Let’s be honest, we all love getting gifts, don’t we? Whether it is for a special occasion or just because, receiving gifts is how many of us feel valued and loved. Sometimes the gifts we are given invite responsibility. For example, if your grandfather gifts you with a table he built with his own hands decades ago, or your grandmother gifts you with a piece of jewelry, with that gift, you are also given the responsibility to handle it with care. On a deeper level, God’s gifts to us also express His love and care but also invite responsibility. God has given each one of us gifts, and we are responsible for using those gifts well.
What is a gift that also carries with it some responsibility?
1. What is a gift that you were given that you never used? Why did you not use it?
2. Read Matthew 25:14-30. Describe the responses of the three servants to the money that they were given in your own words. Who responded well? Who did not?
Matthew 25:14-30 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25:14-30
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
“The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’
“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
3. Describe any correlation that you see between the amount of silver that the servants were given and what they did with the money they were given?
4. What reasons did the master have to respond to each servant in the ways that he did?
5. Jesus was clearly trying to teach a lesson deeper than how we invest our money. Looking back on Matthew 25:14-30, choose one verse from this section of verses that you think summarizes Jesus’ main lesson. Which verse did you choose and why?
6. In what ways has God specifically blessed and gifted you, whether that be your time, talent, or your treasures? How are you doing with this responsibility?
7. In what ways are you hiding what God has given you? In what ways are you sharing it?
It is time that we all take inventory of the investments that we have been given. Take some right now to evaluate the investments you have made. I am not talking about your financial investments but about your investments for God and His kingdom. Where have you invested well? What area needs improvement? What is one change you can make this week to be more mindful of the investments you are making for Christ every day? Share this with your group and pray for each other that you would take the gifts that God has given you and invest well for His kingdom.
As we think about the gifts that God has given us and how we can invest them, we must think about our spiritual gifts, which Scripture teaches God has given each of His followers. God has wired us and given us supernatural abilities to lead others, to teach, to be hospitable, and to extend compassion and mercy, with the intention that we would use these spiritual gifts to advance His name. When we use the gifts that He has designed for each of us, we find great satisfaction and joy. Let’s turn to Scripture to see what it has to teach us about spiritual gifts.
Read 1 Peter 4:10-11. After reading, answer the following questions:
What is the purpose of spiritual gifts, according to these verses?
What is the result of using our spiritual gifts well?
It is clear from reading Scripture that our spiritual gifts are best accompanied by a heart of service. The question is, what are our spiritual gifts, and do we know how to use them well? One of the best ways to gain an understanding of our spiritual gifts is to take a spiritual gifts inventory. We encourage each member of your group to take this inventory: https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/. If you do not have time to take the inventory right now, we encourage each group member to take the inventory later this week so that you all can discuss it. After taking the inventory, answer the following questions.
What were your top two spiritual gifts? Were you surprised by your results? Why or why not? (If your group did not take the inventory, think through two ways you believe God has specifically gifted you and share with your group.)
How have you used your gifts in the past to serve others around you?
Are you using your gifts to regularly serve your church and small group today? Are there any changes you need to make to honorably employ the gifts God has given you to advance His kingdom? If so, what are those changes?
After sharing your gifts, pray for each other. Thank God for the ways that He has uniquely gifted every one of your group members. Next, ask Him for endurance to continue using these gifts to encourage the body of Christ, and courage to make the necessary changes to honor God with the gifts He has given you.
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Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’"
Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’"
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