A NEW YEAR'S PARABLE

Sunday (12/29), gather with your church family as we close the year out by continuing our study in Matthew's Gospel (25:14-30).

Jesus continues His longest sermon about the days leading up to His Second Coming by sharing one last parable, "The Parable of the Talents." In the narrative, Jesus tells about a wealthy landowner who generously distributes his wealth among three of his servants before leaving on a long journey.

The man instructed his servants to invest the money they had been given to make him a profit. As soon as he finished, he left without providing his return date.

Two servants immediately began investing the money, and both doubled their returns. Instead of following the other's example and knowing what he had been instructed to do, the third servant buried the money so no one could find it.

The landowner returns home and calls each of the three to give an account. He is pleased and satisfied with the report provided by two of the servants.

His pleasure turns to anger when the third one recounts that he did nothing with the money he had been given.

The first two servants are richly rewarded. The third servant has his money taken from him and is banished from his Master's kingdom into the darkness. The only thing he has left is regret for not listening to his Master's instructions.

This final of six parables by Jesus was given to confirm that when He would ascend to Heaven to sit at His Father's right hand, His return would be on a day and hour that His followers least expected. Therefore, they were to live each day anticipating and expecting Him to come.

Watching for Jesus' return inspires His followers to invest in eternal things rather than the temporal things of this life.

Even though there is no sin in enjoying life or setting aside enough money to enjoy one's senior years, whatever satisfaction or joy of having enough money in this life pales in comparison to the rewards awaiting those who make it their life's ambition to prepare their heart, mind, and life for the coming of their Master.

Paul says it best when he writes, "We make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Co 5:9-10).

May Jesus’ teaching fill our hearts with the knowledge of His word, hearts prepared to receive Him, hearts to share the gospel with anyone who will listen, and hearts to keep our eyes and affections open to His imminent return.

There are several worship opportunities: on-campus (10:00 a.m.), drive-in church (92.1fm), and online (Facebook and YouTube: Calvary Inverness).

Maranatha,

Pastor