“It’s Time to Get to Work”

Matthew 25:14-30, {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, 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.’