A Spiritual Checklist

Good afternoon, everyone. There was this one time this lady came up to me and said, you know, you've got to do something about your brother, Steve. And I listened for a moment, and she looked at me, and I looked at her, and I said, I am my brother. So funny things do happen.

We look a lot alike when we're apart. When we're together, we don't quite look as much alike with a lot of the same mannerisms and that sort of thing. In fact, it's always funny when I know I've met many of you in the past, and it's going to be great to get to talk to you again and share some time together after services. Many of you look forward to meeting. I know when I meet people for the first time, and maybe they watch the program a little bit, I always get a similar comment. And it's not that, wow, you are fantastic on that program. It's, you're a lot shorter than I thought you'd be. So I think TV doesn't. It makes you seem bigger than you really are. But that's it. You get what you get. And so it's always amazing when we get to meet people. So greetings from Cincinnati. I pastor the East congregation down there. I know many of you. We've seen over the years coming down for the ABC samplers, so good to see all of you. We have ABC alumni here as well, so it's great to see everyone. We have family members in Cincinnati as well, so it's good to see all of you once again. Lots of things happening at the home office. We've begun a new school here with ABC. We've got a pretty good-sized class this year. There's 34 students. And so it's a nice-sized class, a little on the younger side, but they're going to be gaining some age at the semester break.

We've got a couple of other students that are coming. In fact, you might even pray that one works out very well. He's trying to get a visa to come from India. And so there's a gentleman there that could really be helpful in India.

If he could come, get some training, and then go back and serve there, that would really be great. So looking forward to that. His name is George Samuel. So he's a doctor, and so it would be great if Dr. Samuel could come and get that training and then head back that direction. So certainly appreciate your prayers in that regard. We also have a new Ministerial and Member Services Operations Manager.

The Welch's have come to town. They're not moved yet, but Mark and Barb Welch coming up from Dallas area. He's going to be overseeing the ministry now. And so he's been there this last week for meetings and then looking for some housing. And so that's a new, exciting development at the home office as well. So we're looking forward to the Welch's helping lead and guide the ministry as Roy Holiday had done in the past.

And so we finally have someone that's beginning to take on that responsibility now as well. Of course, this next coming week, there's meetings that will be taking place for our new hires as well as some of the other ministers that will be coming in.

They call it the Pastoral Development Program, especially designed for those new hires and the new trainees that the church has hired more recently. So that's going to be going on for the next 10 days. So certainly could appreciate your prayers. That all would go well in that regard as well. So a number of the season's ministry will be taking time to teach various classes and share their experiences with the younger ministry. So we're looking forward to that as well. And then, of course, there is this new addition to the building that they've attached to the home office, the new studio, which has been completed.

Now they're outfitting the studio. And about five weeks from now is when they're planning the new programs to begin recording the new programs. So certainly appreciate all your contributions, your prayers, that that would go well. And it's definitely not just about television. In a lot of ways, TV is just kind of this minor little blip. Yeah, it has its importance, and that's really good. But one of the things that I think is really exciting about the new studio, it's going to open up other opportunities for video as well.

And you know how it is if you go on the computer. It's all about video. People love video. They're tuned into it. And it'll give many other opportunities for many individuals to contribute in that way. And so they're planning to produce, over time at least, some shorter videos where people could at least get a little bit of an initiation, maybe into a spiritual topic, an idea, you know, a lesson, a moral of the story type thing. That would just be a short little thing. And if you've ever been on YouTube, you know how that works.

You watch a little video of some cat doing some crazy thing. And then what pops up after that cat video? Oh, since you watched that cat video, you might like to watch this cat video too. And then now there's a million cat videos. We could probably take advantage of that and draw people into the truth of the Bible in God's way in the Gospel.

So that's one area that they're going to try to develop a little bit further. These short videos that would be interesting catching and certainly ones that hopefully if God's working with them and calling them will help them to begin to gain a deeper understanding. So that's one thing. They're going to continue with some of the longer form things, not just this 30-minute program, but six-minute videos that they're planning to do as well.

And then hopefully one of the products that they'll also begin producing would be longer videos, more like a documentary style that would produce or present a topic, let's say, the kingdom of God, with detail, the Holy Day. Something that would be a little bit longer form is what the ideas are of producing something that people could really delve into. And if God is calling them and working with them, this would be something that would give them a lot of detail and hopefully draw them in and take time that you just don't have, especially with two minutes or six minutes or even a half an hour program.

You just begin to touch the surface on those types of things. And so they're looking forward to all kinds of different video-type products that could be used by God to open up people's minds that he's working with and calling and be exciting tools that would be tremendous possibilities. And of course, it is a reminder that's only a part of things that's going on.

We know what Ephesians 4 talks about. Ephesians 4 is what the United Church of God and the Council of Elders based the church vision statement on. And that is that all of us have a vital part to play in the preaching of the gospel and the growth of the church, our own personal growth and the growth of the church. In fact, if you want to turn over there, there might be a good passage to begin with for the sermon this afternoon. In Ephesians 4, verse 15, the vision statement of the United Church of God, they've got a copy of it hanging in the conference room where the Council of Elders meets every time it comes into town. And it's based on what Ephesians 4 has to say. And it's such a great reminder because we recognize we are the body of Christ. It's not that Cincinnati does it all or even can begin to do it all because that's just not the case in any way. And so, Ephesians is a great reminder of how every one of us have a vital part to play. Notice what it says here. It says, we should speak the truth in love and grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ.

So we're striving to be Christ-like individuals. And as we do this, it says, the whole body, verse 16, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies according to the effect of working by which every part does its share. And it causes the growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. And of course, we can take that a number of ways. It's not just, oh, a whole bunch more people will be sitting here on the Sabbath as we do the... I think that can be an outcome. But we can't forget the vital outcome is that we grow spiritually. We grow and become more Christ-like.

That we are Christ-like individuals that are shining forth the fact that God has given us His Spirit. And so because all of us do our part, that's what produces growth. Growth in numbers, but growth spiritually, more importantly. So it's not just about Cincinnati. It's about all of us together doing our part. How can someone on a program talk to someone where you work?

Well, you live it. You're there. You're a representative of God at your job, at your school, in your class, in your neighborhood, where you shop. Are we that shining light that exhibits the fact that we are different because of what God is accomplishing in our lives? That's all of us together. That's everyone. And so we all have a vital part to play. And I think we never want to forget that. Certain things can happen because we are organized and Cincinnati does certain things.

That's wonderful, and that's necessary. Sending out the booklets is a fantastic blessing that can help lead people to understand God's way as He draws them. But the next person they see, maybe you. And how do you live? And how do you exhibit this way? And that is so critical.

It's so critical. And then to recognize the kind of people we are supposed to be.

I was thinking about this the other day, and even just thinking about what Mr. Stiver was talking about, this horrible circumstance that's going on in Pittsburgh with the shooting.

Boy, it immediately takes your mind to the fact that we live in horrible times. These are difficult times. And we can't help but think of the difficulties that are here right before the end of the age. And at times it just seems like, oh, that's so far away. I'm not sure that'll happen in my lifetime. And then situations like this and all the things that are going on in this political world we live in and terrorism and all these kinds of things. Boy, it pushes us right to that point to realize we can't be that far away from that. And prophecy comes to mind. And as we think about prophecy, oftentimes, well, maybe we're restricted to those events and the tribulation and all these terrible things that are going to be happening. And it brings us to that point to consider those things. But one thing that I was thinking about the other day is that prophecy isn't just about events that are going to take place. It's also about people. The Bible, and Jesus Christ specifically, not only foretells events that are going to take place, but talks about people at that time. And I believe we're living at that time. And the Bible does have a lot to say about me and my life, my perspective, all of us together as a congregation, all of us together as the entire body of Christ, as a church all around the world. And it's contained in prophecy. Prophecy that we normally think of end time events and situations and occurrences, but in fact also say a lot about us as individuals. God's given prophecies concerning His church, concerning us as a congregation.

And in, I think, one of the most maybe familiar passages, one of the most powerful sections of prophecy in Scripture has a lot to say about me, about me personally, about all of us combined as well. In fact, it kind of gives what you might think of as a spiritual checklist. As we face these difficult times, am I personally the type of spiritual creation I'm supposed to be? And Christ speaks a lot about that in the Olivet prophecy in Matthew 24. Probably one of those passages that may be very familiar, if you'd like to turn over there. Let's consider this for a moment. It tells us some terrible events that are going to be taking place because the disciples posed this question to Christ. You know, what's going to happen? When are these things going to occur? And Christ reflected on that very thing, showing them the buildings of the temple and how nothing was going to be left standing. And so they were very curious, wondering, well, when is that going to happen and when is the end of the age? And Christ begins to show them these certain events that are going to take place.

And so, general world conditions, he says, boy, there's going to be some tough times coming. Verse five says, many will come in my name and people will be deceived. He says there's going to be wars and nations rising against nations. We read the news. We hear events that are taking place right now.

Murders that take place at embassies. We see these things that are taking place.

Are we there? Boy, we recognize there are famines. There are diseases, strange things that are going on in this world. Christ says this is the beginning of sorrows.

And what's interesting then, once we get down to verse nine, Christ makes kind of a left turn, I suppose you could say. Now he turns from these general conditions of the world to the shift of us, to his followers, to the disciples, to those that are striving to follow him. He says then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you. You'll be hated by nations. And as we look at this scenario that is beginning to take shape right before our own eyes, it can be kind of depressing when you think, oh wow, this is terrible, difficult things, awful things, pretty pessimistic conditions that we're faced with, with persecution and betrayals and difficulties and lawlessness that we're faced with all of these things. And yet we can't be like these things that are that he discusses here with false prophets and teachers and all of the challenges that are faced.

And so as Christ gives the conditions that are right before us, he then begins to give a couple of parables that tell, I think, a very interesting story to help us as we face these very conditions.

And I think he puts it in the form of a spiritual checklist in thinking that, well, what am I going to be like as I face these things? What are we as a congregation going to be like as we deal with one another, as we deal with the challenging situations and circumstances that are surrounding us? What are we going to be like as a church? And so he gives this spiritual checklist, I think, in one sense, if we think of it that way for today anyway, to help us, to give us some guidelines, to begin to recognize where are we when it comes to our relationship with God and where do we need to be, especially as we face these very difficult times of the end? So if you're a note-taker, maybe if you'd like to, I thought I would take notes like this. Maybe this is the first time I'll take notes while I'm giving a sermon. It seems kind of strange. But I put on the top of my page, spiritual checklist. And then I've kind of separated my page in half. You probably can't see this, but I just drew a line down the middle. Because what Christ begins to do in giving four kingdom parables, you could call them, attributes of what it will be like, if we're going to be in the kingdom, here are spiritual attributes we need to have. And yet on the other side, He compares and He contrasts attitudes and characteristics that would keep us from the kingdom. So what I did on my page here, I've drawn this line down the middle. On the right side, and you could take it different if you'd like to, I put a title over this column. I put seeking.

You're probably all familiar with that passage that says, seek first the kingdom of God. Well, what am I seeking? What are those attributes that I want, that Christ wants me to have, that God the Father wants me to have? What are the virtues that I need to be developing in my life?

I need to be pursuing these things because Christ's going to deal with those things in these next four parables. Now on the left side, I'm going to write something different on the top of my page. I'm going to write defeating. It's going to give me a frame of mind here that on one side, here's what I'm seeking. Here's what I need to be defeating. This needs to be something that I delete off the hard drive of my attitude and my character. I'm going to get rid of these things. I've got to be overcoming these things. Christ maps this out for us in a wonderful way as he goes through these various teaching stories to help us in recognizing the attributes and the virtues that we should be pursuing and seeking, and then the other side of the coin. He's going to contrast those things that we need to be deleting from our attitudes, from our minds, from our character, and we need to be overcoming these things. So with that in mind, let's take a look where Christ goes immediately after this Olivet prophecy, this prophecy that he gave while he was on the Mount of Olives. He goes then down all the way in verse 45 to a familiar parable, one that sometimes called, maybe you've got a heading in your Bible, I've got a heading in mind that says, parable of the faithful and evil servant, the faithful and evil servant. And down in verse 45, let's just take note of this, and then we'll recognize these characteristics that Christ wants us to take note of. In verse 45, he says, Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food and do season? So we imagine the scene. We've got a household with various servants in this household. Some are evil, some are faithful. Well, in verse 46, he says, Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you, he will make him ruler over all his goods. But, now the contrast, if that evil servant says in his heart, my master's delaying his coming, begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he's not looking for him, at an hour that he's not aware of. And he will cut him in two, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. So I think many are familiar with this story. We've heard this parable before. But as we begin to think of it in this comparing and contrasting, this seeking and defeating perspective, when we look at the faithful servant, we begin to see a couple of interesting things. In fact, if you just, in my Bible, I've got to flip back a page. If we go all the way back for just a moment to kind of get the scene, get the scene, look at verse 10 in the same chapter. Verse 10 begins to show a little bit of the context here, when it says, many will be offended and betray one another, and hate one another.

And unfortunately, I think that's a description of the household. And of course, we know we are the house of God. We are God's household. Christ uses this example to say, you know, we've got to be really careful within the family. Within our own spiritual family, we have to be careful. And so he's saying a characteristic that is possible as we move into this end time, facing all these difficult circumstances, is we could be like this. We could carry these kind of attributes into the family. And so he's helping us, guiding us to say, you know, what kind of servants do we want to be? What are we pursuing? What are the virtues that we are seeking? Well, we see it's compared in contrast in the good servant, the faithful servant, and then the evil servant.

And as you read this faithful servant, what's happening with that individual?

What would we put on our seeking side that would be this good characteristic, this virtuous character trait that we want to have? Well, they're preparing for the ruler of the household to come back. And so I think we could put down, I'll put down, they're a doer. They're doing, right?

They're ready for the master to return. So I suppose maybe a different synonym you might put down is that they're dedicated, whether the master's there or not. They're still doing the things that the master wants them to do. So they're dedicated. And so think of that in terms of us. Well, when we see this, there's a level of commitment. There's a level of commitment that it's not, well, for us today, we come together, we meet on the Sabbath day, we praise God, we worship Him, we have fellowship. I put on my tie and suit. I look pretty good, don't I? Okay, don't take that literally. But spiritually speaking, we look pretty good on the Sabbath, don't we? Because we can control our temper. I don't have to be arrogant on the Sabbath. I can be patient with each other as we're going through the line for the potluck. Yeah, we do pretty good. Well, in this case, once we go away from the master, we're at home now. We've got the other six days of the week.

What do we look like then? I think that's what this is getting at as well. That it's not just a Saturday Sabbath kind of thing, but this is our lifestyle. This is our calling. This is the way that we live. That here's individuals that are faithful and dedicated and doers.

When you think of it in those terms, would an individual like this have a strong vision to recognize Christ is returning? Christ is going to come back. And it's not some far-off, long-removed kind of thing. But when you read about this faithful servant, it's on their mind. My master's coming back. This is how I am. I need to live this way. I need to build these character attributes. And so when the master comes back, they're doing it. They're finding. The master finds them. So doing. So we recognize there's no compromise. In fact, if we contrast it to the other individual, how would you recognize that attribute? The other one, what is he doing? Well, he's beating his fellow servants. So if we flip that around, well, what's the good trait? What's the virtue that would go along opposite of that? Well, they must be a peacemaker. They must be one that's inclusive. They must be one that's not embroiled in conflicts and difficulties. Today, the young people have a saying, you know, they're not into drama. They're not into drama. We don't need that kind of drama. And so here, I'm going to write down a piece maker. A peacemaker, one that has that strong vision of the return of Christ when we take it spiritually and would be one that would be for reconciliation, for working through situation.

Boy, on the other side then, all too often, isn't it easier to see the negative stuff?

Maybe our human minds are focused on that all too much at times. We see in verse 48, hey, my master's delaying is coming. What's the attitude? Meh, it's not that big a deal, not really that concerned. Right? So rather than someone that would be dedicated, I'm going to write down unconcerned. Maybe that's a little bit of an overstatement, but certainly one that's not focused on that, not focused on the vision, that they have a part to play in the health of the body. And rather than contributing to the health of the body, like Ephesians 4 said, they're a detractor from that body. In fact, they're, boy, they're, what's the phrase that they use? Conflict-oriented. Conflict-oriented. It's like, okay, they're beating their servants. There's a certain level of, well, I'll write down compromise.

Compromising probably better, not compromising and working things out like a reconciliation kind of compromise, but they're compromising with the truth. And so certainly the conflict and compromise is something that would be that that's what we've got to delete. That's what we've got to get rid of. We want to defeat that kind of an attitude. And maybe part of that is because of this lack of vision for the return of the master. And so I think those are a couple of things, and you might say it a little bit differently, maybe write down a little bit different word in those things. But we certainly can't allow that because what we do is we give Satan a foothold when we do that, don't we? And how often have we seen this happen? When Satan gets a foothold, boy, he loves to separate us. He loves to build on these deleting traits, these negative things, to put wedges between us. But, you know, with God's help, when we're faithful servants like this individual here, boy, we're seeking and we're doing and we're striving for the virtuous.

And so it's interesting as we compare and contrast these two sides of the coin.

Boy, Christ makes no doubt about it. We want to be on that seeking side. We want to be on that virtuous side of this list. We want to be striving together to accomplish the task that God set before us. Because obviously this household isn't going to work too well when you've got one striving for those virtuous things and the other working against it. It's just not going to be worth it.

So we can't have this as a characteristic of our church, personally, in our own life. And in the greater church of God, we can't have this. We can't have this. And so Christ builds on this with his first story, this first kingdom parable. He moves to another story, moves to another parable as we go to chapter 25. Let's look at chapter 25, another familiar story, but let's keep this in mind, this comparing contrast as we go through a very familiar story about the 10 virgins. Of course, here we find these young ladies, virtuous ladies, as a symbol of true followers of God. Oftentimes in Scripture, when you have the opposite, you have prostitutes or harlots that are mentioned. They're associated with the things that are all wrong, the things that are unpure, unclean. We have false religion, the harlot. Of course, we have on the other side, the virgin, the purity. And then, of course, we also have the other key element here is oil in their lamps, oil representative of God's Spirit. So as we look at the parable here, he says, the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to 10 virgins who took their lamps, went out to meet the bridegroom. So here comes the groom. Now spiritually speaking, who is the groom that will marry the church? Well, we know that's Christ. So we have this symbolism going on here as well. Verse 2, it says, five of them were wise, five were foolish.

Those who were foolish took their lamps, took no oil. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. So these are experienced campers, right? They've got extra. But, verse 5, while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard, behold the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and lit their lamps, they trimmed them. But, uh-oh, verse 8, the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise said, oh, I wish we could do it, but we just can't. This is our own personal oil. We've developed this throughout our lifetime. So they said, no, if we did that, if we were even possible, there's not enough for us and you. But go to those who sell and buy for yourselves. You have a personal responsibility. And what happens?

While they went to buy, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding.

The door was shut. Afterwards the other virgins came. Lord, Lord, open! But he answered and said, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. And so we see the moral of the story then, once again. We have a group with oil, plenty of it. We know that spiritually speaking that's developed. We develop spiritual character as we submit to God's Spirit on a daily basis. So that what we do, what we say, how we act, how we think, those are daily decisions that are exhibited within our character. And we're to develop that all along. And then here we find those that were foolish. They weren't ready for Christ's return. Kind of like those that were beating their fellow servants. Like those that were the evils. We have that comparison once again. But in this story we see some of the attributes are a little bit different. Little bit different attributes that are emphasized here. If we start with those attributes that we want to defeat in our lives, what about these ten that weren't wise?

What would you describe them as? As you consider what happens to them. And think of it in a spiritual sense. I mean literally they didn't have the oil they needed. The other ones did. So here we have those that are unprepared. They're unprepared spiritually speaking.

So I'm going to write down that attribute being unprepared.

And of course as we see the instructions that they're given, go get it for yourself.

You need to go buy it. What does that tell us about their approach to growing?

Growing in grace and knowledge. Putting on those godly attributes that were to have.

Well we see... well they had a little anyway. They had some oil to start with. So we can't say they had nothing. But at best I suppose we could say little personal growth. Little personal spiritual growth. And what would that translate to in so many ways? Well do they have this direct connection to God through his spirit? There's not much there. There's not much there. And when you begin to think about that in more of a literal sense, how would that relate then to maybe how much they're praying and talking to God? How much does that relate to in listening to God, studying his word, Bible study? You know I think as we look at that we'd have to say they're probably, because of the descriptions, they're pretty inactive in those things. It's definitely something that's not a priority. And when we look at prayer and Bible study, staying close to God, for them we could see this the discipline isn't there. Because you could say are they true disciples? Well, disciples are disciplined followers of God. And so we at best they're lacking. Their spiritual disciplines must be lacking. I think it's fair to draw that conclusion. So the discipline that they needed to be true disciples is really lacking, isn't it? But on the other hand, the things that we're seeking, what we recognize as what we are pursuing when it comes to God's way and the character of Christ, in that side of the story, those five that we're ready, you imagine this in the greater scheme of life. We have everyone that started the race. All ten of these started the race. Well, what did these five that were ready for the bridegroom, what was their behavior like? Well, we know at baptism we received God's Spirit. Now what do we do with it? We know that's, well oftentimes I think sometimes we'll say, well how long have you been in the church?

Well, I was converted back in 1953 or whenever it might have been. And we point back to our baptism date. Oftentimes we'll do it. Well, I was baptized in 1998. And we recognize, okay, we weren't converted then, but we began this conversion process as God drew us to Him. Then we received a Spirit. Now we continue on that spiritual journey. And so when we look at the five that are acting appropriately, those that are ready for the bridegroom, we'd have to say they've been active in spiritual growth. They've been active in the conversion process. They've been living this way. So we'd have to assume then, I mean, they're good at Bible study. They're actively studying the Word. They're learning. They're growing. They're disciplined in prayer.

They have a relationship with God. And they love God. So we see, if we kind of tie it in with the story, they're actively submitting to God's Spirit and allowing Christ to live His life in them and through them. And so, I don't know how many different synonyms we could put down for that, but certainly we'd have to say they're active. They're actively seeking God. They're submissive to His Spirit. They're putting these godly principles into action. It's not just a nice idea.

It's really what Romans 8.14 is. In fact, maybe I'll write that down on my seeking side of the page. Romans 8.14, you know that passage, I think. That's the one that says, those that are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. So we have that key difference. We see, at least initially it looks like everyone received the Spirit, but some didn't actively allow themselves to be led by that Spirit. And so we must, if we're seeking, we're pursuing, we're striving, we're overcoming, we need to be led by God's Spirit. And it points to such a critical aspect of this when you consider it. These succeeded, and ultimately they were at the wedding supper.

What an amazing blessing. You know, is it just the fact that, wow, they made it!

I was thinking about this the other day and remembered a quote from a man named John Maxwell.

He gets into leadership and all kinds of different things, written books on the subject. And he said something very interesting that I think relates to this. He was talking about boxers and champions.

And he said something to the effect that champions don't become champions in the ring.

You know, I'm not into boxing, but you know what they do. They have this fight and then they hold up the winner's hand. He's the champion, yay! But Maxwell made a very interesting point.

It wasn't that they were made the champion there. He said champions don't become champions in the ring. They're merely recognized there. They're recognized there. He also went on to say, if you want to see where someone develops into a champion, look at their daily routine.

What do you do every day? And I thought, wow, that's the story of the Ten Virgins, isn't it?

The five that had it, their daily routine. It was revealed when Christ returned.

Wow! They had what it took. They had a relationship with God. God was basically telling them, well done, good and faithful servant. So they were recognized there. But the key, what was happening every day in their lives, that becomes so critically important. So for us, am I really looking for ways I can constantly grow, that I can be more Christ-like? Am I really invested in God's way no matter what? Have I made it my practice to read His word, to listen?

Boy, it's easy today. We can get out our phone and the Bible will read itself to me. And I can experience that in so many different ways. I don't have to sit down every moment of it. But boy, I'm driving in the car. I can listen to God's word. I can listen to a sermon. I can do all these amazing things because of the technology we have. But then I can also be distracted with all kinds of other things that have no value. Maybe it's like those three million cat videos that are on YouTube. It's like, oh, I can be so distracting. But I think as we see this, there's even that greater application as well. Think of it in the terms of what Christ talked about as He introduced this in the prophecy that within the church, within the church, those attributes that we're developing make this place a great place to be. This is a loving place.

This is a caring place. This is a place where we give and we serve and we pray for each other.

What an amazing difference to those that don't. And certainly reminding us, yeah, there's no overnight success. This is a daily kind of thing that goes on and on. And we strive together every single day. And what we find is what we become is what we're becoming right now. What are we doing right now? Well, that's what I'm going to end up to be if I keep doing those kinds of things. If I don't put in the work of a champion, I won't be recognized as a champion. It comes down to that daily routine, which I think also relates then to these ten virgins. All right, take a look at the next story. Let's see if we can glean a couple of other character traits off this listing that Christ gives of these four kingdom parables. In the third one, your Bible may have a title, Parable of the Talents. This one's about resources that ultimately is given to each of these individuals.

So let's read the story and then we'll glean what we can for this checklist that we've been developing. So down in verse 14, it says, The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. To one he gave five talents.

Some translation says five bags of silver. Okay, he's giving them some things to invest, to do something with. To another he gives two, to another one, to each according to his own ability.

And immediately he went on a journey. Always interesting to me that he says each to his own ability. God knows. He knows where we started. He knows where we are. He knows where we need to be.

What an amazing attribute that God has. It's tremendous in that way. So he recognizes us.

He knows us and gives us what's best for us. What's best? And so he goes on this journey.

Well, then he comes back. Verse 16, it says, He who received five talents went and traded with them, made another five talents. Likewise, verse 17, he who received two gained two more also. Verse 18, But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his Lord's money. After a long time, the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered me five talents. Look, I've gained five more talents beside. Verse 21, his Lord said, Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. So here we find someone developing, growing. In fact, continue on with the next man as well. He who also had two talents came, said, Lord, you delivered me two talents.

Look, I've gained two more talents beside them. His Lord said, Well done, good and faithful servant.

Interesting. It wasn't that now there's 10 because this one didn't have 10.

But he had developed and grown. And the same words are said to him, enter into the joy of your Lord.

Now, of course, then there's the next one. The one who had received one talent. He came, said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, gathering where you have not scattered seed. I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. Entirely different words this time. The Lord answered and said, you wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed.

You ought to have deposited my money with the bankers and that my coming would have received back my own with interest. Therefore, take his talent from him. Give it to him who has 10 talents.

For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away and cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And so, once again, we see quite a contrast between these individuals. Boy, what a difference! And especially when you recognize what's going on here. What are the faithful ones doing? The good and faithful servants. I'd have to write down, they're developing. They're not satisfied with where they're at. They're going to grow. And think about that spiritually. These faithful servants develop and use what God has given to them. And we know there are many passages in the Bible that talk about those kinds of things, that God gives us resources. He gives us gifts, personal gifts. In fact, when you look at 1 Corinthians 12, he says, every one of us have received a gift. All of us. All of us have been given a gift, spiritual gifts. Things that God can use and develop. All of us, I mean, not just limited to finances. We can use our finances right or wrong. We can use those things as well. But God gives abilities. He gives responsibilities in the church as well. And we can use those things and develop those things to greater spiritual purposes, like these faithful individuals did. That's what they did. They took on their responsibilities. And as Ephesians 4, verse 16 talks about, they were contributing. What that joint, what that ligament had to supply, they were doing it. And whether it was five or whether it was two, they were growing and developing. They weren't taking others' jobs. The one guy with five didn't say, hey, give me your four and I'll take that and do that. No, that was his job. You take care of what God gave to you. And so, interesting what we see here. So they're developing the abilities God gives. And of course, then that reminds us, can I develop somebody else's abilities?

I mean, I can help or encourage or maybe try to mentor those kinds of things. Sure, but can I actually do it? No, they've got to do it. They've got to make those choices, which then certainly leads us back to, I have a personal responsibility to grow. I have a personal responsibility.

Write that one down. Personal responsibility. To be a good steward of the resources God has given me. And so, it doesn't make me better because I have this responsibility or I've been given this gift. You know, wow, I'm on TV. Big deal. You know, is that something in and of itself?

Absolutely not. That's just one facet. Is that more important than true religion?

What does James say? Wow, visiting the widow, the orphan, and their affliction.

We disallow that and say, well, no, this is so much more important. No, it's just different.

All of these things are important. And each of us then have a personal responsibility.

And so, it's emphasized throughout each of these parables in that sense that that personal responsibility to grow and be good stewards of whatever it is that God has given to us.

It's so critical. In fact, there's something else I think that's important here as well that becomes more obvious when you look at the bad example. We have a good bad example.

Now, is there such a thing? I guess there is. We have a good bad example, a good representation of a bad example here with the one that just had the one talent, just the one bag of money.

What was motivating him?

When you look at his attitude, you know, here in the scenario we have the Lord, the Master of the Household coming back, the one that's representing Christ coming back, this individual. What motivates him to bury that bag? Well, if we look at, says in verse 24, the man says, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man. Well, wait a second. Is Christ a hard man? Or is God love? Is he doing what's best for this individual? You see, part of his motivation, it looks like, is his view of God is wrong.

He's got a wrong view of God. He sees God as harsh and mean, reaping where you have not sown.

But wait a second. When God sows, doesn't he also reap? Doesn't he want growth? You see, we see his motivation is fear. Fear, I was worried I was going to fail. And so I buried this.

But wait a second. We rely on God. We put our trust in him. We do our part. Is God going to allow us to fail when we trust him? We put our faith in him? We strive to follow him? Or is Philippians just a lie? Philippians 1.6 says, He who started a good work in you will see it to completion.

That doesn't mean I can be the one that buries that talent or be the one that doesn't have the oil or be the one that beats his servant. It can't be that. But when I'm striving after God and following him, developing those abilities, that's what it says. That he will do his part. So to have the right perspective of God is that we have a loving God who is on our side, who wants us to succeed. And boy, that's evident so often throughout the Bible. Right from the very beginning, God's on our side and shows that he's on our side and wants us to succeed. We know Peter says, God wants all to come to repentance. He doesn't want any, any to fail. So we have a loving God.

We have a God who says, here's good, here's evil. This is really bad. You're going to have trouble if you choose these bad things. You choose these good things. This is the way of life. This is the way of curses and death. And then what does God tell Israel? What does he tell us? Well, good luck trying to figure it out. No. He says, choose life. He shows very clearly, I'm on your side. Stay close to me. This is the way. Walk in it. We've got a God that loves us and cares about us. And so this difference of perspective of this harsh, mean, angry God who's ready to throw a lightning bolt at us must have been this man's perspective. So he buried it. He was afraid of failing, motivated by wrong perceptions of what God is all about. And in a way didn't take that personal responsibility. So I'm going to write down a couple of those types of things. The fear of failure, that can be so defeating if we let that overtake us. And so what we begin to see here, this right view of God and right attitude and approach allowing God to grow in us as we get ourselves out of the way promotes change, promotes that growing in grace and knowledge that we're supposed to be all about. So when we're on our way to the end of the day, we're going to be on the defeating side of things. Here's what we want to defeat. Defeat that fear of failure.

Defeat that trait of wrong perceptions of who God is because God is truly love and He truly wants us to succeed and wants the best for us. In fact, He really brings that out in this very last parable.

Let's look at the fourth kingdom parable here. Matthew 25, 31 is where He begins. It says, When the Son of Man comes in His glory, all the holy angels with Him. So now He's just straight out. He just tells it. Here's what this story is about. The Son of Man coming in His glory.

He's going to sit on the throne of His glory. Then He says, All nations will be gathered before Him.

He'll separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

So we have sheep and goats. He'll set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Of course, we're probably familiar. Sheeps are very good followers. They listen to the shepherd.

The shepherd protects them, watches over them. They are led by the shepherd. Goats, they'll eat garbage and cans and they ignore the shepherd. Yeah, that representation is sure clear here. Goats are on the left. Sheep are on the right. The King will say, verse 34, To those on his right, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Why? Verse 35, For I was hungry. You gave me food. I was thirsty. You gave me drink.

I was a stranger. You took me in. I was naked. You clothed me. I was sick. You visited me. I was in prison. You came to me. And the righteous will say, Well, when did that happen? When did we see all these things? Well, he'll say to them, verse 40, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me. He did it to me. Certainly pointing out the fact we have a responsibility for the greater good of the world, for the greater good of the neighborhood we live in, to serve and give and help people. We should be individuals that do that very thing. Interesting, though, he also zeros in, You did it to the least of these, my brethren. And, of course, as the church, we are brethren. So he focuses there as well. It's not just an outward thing.

It's also an inward thing among the brethren, among the church. Then, of course, the goats, on the other hand, say, Well, what's the deal with us? Why do we have to depart? He says in verse 41, Depart from me, you cursed to everlasting fire. And he gives the same example. I was hungry, you gave me no food. I was thirsty, you gave me no drink. And he goes down the line, and they said, Well, when did that happen? Verse 45, Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. And they'll go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. And so here, maybe one overall trait, what comes to your mind when you see the difference here?

Well, I suppose if I tried to sum it up in one word, we've got a servant. A servant helps. Whatever the circumstances may be, it's thirsty, hungry, naked, whatever it is, they serve. The opposite side of the coin, a lack of service. They're not concerned with the needs of others. Or maybe saying it a different way. We've got on the seeking side, the virtuous side, we've got the way of give.

And on the side that needs to be overcome, we have those that are the getters. They're living that way of get. They're not concerned about those that aren't as fortunate, those that are in need.

They're just not concerned. And so when we put these things together, especially in the context of Christ talking about the time of the end, I think talking about this time that we live in, wrapped around the Olivet prophecy of what's going to happen during this time of the Great Tribulation, wrapped around the personal responsibility that we have to God Himself, and then to each other in our congregation, in the church, what is it going to be like before Christ returns? It's interesting in these stories, we've got both sides of the coin.

You know, some that are living, breathing, wonderful examples of God's way depended on Him for their spiritual growth. And then on the other hand, we've got those negative qualities.

And it's interesting that seems to be a part of the brethren, part of the church. We don't want to be like that. And so He's telling us, I hope this prophecy doesn't come true. These stories, we don't want this in the church. This is not what we want. We look at this checklist. It's like, wow, what an amazing compilation we end up with. In fact, what do we do with this? I've got my list, I've got a number of character traits that I wrote down here. And as I look at this, I need to be aware of these things and have them on my mind. And I think what can be so helpful, it's helpful for me, and I've got a long way to go, let me tell you. But I can take a look at this every day. In fact, maybe we could make it a goal this week to take a look at this list and look it over. And, you know, I've got to consider this, and I've got to be honest with myself.

Am I really living these attributes? What on this list is something that I have to defeat, that must be deleted and must be overcome in my life? I can look on the good side and I can say, well, I'm doing that pretty good, or I'm pretty good there. I need to keep growing in that way, then, as well. And so I could take this list, and what a blessing it would be. We could take this, and we could bring it before God and pray about this. Go to God with this list and talk to Him about it. God, You know me better than I know myself. Help me. And maybe it's, help me to be more dedicated. I get so distracted sometimes. Help me to weed out and delete this character trait in my life. And I think what we do, if there's one of these that are on this defeating side that needs to be overcome, I could make special note of that. Now, I can't take on the whole list all at once, so we don't want to be overwhelmed. We don't want that. But we could certainly zero in on something really important for me, for your life. And pray to God about it.

And really take immediate steps to change. Don't put it off. We know how this story went. If they put it off, it ended up not happening. And so we can look at this and really recognize...

Do I sometimes... Am I unconcerned sometimes with people? You know, we heard the list today of those that are sick and hurting. Can I, this week, find time maybe to give an individual a call, just to encourage them? Say, hi, I just wanted to let you know I'm praying for you. I wanted to let you know I've been thinking about you. The amazing impact that has, not only on the individual that you're encouraging, but the difference it makes in your life as well, it is so amazing. You know, if I have seemed unconcerned, you know, I can't visit the sick every day. I just can't. It's not possible. But can I make it a goal? Within the next three weeks, I'm going to see them. And I'm going to make that happen and find a way. And I think that's realistic. I make a realistic goal to begin to delete that difficult character trait and then become more concerned, be more dedicated, and reflect that in my actions that I am going to... The impact of just a card for someone who's sick.

Or maybe they're not sick. Maybe they're just not able to be there because they're elderly.

To receive a card or a phone call, the power of that, to see that card make a difference in their life is so amazing. And so that's just a simple thing, but can have huge consequences. And so I've got to look at this list and say, you know, sometimes I am compromising. I kind of don't take the stance I need to really against sin in my own life. I haven't done this. And I've got to recognize I had to pray to God about this every single day, no matter what. No matter what, I am going to pray about this every single day and ask God to help me to see it more clearly and to take it on and begin to battle that element that seems to be a part of who I am. He wants me to do that.

He wants me to do that. And if I've got difficulties in my family, my marriage isn't what it's supposed to be, maybe I'm like that servant that is beating his fellow servants, I don't want to be like that.

How can I be a peacemaker? God, help me to focus this week, which will probably end up to be weeks down the line. Help me to be one. I don't want to be, you know, the drama. I don't want to be conflict oriented. I want what's best. I want unity in my marriage. I want unity in my family.

I want unity in the congregation. You see, if we take this very literally and use this as a checklist, and you know, and checklists are great too because some of these things we're going to look at and we'll go, you know, I'm doing okay here. I'm doing okay. But there are these other areas that God wants me to improve in. And so it's not like it shouldn't be a real downer to go, oh boy, might as well throw me in the lake of fire right now. It's not that at all because you will find, if you're really honest, there are things that we are good at, that God has blessed us, but He doesn't want us to stop there. He is going to return. And I think what this does, I know it does for me, it helps make it a very practical way to allow God to work in our life that can help stimulate change for the best. And so if we're going to avoid those difficulties that Matthew 24 and Matthew 25 talk about, you know, about being deceived or love grown cold or all of those difficult situations, then we've got to put these things into practice. In fact, there's one other passage maybe we could just touch on for a moment as we conclude here. It's in Revelation 3.19.

And maybe this kind of sums it up in a way that brings it all together. Revelation 3.19, of course, Revelation also concerned about these times that we lived in, the times of the end that are upon us. Christ was certainly revealing to the Apostle John these things. And as He gives instructions to the various churches, I can't help but have Revelation 24 come to mind as well.

And as He concludes here in Revelation 3 verse 19, writing to the church of the lay of the sins, He says, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Aha! We've got a God who loves us.

He loves us and He's on our side. So He says, Therefore be zealous and repent. Be zealous and repent. The new century says, Be eager to do right. Change your life. And see, change is that incremental thing that we do every day, step by step. Step by step we do this. Verse 20 then, it says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into Him and dine with Him, and He with me. To Him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne. So we do have a God who loves us, who is on our side, who wants us to succeed spiritually, personally, in our congregations and in the church overall. What a wonderful Father we have. What an amazing Savior we have. And so let's be dedicated. Let's use this list to submit every part of our life and our character to God. And I think this can help us then to delete and defeat those difficult attributes and at the same time grow personally, grow personally with these great positive virtuous spiritual traits as we approach this time of the end.