IDEA: God gives us opportunities in which we take risks to invest for Him. TEXT: "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one; to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 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. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money" (Matthew 25:14-18).

PURPOSE: To have listeners realize that talents are given to them to use.

Yesterday we were trying to figure out what Jesus had in mind when He talked about "talents" in His story in Matthew 25:14-18.

It seems like an obvious question, but it isn’t simple to answer.

I. Yesterday we looked at two applications that are frequently used from this parable and that are difficult to support from the parable.

Some commentators tell us that talents are our natural abilities that we are to use for God, like singing, playing a musical instrument, painting, acting, etc.

Others say that talents are how Christians use their time and ability to get the rewards at the judgment seat of Christ.

II. There are two other ways in which the parable has been applied.

Some say that our talents are the spiritual gifts that God gives Christians that we are to use for His kingdom. This reads or implies something from another book of the Bible into Matthew’s gospel.

Others say that talents represent the money that God has given us to use for Him.

III. All of these applications have good advice to give. All of them have biblical support. None of them will lead you astray.

But is that what this parable is teaching about talents