GOD IS AN INVESTOR (9).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*GOD IS AN INVESTOR (9)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Matt 25:14-30.

v14 *For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.*

v15 *And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.*

v16 *Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.*

v17 *And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.*

v18 *But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.*

v19 *After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.*

v20 *And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.*

v21 *His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.*

v22 *He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.*

v23 *His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.*

v24 *Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:*

v25 *And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.*

v26 *His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:*

v27 *Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.*

v28 *Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.*

v29 *For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.*

v30 *And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

We should fear God enough to obey Him. Any fear of God that leads to disobedience is not the fear of the God of the bible.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Fear has a way of giving a false impression of what you are facing.

Fear makes evil so real. It becomes so real though it is not.

For example, people kill themselves having written themselves off that nothing is no longer good in life or life can not offer them any good thing again. Most terrible is the fear that God is no longer in control of life and so they can not be delivered from its troubles than to just kill themselves and end it all.

The third servant had a self-conditioned opinion that he knew and also was sure enough to say to his master *".......thou art an hard man......"*, Matt 25: 24.

A pre-conceived and wrong idea of a noble and kind man.

His pre-conceived idea of his master created fear in him of what his master was not.

The parable teaches us about misguided fear, especially fear of God, where the servant uses the master's high expectations as an excuse for his inaction. 

The servant did not fear God enough to obey Him. His fear was the fear that led him to disobey. Anyone claiming the fear of God that leads him/her to disobey God does not have the fear of the God of the bible.

He said in Matt 25:25 *And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.*

He was afraid of a man who was not afraid to help and invest in him.

If he could be afraid of the master who invested in him, he must have already lost his self-worth.

Those who run from their fears and never face them have lost the reason to live as long as their fears exist.

He lived in fear so much to avoid challenges.

He would live to always have a reason why he should fear and his life would avoid the nature of courage and carry the consequences of living a life devoid of bravery.

The master (who represents God) is not a *".....a hard man....."* neither is His

directives/command/words grevious.

1 John 5:3 teaches us saying *For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.*

Fear has torment and it has killed people more than life's tragedy itself.

People have jumped to death over fear of what they did not see.

People who fear have accelerated death faster than death could come on them

The third servant, in his fear of his master, did not only lose his self-worth, he lost his soul in doing so.

The fear of God (a reverential respect for God) is not to intimidate but to reverence Him.

The fear of God is to depart from evil, Prov 8:13. His inactive was counted as wickedness against his master which is indicative of evil.

Does your fear drive you away from God or draws you closer to Him?

*Remorse corner.*

We must differentiate between worldly fear and holy fear.

*Call to Word action.*

Worldly fear has torment. Godly fear is reverence to God.

1 John 4:18 *There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

The third servant had worldly fear. It robbed him of eternal glory. Godly fear gives you eternal assurance and glory.

*Prayer.*

Lord let me be guided by the fear of God (the fear that makes me honour God). Let me not be guided by worldly fear (fear that has torment), in Jesus name.

Good morning all and have a blessed day.

God bless you.

Shalom.