Matthew 25:16-17 (NKJV) Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
In the Parable of the Talents, the servants with five and two talents both doubled their talents by trading, or investing the money, as soon as it was entrusted to them. If you work in business or the corporate world, you need to believe that God has given us a mandate to create wealth.
Isaiah 1:19 (NKJV) If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
What distinguished the two servants with five and two talents from the lazy servant was obedience. God values heartfelt willingness as much as practical obedience. He desires an internal attitude that matches external actions.
God’s blessings are often linked to walking in His ways and His will. We obey God because He has saved us from our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are involved in the Father’s work of preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth. Therefore, we should be faithful stewards of His resources by supporting the preaching of the gospel because we belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. None of us can take worldly goods with us when we leave the earth, but we can store up treasures in heaven by obeying His call and being faithful with the resources entrusted to us.
Abraham was richly blessed materially because he obeyed God and walked in His will. Joshua and the Israelites received material blessings when they trusted in God and conquered the land flowing with milk and honey. Likewise, we should seek to align our will and actions with God’s revealed will.
The gospel must be preached to the ends of the earth before Jesus returns. There is no Christian witness or church among the unreached people groups, but there is hope they will hear the gospel as more missionaries are sent. As citizens of heaven, we should care about the salvation of all non-believers. We must be faithful stewards of the wealth He has entrusted to us so His will can be fulfilled through us.
God owns everything on earth and in heaven. Yet, He needs us to act as channels of blessings. The funds entrusted to us are intended to do His work on earth—preaching the gospel, caring for orphans, widows, the poor, and the underprivileged in society. God expected the lazy servant to at least deposit the money to earn interest.
God, in His wisdom, allocates to each servant according to their ability, but even if we are initially given just a few talents, He will entrust us with more if we are proven faithful.
Reflect: What kind of trading are you currently doing with the money God entrusted to you?
Sermon Series： Are you a wealth creator?
你正在进行怎样的“交易”？
马太福音 25:16-17 那领五千的随即拿去做买卖，另外赚了五千。那领二千的也照样另赚了二千。
在“按才干受托”的比喻中，那领五千和二千银子的仆人，在一受托付之后，便立刻去做买卖，使银子加倍增长。若你身处商业或职场领域，你需要相信：神赐给我们一个使命——为祂的国度创造财富。
以赛亚书1:19 你们若甘心听从，必吃地上的美物；
那两位忠心的仆人与那懒惰的仆人之间最大的区别，在于“顺服”。神既看重我们内心真实的甘心，也看重我们实际的顺服行动。祂所喜悦的，是内在态度与外在行为彼此一致。
神的祝福往往与行在祂的道路和旨意中紧密相连。我们之所以顺服神，是因为祂藉着耶稣基督的宝血拯救了我们脱离罪恶。我们如今参与天父向地极传扬福音的工作。因此，既然我们属于天国，就当忠心管理祂所托付的资源，支持福音的广传。我们离开世界时，无法带走任何地上的财物，但我们可以藉着顺服祂的呼召、忠心管理祂所托付的资源，在天上积攒财宝。
亚伯拉罕因顺服神、行在祂的旨意中，而在物质上蒙大大赐福。约书亚和以色列百姓因信靠神，得着流奶与蜜之地的产业。同样，我们也当竭力使自己的心意与行动，与神所启示的旨意对齐。
在主再来之前，福音必须传到地极。在许多未得之民当中，仍没有教会或基督徒见证。然而，当更多宣教士被差遣时，他们仍然有听见福音的盼望。作为天国的子民，我们理当关心一切未信之人的得救。我们必须忠心管理神所托付的财富，使祂的旨意可以借着我们得以成就。
神拥有天上地下的一切，但祂选择使用我们成为祝福的管道。祂托付给我们的资源，是为了在地上完成祂的工作——传扬福音，照顾孤儿、寡妇、贫穷人，以及社会中弱势群体。即使是那懒惰的仆人，主人也期待他至少把银子存入银行，赚取利息。
神按着各人的能力智慧地分配托付；即便我们起初只领受少数“银子”，只要我们忠心，祂仍会将更多托付给我们。
反思：
如今，你正在用神所托付给你的金钱进行怎样的“交易”？
讲章系列：你是一个创造财富的人吗？