‘The Ball is On Your Court’

The ball is on your court’
Matthew 25:13-30

Mt 25:13 Keep watch, then, because you are not certain of the day or of the hour.
14 For it is as when a man, about to take a journey, got his servants together, and gave them his property.
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to everyone as he was able; and he went on his journey.
16 Straight away he who had been given the five talents went and did trade with them, and made five more.
17 In the same way he who had been given the two got two more.
18 But he who was given the one went away and put it in a hole in the earth, and kept his lord’s money in a secret place.
19 Now after a long time the lord of those servants comes, and makes up his account with them.
20 And he who had the five talents came with his other five talents, saying, Lord, you gave into my care five talents: see, I have got five more.
21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord.
22 And he who had the two talents came and said, Lord, you gave into my care two talents: see, I have got two more.
23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord.
24 And he who had had the one talent came and said, Lord, I had knowledge that you are a hard man, getting in grain where you have not put seed, and making profits for which you have done no work:
25 And I was in fear, and went away, and put your talent in the earth: here is what is yours.
26 But his lord in answer said to him, You are a bad and unready servant; if you had knowledge that I get in grain where I did not put seed, and make profits for which I have done no work,
27 Why, then, did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I would have got back what is mine with interest?
28 Take away, then, his talent and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have more: but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And put out the servant who is of no profit into the outer dark: there will be weeping and cries of sorrow.
(BBE)
Mt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
 Watch / Be Alert / Be AWAKE
14 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.
 delivered unto them his goods / substance
 He gave them His property
 Entrusted his property to their care
15 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. {talents: a talent is one hundred and eighty seven pounds ten shillings}
 He gave according to ability of the individual
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
 The power of multiplication
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
 The power of multiplication within us
 Man has the inherent ability to multiply himself. [Ge 1:28 And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
 (ASV)]
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
 Buried / hid the Lord’s treasure./ The Lord’s money
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
 After a long time / a long alapse of time. (denotes the return of Christ) / After a considerable time
 To take accounts
20 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.
 Multiplied the talents
21 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.
 There is a reward of taking responibility
22 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.

23 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.
24 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:
 Wrong attitude ; cannot take responsibility. Victim mentality / competitive mentality / prideful mentality
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
 Hiding the talent / the gift / the ministry
26 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:
 You receive according to your attitude
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
 Even the little will be taken away
29 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.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 The Lord is also interested in profit and profitable servants
(KJV)
THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING PERSONAL RESPONISIBILITY
RESPONSIBILTY IS THE FOUNDATION OF SUCCESS
RESPONISIBILITY , BRINGS GREATER PROMOTION AND LEADS TO MORE RESPONSIBILITY
RESPONSIBILITY INCREASES ABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY
RESPONISIBILITY OVER TIME BUILDS A SOLID REPUTATION
HOW TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE OVER ANY MATTER
START WHEREVER YOU ARE
CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WISELY
STOP BLAMING OTHERS
PRACTISE SELF DISCIPLINE
FINISH WHAT YOU START
KNOW THAT OTHERS ARE DEPENDING ON YOU.
DO NOT EXPECT OTHERS TO STEP IN FOR YOU.
MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND STAND BY THEM.
LIVE BEYOND YOURSELF