Faithfulness to God

Richard Eng

Sermon • Submitted 10 months ago • Presented 10 months ago

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What does God want me to do?

Opening question

“What does God want me to do?”

Usually when we ask this question, we have a hidden assumption that adds to the end of the question. Not “what does God want me to do?” But rather “what does God want me to do* with my whole life?*”

All of a sudden, for some, we are thinking about the future, about grand goals or dreams we have that may seem all to big — perhaps unattainable. Or maybe for some, this question comes with the guilt of what has not been done. We regret moments where we set ourselves on a path that led us to where we are, and where we are is not something we are entirely proud of. Our minds are filled with what-ifs and unresolved pain, that to even think about that question causes us to think “well, it’s too late anyway.”

I also asked myself that question.

I remember graduating high school, and the church i went to would have all of the seniors on the stage to say where they were going to college and what major we were pursuing. In short, “what does God want you to do?” So me and my friends all shared our all-too-confidence answers, not knowing how each of us would inevitably change course.

But I even knew at the time, as i shared I would go to a community college to study business, that that was not right. The truth is, I didn’t know. Looking back, I wish someone had said “it’s ok if you don’t know.” But I noticed only the ones that had all the answers were getting applauded, so I hoped I could fake it till I make it.

Well in our passage today in our short time together, we will seek to answer this question: What does God want me to do?

Matthew 25:14–30 CSB

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. In the same way the man with two earned two more. But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’ “The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’ “The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ “His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned. “ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

So what does God want you to do? Be faithful to the day.

Notice how the master does not say

Good and..

talented

good looking

wealthy

Knowledgeable

savvy

tall dark and hansom

No. Rather, the master says faithful.

Faithfulness is obedience to and stewardship over what you have been given.

This is why both servants, the one with 5 talents and the one with 2, are both equally called faithful. They were obedient to and stewarded what they had been given by the master.

So to return to our our original question, “what does God want me to do?” A great place to start is to ask yourself this: “what do I have?”

family

career

abilities

resources

I don’t know if I ever formally asked myself this question, but I found myself slowly discovering the answer after that fateful day on the stage at my church.

I found out that I love to teach, and so i decided to test it out. I started with a bible study with fellow college students, and much to my suprise, about 20 people showed up to my first night, and then they started bringing their friends. So I said, Ok God. I’ll be faithful with this.

Then RA, then youth intern, then youth pastor, then family pastor, then having staff report to me, on and on to here with you. Where we are praying together about the future. Even now, my heart has been the same as with those 20 college students.. Ok God. I’ll be faithful with what you’ve given me.

So what do you Have? What has God given you to be faithful over? I know for me, I want the Lord to say to me “well done, good and faithful servant.” Do you want him to say that to you?