Matthew 25:14-30 The Master’s Silver
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: August 21, 2019 Matthew 25:14-30
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
For it is as if a man going abroad called his own slaves and delivered his goods to them. And to one indeed he gave five talents, and to another, two, and to another, one, to each according to his ability. And he went abroad at once. And going, the one who received the five talents worked with them and made another five talents. In the same way, the one with the two also did; he also gained another two. But going away, the one who received the one dug in the earth and hid his lord’s silver. And after much time, the lord of those slaves came and took account with them. And coming up, the one who received five talents brought another five talents near, saying, Lord, you delivered five talents to me. Behold, I gained another five talents above them. And his lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many. Enter into the joy of your lord. And the one who received two talents also coming up, he said, Lord, you delivered two talents to me. Behold, I have gained two other talents above them. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many. Enter into the joy of your lord. And the one who received the one talent also coming up, he said, Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter; and being afraid, going away, I hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have yours. And answering, his lord said to him, Evil and slothful slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow, and I gather where I did not scatter. Then you ought to have put my silver to the bankers, and coming I would have received my own with interest. Therefore, take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to each who has, more will be given, and he will abound. But from him who does not have, even that which he has will be taken from him. And throw the worthless slave out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth.
(Revelation of God) This parable shows that the concept of slaves/servants was different in Jesus’ day. The man trusts his slaves/servants with money and business. These were the master’s servants, not some hired workers, but people of his household. He knew these people and their abilities well. He didn’t expect more of them than they could handle. Jesus knows us well. He knows that some of us have great abilities and others have limited abilities, but all of us have some ability that we can use for Him. He entrusts His precious treasure to us. In the case of Jesus, that treasure is people. Jesus doesn’t give us money as a treasure. He gives us the lives of people around us as treasures that we need to work with. He expects us to bring in more treasures for Him. He gives us tools to do this and doesn’t expect more than we are capable of doing.
(Understanding the Text / Revelation of God) The one who hid the talent said he did so out of fear of the master. The master said that the slave did it because he was evil and lazy because if he had actually feared the master, he would have made doubly sure to make some profit for him. Many today claim that God is not worthy of being served. They deny Him. Others misrepresent God as harsh, but if they really believed that, they would be trying to serve Him instead of presuming upon His mercy. God does not let us get by with excuses. He will ultimately make us face the reality of who we are and who He is. I think knowing who we are is not the problem as much as knowing who He is in relationship to who we are.
Jesus mentions that weeping and gnashing of teeth a lot. What is gnashing of teeth? Is that pain or anger?
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that God has given me a precious responsibility in putting me in a position to influence others for Him. I need to respect that gift of responsibility and do the best that I can to represent Him and His character honestly. I need to use my talents in any way that He asks me to. Please help me to serve You well and to not disappoint You. I pray that I will not bury the abilities that You give me to serve You but will instead use them to increase Your reputation and treasure. I pray to reach others for You. I do a terrible job at it, but that is what You want, so I pray to be able to do it.