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>>John Bradshaw: This is It
Is Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me.
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Think of someone you
know who is talented,
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or someone you know of.
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You might think of Lionel Messi,
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the Argentinian
soccer or football player.
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Tom Brady, greatest
quarterback of all time.
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Daniel Day Louis,
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the actor who won three
Best Actor Academy Awards.
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Helen Mirren, Meryl
Streep, Paul McCartney,
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rugby player Brodie
Retallick, the cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
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Artists like Pablo Picasso.
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Hmm.
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Picasso.
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Van Gogh, or Van Hook.
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Monet, so on.
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Now, I'm reaching for the
easy and the obvious examples.
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But there are talented
people in all areas of life.
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Talented
teachers and sculptures,
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and talented writers, and
talented pastry chefs and cooks.
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Talented gardeners, and so on.
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And how'd they get that way?
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Do you think Claude Monet just
stumbled out of bed one day and
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started painting water lilies?
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Umm, no.
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Mozart wasn't born
writing symphonies.
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How were these talented
people able to do what they did?
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You know the old joke?
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How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
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Practice, practice, practice.
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Now, some sports people are
born with a little more natural
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inclination than others.
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That's often true in any sphere.
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But at the end of the day
everybody's got 24 hours a day,
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and the opportunity to improve
opportunities and be the best
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that they can be.
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And Jesus spoke to this in
a parable found in Matthew,
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chapter 25.
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It's the Parable of the Talents,
and we're going to look at that
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today in our ongoing
series on the parables of Jesus,
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“Lessons for All Time.”
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Matthew, chapter 24,
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speaks of the
signs of Christ's coming.
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Matthew 25 begins with the
Parable of the Ten Virgins,
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and the need to have
the oil of the Holy Spirit,
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so we can be
prepared for eternity.
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Now in other words,
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Matthew 25 starts
with Jesus saying that
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God will give you everything
you need to be ready for heaven.
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The next parable,
that's really interesting.
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Remember, a
parable is not an allegory.
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Allegories are longer.
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They typically have people
or characters representing
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different ideas.
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Think about John Bunyan's
“Pilgrims Progress,” where
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Christian represents
the sinner, the believer.
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Evangelist shows Christian
the path to the celestial city,
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and so on.
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Parables are shorter stories,
and they convey moral or
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spiritual lessons.
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Jesus uses the story of a
man sowing seed to teach an
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important spiritual lesson.
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Or the story of a man beaten and
left for dead on the side of the
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road, ignored by church leaders,
but helped by a hated Samaritan.
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These stories were evocative,
and they stayed in the minds of
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the people who heard them.
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And so we have a
parable in Matthew,
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chapter 25,
starting in verse 14:
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“For the kingdom of heaven,”
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that's the kingdom of
divine grace on earth,
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God's work of
salvation on behalf of humanity,
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“the kingdom of
heaven is like a man
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traveling to a far country,
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who called his own servants and
delivered his goods to them.”
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Now, who is the traveling man?
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That's Jesus.
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The far country He goes to?
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That's heaven.
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Jesus was speaking
about Him leaving earth,
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going to heaven, and
commissioning His servants,
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giving His
servants responsibility.
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Verse 15: “And to
one he gave five talents,
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to another two,
and to another one,
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to each according
to his own ability;
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and immediately
he went on a journey.
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Then he who had received
the five talents went and traded
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with them, and made
another five talents.
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And likewise he who had received
two gained two more also.
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But he who had received
one went and dug in the ground,
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and hid his lord's money.
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After a long time the lord of
those servants came and settled
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accounts with them.”
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This parable deals with
what our lives should look like
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while we're waiting
for Jesus to return.
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It deals with our
responsibility before God.
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Or maybe we should say, it deals
with the possibilities we have
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as we look forward to the
return of Jesus to the world.
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So what's a talent?
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A talent is a measure of weight.
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The Greek word is talanton,
which means a balance or a pair
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of scales, and therefore
something that is weighed.
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Now, there are various
definitions as to how much a
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talent weighed.
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Then it differs if you're
talking about a talent of gold
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or a talent of silver.
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It seems as though a talent was
a little more than 70 pounds.
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Whatever it is, it's indicative
that the master has entrusted to
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his servants some
considerable means,
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and he wants them to
use those means wisely.
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Now, let's look at
this a little bit together.
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Think about these talents.
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The word talent in the English
today comes from that Greek word
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talanton.
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And what are the
talents that God has given us?
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And what talents do you have?
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Now, there's a
tendency, I think,
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on the part of people
to say, “I'm not a singer.
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I can't speak in public.
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I don't play an instrument.
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I can't draw.
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I'm not athletic.
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Therefore, I'm
not talented.” Ahh,
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but that's not true.
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Even if you cannot leap tall
buildings in a single bound,
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there is no question that
God has given you talents,
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and that you can return those
talents to God one day with a
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great return.
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Which means that you can make
a difference for the kingdom of
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God.
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A major difference.
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And I'll tell you
how in just a moment.
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¤[Music]¤
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>>John: Finance
is a big subject.
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Everybody wants
to have enough money.
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How can you have God's blessing
on your financial situation?
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I'd like to give
you today's free offer,
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“More Than Enough.”
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To receive “More Than Enough,”
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simply call us, 800-253-3000.
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You could write to the
address on your screen,
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or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
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That's 800-253-3000,
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or iiwoffer.com.
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>>John: Thanks for
joining me on It Is Written.
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The parable of the talents
suggests something important to
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us both, and that is, Jesus
considers that we are talented.
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We have talents.
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In the parable, not everyone
has the same amount of talents.
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Some were given five,
some two, others just one.
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But everyone
was given something.
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And everyone was expected
to use that for the master,
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to increase it.
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Now, that gives rise to a
question: how do you use your
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talents for the glory of God?
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You know, honestly, I feel a
little bit sorry for people who
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are fantastically talented.
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I'll tell you why.
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You get someone
who's a really good singer,
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for example.
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Then there's the temptation
to go after worldly or secular
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glory, which can be hazardous
to your spiritual life.
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When you're young and talented
and you could become rich and
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famous, that's a temptation
and one that's fraught with
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challenges.
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Then there are people
who are geniuses at business;
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they make a lot of money.
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Nothing wrong with
having money; far from it.
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But people who are wealthy have
temptations and worries that
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people who are not
wealthy do not have.
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Jesus makes it clear that
everyone has talents given to
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them by God, and that the
primary purpose of those talents
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is that they be used for
God's glory and not our own.
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And, for one thing, we
are the property of God,
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by creation and by redemption.
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So we are God's.
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Everything we have is
given by God and belongs to God.
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Everything that we
have, everything that we are,
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ought to be committed,
firstly, to the glory of God.
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The reason we're here on
this earth is to serve God.
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The real object
of life is ministry.
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So the capabilities
that God has given to us,
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first and foremost, are His.
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So what's included in these
talents that God has given to
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His children?
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Let's start with what
we find in 1 Corinthians,
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1 Corinthians, chapter 12, and
we're going to begin in verse 8:
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“To one is given the word
of wisdom through the Spirit,
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to another the word of knowledge
through the same Spirit,
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to another faith
by the same Spirit,
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to another gifts of
healings by the same Spirit,
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to another the
working of miracles,
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to another prophecy, to
another discerning of spirits,
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to another
different kinds of tongues,
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to another the
interpretation of tongues.
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But one and the same
Spirit works all these things,
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distributing to each one
individually as He wills.”
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Jesus promised the
gift of the Holy Spirit,
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and this is really how the
goods of heaven that the parable
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speaks of are given
to the followers of God.
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The gifts of the Spirit are
given to be used for the glory
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of God: wisdom,
healing, discernment,
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miracles, tongues,
knowledge, not for us,
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but for God's glory.
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Your spiritual gifts or
opportunities are talents that
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God has given.
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Now, what other
talents does God give?
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Jesus talked about the person
who was given five talents,
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and then there's the one
who was given just one talent.
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Large or small, doesn't matter.
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The question is, what can
you do with what you have?
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So let's start with
what's most important.
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God has given you
the gift of salvation.
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What are you doing with that?
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Now, God wants
us to grow in grace,
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to mature as believers.
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No one should be today where
they were five years ago or even
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one year ago, in
terms of Christian growth.
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There are victories to
win, bad habits to break.
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You've got a
Christian character to develop.
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And God has promised to do the
work in you that you plain and
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simply cannot do yourself.
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Philippians 1, verse 6,
what does the Bible say?
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“Being confident
of this very thing,
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that He who has begun a good
work in you will complete it
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until the day of
Jesus Christ.” Jude,
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verse 24, tells us that Jesus is
able to “keep you from falling,”
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and Ephesians 4:13 says, “Till
we all come to the unity of the
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faith and to the
knowledge of the Son of God,
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to a perfect man,
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to the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ.”
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People ready to meet
Jesus when He returns
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are described in Revelation
14, verse 12, this way:
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It says, “Here is the
patience of the saints;
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here are those who keep
the commandments of God and the
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faith of Jesus.”
Revelation 14 and verse 12.
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As long as you have
spiritual growing left to do,
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there's a return on the talent
God has given you that God is
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waiting to receive.
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The gift of
salvation: definitely.
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A talent to be used and
developed for the glory of God.
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Now, God has
given everyone a mind.
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What are you doing with yours?
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Getting an education and
increasing your abilities and
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your usefulness
for God honors God.
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Laziness doesn't.
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If you can do better at school,
that gives you in most cases an
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opportunity to do more for God.
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Not everyone's
called to get a doctorate,
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but it's pretty obvious
that learning and developing and
00:12:55.57\00:12:58.74
getting educated make it far
more likely that you'll be able
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to give God more
than if you, say,
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dropped out of school.
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The sharper your intellect,
the more you can do in God's
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service.
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Which leads me to this:
the talent of your health.
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Now, many people wouldn't think
of one's health as a talent
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given by God.
00:13:19.83\00:13:20.83
But it is.
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It's a
capability, an opportunity.
00:13:22.50\00:13:25.67
So if you're
damaging your health,
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what's that saying to God about
the way you value that talent?
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Here's what we know.
00:13:33.74\00:13:34.44
Smoking,
drinking, illegal drugs,
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sundry other
things: very damaging.
00:13:36.54\00:13:38.95
You can shorten your life by
making poor lifestyle choices.
00:13:38.98\00:13:43.12
You can extend your life by
making wise lifestyle choices.
00:13:43.15\00:13:46.69
Now, sometimes there's not
anything that you can do to
00:13:46.72\00:13:49.29
prevent a
problematic health condition.
00:13:49.32\00:13:51.66
That's understood.
00:13:51.69\00:13:52.93
But there are tons of people who
are eating themselves to death.
00:13:52.96\00:13:55.60
You have a fatal heart attack
at 55 because you were careless
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with your body?
00:13:58.87\00:13:59.90
You've robbed God of
maybe 30 years of service.
00:13:59.93\00:14:03.20
That's not inconsequential.
00:14:03.24\00:14:04.77
We have a duty to keep ourselves
in the best shape possible.
00:14:04.81\00:14:10.28
Now, this is 1 Corinthians,
chapter 6 and verse 19.
00:14:10.31\00:14:13.92
It says, “Or do you not know
that your body is the temple of
00:14:13.95\00:14:17.45
the Holy Spirit who is in
you, whom you have from God,
00:14:17.49\00:14:21.79
and you are not your own?
00:14:21.82\00:14:23.46
For you were bought at a price;
therefore glorify God in your
00:14:23.49\00:14:27.20
body and in your spirit, which
are God's.” Then 1 Corinthians
00:14:27.23\00:14:31.17
10:31 says, “Therefore,
whether you eat or drink,
00:14:31.20\00:14:34.64
or whatever you do, do all to
the glory of God.” Notice that?
00:14:34.67\00:14:39.51
“All to the glory of God.”
God isn't glorified when we make
00:14:39.54\00:14:43.55
choices that
damage us, that kill us,
00:14:43.58\00:14:45.35
that weaken our
bodies or our minds.
00:14:45.38\00:14:47.32
If there's a bad habit
that's controlling you,
00:14:47.35\00:14:50.52
let God bring it under control
and get it out of your life.
00:14:50.55\00:14:56.83
Our, talents are
given to us by God.
00:14:56.86\00:14:58.63
They should be used
first and foremost for God.
00:14:58.66\00:15:02.80
Now, I've got one that you
probably haven't thought about
00:15:02.83\00:15:05.27
as a talent.
00:15:05.30\00:15:06.94
You have this talent,
and it's really important.
00:15:06.97\00:15:10.24
And I'm going to tell you
what it is in just a moment.
00:15:10.27\00:15:13.94
¤[Music]¤
00:15:13.98\00:15:20.98
¤[Theme music]¤
00:15:21.55\00:15:23.25
>>Announcer: In Matthew 4:4,
00:15:23.28\00:15:24.52
the Word of God
says, “It is Written,
00:15:24.55\00:15:26.79
‘Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:15:26.82\00:15:29.02
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'”
00:15:29.06\00:15:32.76
“Every Word” is a one-minute,
Bible-based daily devotional
00:15:32.79\00:15:36.00
presented by
Pastor John Bradshaw,
00:15:36.03\00:15:37.80
and designed especially
for busy people like you.
00:15:37.83\00:15:40.90
Look for Every Word
on selected networks,
00:15:40.94\00:15:43.61
or watch it online
every day on our website,
00:15:43.64\00:15:46.07
itiswritten.com.
00:15:46.11\00:15:47.08
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:15:47.11\00:15:50.58
Watch “Every Word.”
You'll be glad you did.
00:15:50.61\00:15:55.72
>>John: Today I'd like to ask
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00:16:02.36\00:16:04.99
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seeing and not
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00:16:13.13\00:16:16.40
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Or visit itiswritten.com.
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>>John: Thanks for joining
me today on It Is Written.
00:16:45.03\00:16:47.30
We're looking at the
Parable of the Talents found in
00:16:47.34\00:16:49.90
Matthew chapter 25.
00:16:49.94\00:16:51.87
Luke's version of this
parable is found in Luke 19.
00:16:51.91\00:16:55.84
What we have, all we
have, is given to us by God.
00:16:55.88\00:17:00.18
Therefore, we owe it all to God.
00:17:00.22\00:17:02.88
We should serve Him with
everything we are and everything
00:17:02.92\00:17:05.02
that we have.
00:17:05.05\00:17:06.09
All our possessions, our
wealth, our opportunities,
00:17:06.12\00:17:09.02
should be dedicated to God.
00:17:09.06\00:17:11.99
Obviously, money can do an
enormous amount of good for God.
00:17:12.03\00:17:16.56
It's a talent.
00:17:16.60\00:17:18.27
Think about the money
that many people waste.
00:17:18.30\00:17:20.87
Look, if you bought
a coffee, one a day,
00:17:20.90\00:17:22.70
five days a week, that
could easily be $20 a week,
00:17:22.74\00:17:26.24
therefore,
$1,000 or more a year,
00:17:26.27\00:17:28.68
for something that
isn't going to help you
00:17:28.71\00:17:30.55
and is gonna harm you.
00:17:30.58\00:17:32.08
That's what we call a waste.
00:17:32.11\00:17:35.55
A friend of mine told
me, “My wife and I,” he said,
00:17:35.58\00:17:37.75
“we cut our
satellite TV, got rid of it.
00:17:37.79\00:17:40.32
The money we were spending
that, we're now saving and we're
00:17:40.36\00:17:42.86
giving to God's
work.” That's an investment.
00:17:42.89\00:17:46.23
You might be
making a car payment
00:17:46.26\00:17:47.50
that you don't need to make.
00:17:47.56\00:17:48.73
People will spend
thousands of dollars,
00:17:48.76\00:17:50.47
tens of thousands of dollars, on
a vehicle they'll admit to you
00:17:50.50\00:17:53.80
they don't need to have.
00:17:53.84\00:17:55.17
They might call
it a toy or a hobby.
00:17:55.20\00:17:58.74
Imagine what God could do
with some of that money that we
00:17:58.77\00:18:01.88
fritter away.
00:18:01.91\00:18:03.81
Every cent spent on alcohol is
money that's not glorifying God,
00:18:03.85\00:18:08.82
but is
glorifying, glorifying who,
00:18:08.85\00:18:12.19
do you suppose?
00:18:12.22\00:18:14.72
Now, this parable
helps us to orient our lives.
00:18:14.76\00:18:17.03
The life of the believer in
God is to be a life of service,
00:18:17.06\00:18:20.76
not a life
that's all about self,
00:18:20.80\00:18:23.40
a life that's about what we can
get out of this world for us.
00:18:23.43\00:18:28.27
I mentioned a moment ago there's
a talent that you have that most
00:18:28.30\00:18:32.71
people wouldn't think of
as fitting into this parable.
00:18:32.74\00:18:36.18
It's an important one.
00:18:36.21\00:18:38.31
And you have as much
of it as anyone else does.
00:18:38.35\00:18:42.08
It's the talent of time.
00:18:42.12\00:18:46.09
Every person alive has the
same amount of time in a day.
00:18:46.12\00:18:51.39
Twenty-four
hours, 1,440 minutes,
00:18:51.43\00:18:54.66
86,400 seconds.
00:18:54.73\00:18:57.90
Imagine if God asked you to
explain to Him what you're doing
00:18:57.93\00:19:01.47
with your time.
00:19:01.50\00:19:03.24
You can't get back lost time.
00:19:03.27\00:19:05.71
Once it's gone, it's gone.
00:19:05.74\00:19:08.64
Now, life isn't
all about industry.
00:19:08.68\00:19:10.65
You'd better get some rest.
00:19:10.68\00:19:12.35
You'd better have a
healthy balance in your life.
00:19:12.38\00:19:15.18
But if you'd listen to
an audiobook while you're
00:19:15.22\00:19:17.25
commuting,
you'd learn something.
00:19:17.29\00:19:18.59
If you read a book while
you're on the bus or the train,
00:19:18.62\00:19:21.39
you'd be ahead.
00:19:21.42\00:19:22.62
Attend a class at the local
community college or university;
00:19:22.66\00:19:24.63
you'll improve yourself.
00:19:24.66\00:19:26.49
Think of opportunities you
might have to read the Bible.
00:19:26.53\00:19:28.46
If you're waiting
for an appointment,
00:19:28.50\00:19:29.93
instead of grabbing your phone
and playing a game or reading
00:19:29.96\00:19:33.50
the news, read the Bible.
00:19:33.54\00:19:36.14
You'd be way ahead.
00:19:36.17\00:19:37.64
Anyone who's got time to binge
watch a TV series has time to
00:19:37.67\00:19:40.81
binge read the Bible.
00:19:40.84\00:19:43.08
Or they've got time to
spend with their children.
00:19:43.11\00:19:45.65
Or they've got
time to get exercise.
00:19:45.68\00:19:48.52
Imagine using your time
wisely to the glory of God.
00:19:48.55\00:19:53.05
How different would
life be if we altered it?
00:19:53.09\00:19:55.56
How different
would the church be?
00:19:55.59\00:19:57.59
It says in Romans 12:11 that
we should be “not slothful in
00:19:57.63\00:20:01.00
business," but 'fervent in
spirit, serving the Lord.'"
00:20:01.03\00:20:05.90
Ecclesiastes 9:10 says,
"Whatever your hand finds to do,
00:20:05.93\00:20:09.47
do it with your might."
Good advice in the word of God.
00:20:09.50\00:20:13.51
Time is given to
us to use wisely.
00:20:13.54\00:20:15.58
Successful people are
not people who waste time.
00:20:15.61\00:20:19.15
Successful
Christians, just the same.
00:20:19.18\00:20:23.25
Now, how does
the parable resolve?
00:20:23.28\00:20:25.72
Let's get to the
resolution of this in Matthew,
00:20:25.75\00:20:27.72
chapter 25, and we'll
pick it up in verse 20.
00:20:27.76\00:20:32.76
"So he who had received five
talents came and brought five
00:20:32.79\00:20:36.73
other talents, saying,
00:20:36.77\00:20:38.60
'Lord, you
delivered to me five talents;
00:20:38.63\00:20:40.47
look, I have gained five
more talents besides them.'"
00:20:40.50\00:20:43.57
His lord said
to him, ‘Well done,
00:20:43.61\00:20:45.87
good and faithful servant; you
were faithful over a few things,
00:20:45.91\00:20:50.01
I will make you
ruler over many things.
00:20:50.05\00:20:52.78
Enter into the joy of your
lord.'” God is looking to us to
00:20:52.81\00:20:56.38
give Him a return
on His investment.
00:20:56.42\00:20:58.52
Heaven made history's greatest
investment when Jesus died for
00:20:58.55\00:21:02.26
the world.
00:21:02.29\00:21:03.19
What does He want back?
00:21:03.22\00:21:04.76
He wants you.
00:21:04.79\00:21:06.43
It means He wants you
to be connected to Him.
00:21:06.46\00:21:08.20
When you are, then
your life is fruitful.
00:21:08.23\00:21:11.87
I want you to notice this.
00:21:11.90\00:21:12.93
God gives us responsibilities
and opportunities
00:21:12.97\00:21:15.24
because He wants
us, to have more.
00:21:15.27\00:21:18.11
He wants to bless us more.
00:21:18.14\00:21:20.71
You want to be the sort of
person that God can bless and
00:21:20.74\00:21:24.51
bless and bless.
00:21:24.55\00:21:27.52
The same thing happened with
the one who'd been given two
00:21:27.55\00:21:29.55
talents.
00:21:29.58\00:21:30.85
And then we read this in verse
24: “Then he who had received
00:21:30.89\00:21:34.66
the one talent
came and said, ‘Lord,
00:21:34.69\00:21:36.96
I knew you to be a hard man,
reaping where you have not sown,
00:21:36.99\00:21:40.70
and gathering where you
have not scattered seed.
00:21:40.73\00:21:42.96
And I was afraid, and went and
hid your talent in the ground.
00:21:43.00\00:21:47.20
Look, there you have what is
yours.' But his Lord answered
00:21:47.24\00:21:51.47
and said to him, ‘You
wicked and lazy servant,
00:21:51.51\00:21:55.38
you knew that I reap
where I have not sown,
00:21:55.41\00:21:57.98
and gather where I
have not scattered seed.
00:21:58.01\00:22:00.58
So you ought to have deposited
my money with the bankers,
00:22:00.62\00:22:03.95
and at my coming I would
have received back my own with
00:22:03.99\00:22:06.65
interest.
00:22:06.69\00:22:07.69
Therefore take
the talent from him,
00:22:07.72\00:22:10.19
and give it to him
who has ten talents.
00:22:10.23\00:22:12.66
For to everyone who
has, more will be given,
00:22:12.69\00:22:15.96
and he will have abundance;
but from him who does not have,
00:22:16.00\00:22:19.90
even what he has
will be taken away.
00:22:19.93\00:22:22.04
And cast the unprofitable
servant into the outer darkness.
00:22:22.07\00:22:25.51
There will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.'”
00:22:25.54\00:22:29.28
Now, this might
seem harsh, but it isn't.
00:22:29.31\00:22:32.78
Remember, this is a parable; not
every aspect of a parable has a
00:22:32.81\00:22:36.15
direct parallel or meaning.
00:22:36.18\00:22:38.69
The servant who got the one
talent charges that the master
00:22:38.72\00:22:41.79
is a hard man.
00:22:41.82\00:22:43.59
And the master answers by saying
that even if it were true,
00:22:43.63\00:22:46.19
which it isn't, he could have
taken that talent and put it in
00:22:46.23\00:22:49.26
the bank and
increased its value.
00:22:49.30\00:22:52.17
So why is that
talent taken away?
00:22:52.20\00:22:54.37
Because that's
how it is in life.
00:22:54.40\00:22:56.57
If you don't
use it, you lose it.
00:22:56.60\00:22:58.94
Think of the people who could
have learned another language
00:22:58.97\00:23:00.71
but didn't.
00:23:00.74\00:23:01.71
Later in life, it's
almost always too late.
00:23:01.74\00:23:04.18
You could have
learned a musical instrument;
00:23:04.21\00:23:05.75
later in life, you
don't have the time.
00:23:05.78\00:23:07.32
Or as a child you
learned, but then you let it go.
00:23:07.35\00:23:10.82
You didn't pick up
the trumpet or the violin,
00:23:10.85\00:23:12.99
or you didn't go to the piano.
00:23:13.02\00:23:14.52
And later, it's gone.
00:23:14.56\00:23:16.12
And a key point here is that you
shouldn't think that, because
00:23:16.16\00:23:19.53
you have little
talent or talents,
00:23:19.56\00:23:21.80
that you cannot do much.
00:23:21.83\00:23:23.97
Oh, yes, you can.
00:23:24.00\00:23:25.43
Thrive where
God has planted you.
00:23:25.47\00:23:27.84
If you're brilliant enough
to run a Fortune 500 company,
00:23:27.87\00:23:30.67
great.
00:23:30.71\00:23:31.71
Do it to the glory of God.
00:23:31.74\00:23:33.44
If your life is more
humble, it's no less meaningful.
00:23:33.48\00:23:37.25
God wants to use
you where you are.
00:23:37.28\00:23:39.35
He wants to use you as you are.
00:23:39.38\00:23:41.78
And as He does, your
sphere of influence will grow.
00:23:41.82\00:23:46.59
Think of Medal of
Honor recipient Desmond Doss,
00:23:46.62\00:23:48.96
a medic in the military
who became a national hero,
00:23:48.99\00:23:52.66
the subject of a
major motion picture,
00:23:52.69\00:23:54.60
simply because he was
faithful where God had him.
00:23:54.63\00:23:58.07
God didn't have
him anywhere glamorous.
00:23:58.10\00:24:00.60
But where he was,
he gave himself to God.
00:24:00.64\00:24:03.94
And his story is a
story for the ages.
00:24:03.97\00:24:05.57
Just be faithful where you are.
00:24:05.61\00:24:08.21
Serve God.
00:24:08.24\00:24:09.64
Let God use you.
00:24:09.68\00:24:11.05
When He does,
you'll be really blessed.
00:24:11.08\00:24:16.22
When we have the opportunity to
serve God and we don't take it,
00:24:16.25\00:24:19.49
that's a loss for
the kingdom of heaven.
00:24:19.52\00:24:21.69
And it's a loss for us.
00:24:21.72\00:24:23.79
There are a lot of
people, even in the church,
00:24:23.83\00:24:26.03
who are just there
making up the numbers.
00:24:26.06\00:24:28.30
They're not engaged in ministry.
00:24:28.33\00:24:29.73
They're not doing anything
to help another person know God
00:24:29.76\00:24:32.33
better.
00:24:32.37\00:24:33.40
They're losing the blessing.
00:24:33.44\00:24:35.27
An hour or so east of
Columbia, South Carolina,
00:24:35.30\00:24:39.61
is Bishopville, South Carolina.
00:24:39.64\00:24:41.54
That's where Pearl Fryar lives.
00:24:41.58\00:24:44.31
He began to work
in his yard years ago;
00:24:44.35\00:24:47.08
decided that he wanted to win
the garden-of-the-month award
00:24:47.12\00:24:49.72
from the local garden club.
00:24:49.75\00:24:51.42
Over time, his topiary garden
has become a tourist attraction,
00:24:51.45\00:24:56.99
with about 500 shrubs and trees
sculpted into an amazing array
00:24:57.03\00:25:01.60
of whimsical and even
inspirational shapes and forms.
00:25:01.63\00:25:06.27
His garden has been
praised by the Smithsonian.
00:25:06.30\00:25:08.94
Pearl isn't a gardener.
00:25:08.97\00:25:11.87
He's a now-retired engineer
with a three-acre yard that he's
00:25:11.91\00:25:15.61
worked at patiently
for years and years.
00:25:15.64\00:25:18.95
The truth is, most anyone
could have done what he's done.
00:25:18.98\00:25:22.25
But not everyone has the
patience to do what he's done.
00:25:22.28\00:25:24.69
Not everyone would dedicate
the time to create something so,
00:25:24.72\00:25:28.42
so incredible.
00:25:28.46\00:25:30.59
What are you doing with the
talents that God has given you?
00:25:30.63\00:25:32.39
Your skill, your
time, your blessings?
00:25:32.43\00:25:35.50
When you're all in with God, God
is using you and He's growing
00:25:35.53\00:25:38.87
you.
00:25:38.90\00:25:39.83
When you're not,
you're missing out.
00:25:39.87\00:25:42.84
The world is missing out on
what God could do through you.
00:25:42.87\00:25:45.54
God's not
receiving your service.
00:25:45.57\00:25:47.64
He's not receiving your heart.
00:25:47.68\00:25:50.01
I wonder if you could make a
decision with me today to serve
00:25:50.05\00:25:53.18
God wholeheartedly.
00:25:53.21\00:25:55.28
Now, I'll admit,
decisions like that are,
00:25:55.32\00:25:57.39
well, I don't want you
to make a promise to God.
00:25:57.42\00:26:01.79
Making promises to
God just doesn't work.
00:26:01.82\00:26:05.86
But you could believe the
promises that God has made to
00:26:05.89\00:26:10.50
you, where He's promised
that He would work in your life.
00:26:10.53\00:26:13.97
What would your life be like
if you made God first in your
00:26:14.00\00:26:16.10
business, if you made
God first in your practice,
00:26:16.14\00:26:19.44
if you made it your business
to be a representative of God
00:26:19.47\00:26:22.54
wherever you are?
00:26:22.58\00:26:23.48
I remember being in
Owensboro, Kentucky.
00:26:23.51\00:26:25.21
This was about a
quarter of a century ago.
00:26:25.25\00:26:27.15
There was a
large furniture store,
00:26:27.18\00:26:28.98
on the front a
big sign that said,
00:26:29.02\00:26:31.35
“Our business is sharing Jesus.
00:26:31.39\00:26:33.66
We just sell carpet to
pay the bills.” God first.
00:26:33.69\00:26:37.69
The business was
dedicated to Him.
00:26:37.73\00:26:40.66
Who are your
talents dedicated to?
00:26:40.70\00:26:43.06
What if you
dedicated them to God?
00:26:43.10\00:26:44.67
If you do, your life
will never be the same again,
00:26:44.70\00:26:49.87
and God will be
honored and glorified.
00:26:49.90\00:26:52.24
¤[Music]¤
00:26:52.27\00:26:58.95
>>John: Finance
is a big subject.
00:27:00.35\00:27:02.75
Everybody wants
to have enough money.
00:27:02.78\00:27:05.82
How can you have God's blessing
on your financial situation?
00:27:05.85\00:27:08.66
I'd like to give
you today's free offer,
00:27:08.69\00:27:11.33
“More Than Enough.”
00:27:11.36\00:27:13.26
To receive “More Than Enough,”
00:27:13.29\00:27:14.73
simply call us, 800-253-3000.
00:27:14.73\00:27:18.47
You could write to the
address on your screen,
00:27:18.50\00:27:20.14
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:27:20.17\00:27:24.31
That's 800-253-3000,
00:27:24.34\00:27:26.47
or iiwoffer.com.
00:27:26.51\00:27:30.05
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:27:30.58\00:27:32.41
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:27:32.45\00:27:35.82
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:27:35.85\00:27:39.09
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:27:39.12\00:27:43.32
You can send your tax-deductible
gift to the address on your
00:27:43.36\00:27:45.59
screen, or you can visit
us online at itiswritten.com.
00:27:45.63\00:27:50.13
Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
00:27:50.17\00:27:52.93
Our number
again is 800-253-3000.
00:27:52.97\00:27:57.11
Or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:27:57.14\00:28:00.68
>>John: Whether you have five
talents or two talents or one
00:28:01.48\00:28:04.78
talent, you can give
it or give them to God,
00:28:04.81\00:28:08.12
and let God work through you
in a way that would change your
00:28:08.15\00:28:10.85
life and change
the lives of others,
00:28:10.89\00:28:12.45
to help you to be an
even greater blessing
00:28:12.49\00:28:14.96
to those around you.
00:28:14.99\00:28:16.26
I want to pray with you now.
00:28:16.29\00:28:17.26
Let's pray together.
00:28:17.29\00:28:18.96
Our Father in heaven, we're
thankful today that You care
00:28:18.99\00:28:21.30
enough about us to
bless us and give us talents.
00:28:21.33\00:28:24.87
And then You want to make the
most of those by encouraging us
00:28:24.90\00:28:28.24
to live for You,
to live for others,
00:28:28.27\00:28:29.77
not just to live for ourselves.
00:28:29.80\00:28:32.71
Friend, what can you do for
God to give your talents to Him?
00:28:32.74\00:28:36.95
Even if you're not sure perhaps,
perhaps you would say with me
00:28:36.98\00:28:40.05
now and pray with me
now, “Lord, take what I am,
00:28:40.08\00:28:43.08
take what I
have, take my talents,
00:28:43.12\00:28:45.25
my abilities, take
my life, take my time,
00:28:45.29\00:28:48.69
take my Christian
witness, take my health,
00:28:48.72\00:28:50.99
take my influence, and
use it for Your glory.” Lord,
00:28:51.03\00:28:56.73
as you do, You'll grow us.
00:28:56.77\00:28:57.70
You'll develop us.
00:28:57.73\00:28:58.43
We'll be blessed.
00:28:58.47\00:29:00.77
And we thank You, Lord, that
through us Your plan is to reach
00:29:00.80\00:29:04.51
others for Your kingdom.
00:29:04.54\00:29:06.88
So take us and use
us and bless others,
00:29:06.91\00:29:10.55
and be honored, we
pray, and we thank You,
00:29:10.58\00:29:12.45
in Jesus' name.
00:29:12.48\00:29:14.28
Amen.
00:29:14.32\00:29:17.02
Thanks so much
for joining me today.
00:29:17.05\00:29:18.29
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:29:18.32\00:29:20.36
Until then, remember:
00:29:20.39\00:29:22.12
“It is written:
00:29:22.16\00:29:23.59
‘Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:29:23.63\00:29:25.86
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'”
00:29:25.89\00:29:30.03
¤[Theme music]¤
00:29:30.07\00:29:45.08