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Sunday 28 January 2018

28th January 2018 - Simon Benham Don’t hold back –  Matthew 25 v 14-30






28th January 2018 - Simon Benham

Don’t hold back –  Matthew 25 v 14-30

The Parable of the Bags of Gold

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’



We can learn four principles about how God wants us to interact with him.

1.      We all have bags of gold! We have gold in our lives. This parable is known as the parable of the talents but in ‘talents’ means money/gold. Hence we should look at this parable from a physical and skill basis. We all have abilities whether physical, creative, mental abilities, we have different passions, different holy discontents (injustice in the world that spurs us), different finances, possessions, time, influence, past experiences, qualifications, languages, ethnicity, jobs.... that are all part of the gold that God has placed in us. We need to believe that God have given each of us unique skills and life experiences and situations to be used for Him and by Him.  Our unique situation allows us to uniquely contribute to life. However we need to stop comparing ourselves to others. Use what God has given us as individuals.

2.      Faithfulness. We think of the word ‘faithfulness’ it as being loyal. However God sees it as doing the best with what He has given you as an individual. He wants you to be faithful with the use of the ‘gold’ that God has sown into you.

3.      Fruitfulness and willingness to take a risk. We should not be afraid of God but should fear Him. Being afraid means we won’t step out, but God actually is cheering you on and He wants you to succeed. He is encouraging you on even when you stumble.

4.      If we are faithful with what we have, there is a reward. The servants got a commendation of ‘well done good and faithful servant’. Then God gives more. He says ‘come and shared His happiness’



Simon interviews Shona and Darren: They have both taken the steps to stretch out and be used by God:

Darren introduced himself and how he set up ‘Who lets the dads out!’ which provides a space for dads, grandfathers etc to bring children and have bonding time. Darren originally started organising walks at the Lookout and Dinton Pastures.  After hearing about what was starting, the council made contact to showing interest.  After many discussions, from April 2018 Bracknell children centres will now be sending someone each month to help out.  Darren is also planning on having an Alpha table in September to invite the dads to…. it’s the next step. Darren felt that with God he has the confidence to step out of his boat.

When the group started last tear there were 14 dads and now there are 24 dads so it is growing. The council are really supportive of the group and are advertising it.



Shona is a trained barrister, however after working as a solicitor and then giving up work when she had kids. Shona started a part time masters in criminology in 2010, however one of her children became sick and had to delay the course by a year. During her studies Shona had a God light bulb moment regarding the impact on children when their parents are sent to prison. This became her passion. She continued her studies and studied for a  PhD at the Centre of Criminology in Oxford. God was completely in it.

Her studies were hard work and it was draining interviewing children and judges. Following her research,  Shona has generated videos for sentencing professionals about what happens to children. This is now going to be issued to Probation Officer’s, judges and criminal advocates. She is also going to be on woman’s hour. Shona reports that she felt she was dreaming big, but God dreams are bigger.

Be faithful because God will come through.  God wants us all to be audacious



Questions:

1-      When reading Matthew 25 14-30 which of the servants do you associate with? the one who doubles their Gold or the one or hides it in the ground

2-      Chat amongst the group about the Gold that God has given you

3-      Discuss in your group what is stopping you using the Gold that god has given you

4-      What can you do to start using your Gold?

5-      Pray together that you can use the Gold that God has given you

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