he gives us exactly what’s right for us, what we can handle, to set us up for success. And all he asks of us is that we be faithful. Use what he’s given. But what will he find when he returns? How are you using the gifts the Lord has given you? Do you think first of serving yourself or your Lord? Do you, as a gifted servant, have the same priorities as your Master? Have your gifts flowed from a grateful heart or a grudging one? Have you focused on faithfulness in accordance with your gifts or are we filled with a bunch of “what might have beens?”

If we can see our failings as his servants here and in other places, how could he miss them? He doesn’t. But only because of his grace and mercy, he forgives them. Despite our unfaithfulness, he remains faithful. Despite our failures, Jesus never fails. And he continues to bless us and call us into his service. He accepts our lives of service as a living sacrifice that we can offer in joy and thanksgiving. You are a gifted servant! God has supplied everything! So show your thanks by being faithful with what he’s given. That’s all he asks! Faithfulness in serving him with the gifts he’s given. And how generous our Master is! How gifted we are because of him! Let us respond in using the gifts he entrusts to us with joy! And when we do, we will to have to wonder what might have been! Amen.