This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
We studied the Parable of the Sower for months. I trust you enjoyed that. Today I will introduce you to a new parable. It is the Parable of the Talents. I will only provide you with an introduction today because I also want to share a series of prayers for the new school year.
Here is the passage we will study for the next few weeks:
(Matthew 25:14-30 TPT)
14 “Again, heaven’s kingdom is like a wealthy man who went on a long journey and summoned all his trusted servants and assigned his financial management over to them. 15 Before he left on his journey, he entrusted a bag of five thousand gold coins to one of his servants, to another a bag of two thousand gold coins, and to the third a bag of one thousand gold coins, each according to his ability to manage.
16 “The one entrusted with five thousand gold coins immediately went out and traded with the money, and he doubled his investment. 17 In the same way, the one who was entrusted with two thousand gold coins traded with the sum and likewise doubled his investment. 18 But the one who had been entrusted with one thousand gold coins dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.
19 “After much time had passed, the master returned to settle accounts with his servants. 20 The one who was entrusted with five thousand gold coins came and brought ten thousand, saying, ‘See, I have doubled your money.’
21 “Commending his servant, the master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be my loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you have been a faithful steward to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of your master, who will say to you, “Enter into the joy of your Lord!” ‘
22 “Then the one who had been entrusted with two thousand gold coins came in and said, ‘See, my master, I have doubled what you have entrusted to me.’
23 “Commending his servant, the master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be my loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you were faithful to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of your master, who will say to you, “Enter into the joy of your Lord!” ‘
24 “Then the one who had been entrusted with one thousand gold coins came to his master and said, ‘Look, sir. I know that you are a hard man to please and you’re a shrewd and ruthless businessman who grows rich on the backs of others. 25 I was afraid of you, so I went and hid your money and buried it in the ground. But here it is–take it, it’s yours.’
26 “But his master said to him, ‘You’re an untrustworthy and lazy servant! If you knew I was a shrewd and ruthless business man who always makes a profit, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? 27 Then I would have received it all back with interest when I returned. 28 But because you were unfaithful, I will take the one thousand gold coins and give them to the one who has ten thousand. 29 For the one who has will be given more, until he overflows with abundance. And the one with hardly anything, even what little he has will be taken from him.’
30 “Then the master said to his other servants, ‘Now, throw that good-for-nothing servant far away from me into the outer darkness, where there will be great misery and anguish!’ “
As stated, I will only briefly introduce this parable today because I am led to share a series of prayers for the school year.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
Part 1: An introduction to the Parable of the Talents.
At its core, the Parable of the Talents is about stewardship, purpose, and divine responsibility.
Here are a few themes and thoughts we will discuss as we study this parable. I will not expound on them today. This is just an introduction:
— God owns everything, and He allows us to steward (or manage) certain things for certain seasons.
— God entrusts each of us with unique gifts, resources, and opportunities.
— God ushers us into seasons of responsibility for these resources according to our abilities, meaning He will not release them until we are ready to manage them.
— When God puts something under our care or management, He expects us to multiply it. Not losing it is not enough. If you don’t do anything with it but hold on to it, God calls your attitude wicked.
— God is looking for us to operate with wisdom, faith, and action to multiply what we’ve been given.
— Our God is not limited in any way. If we learn to open our hearts and minds to His limitless nature, then God will see to it that the resources others have, who are not doing anything with them, are transferred to us. We have proven that we can multiply what God entrusts us to steward.
— As we adequately manage (or steward) the resources God places in our hands, we become active participants in God’s Kingdom, advancing His plans and purposes on this planet.
— The more we learn to manage, the more God will give us to oversee. In this way, we become conduits of God’s glory and instruments through which His Kingdom advances on the earth.
Declaration of Faith for Part 1:
Father, I acknowledge that You own everything, and I am honored that You have chosen me to steward certain resources for specific seasons.
I recognize and embrace the unique gifts, resources, and opportunities You have entrusted to me.
I believe that You release resources into my care according to my ability, ensuring I am prepared to manage them effectively.
Father, I commit to not merely holding onto what You’ve given me. I will multiply it, understanding that simply preserving it is not Your best.
I declare that I will operate with wisdom, faith, and action, ensuring that I maximize and multiply every resource You place in my hands.
I open my heart and mind to Your limitless nature, trusting that as I prove faithful, You will transfer even greater resources into my care.
I am an active participant in Your Kingdom, Father. As I steward Your resources, I am advancing Your plans and purposes on this earth.
I believe that as I prove faithful in little, You will entrust me with much. I am a conduit of Your glory, and through me, Your Kingdom advances on this planet.
Living this way, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Part 2: A message about our children and the school year:
Here are a few scriptures you can meditate on and discuss with your children. And I will then share two short declarations: one for students and one for parents. I will also provide you with a prayer at the end. Let’s get to it. Carefully and prayerfully read these scriptures. When the time is right, discuss them with your children.
(Col 3:20 ERV)
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
(Psalm 25:1-2 ERV)
Lord, I put my life in your hands. I trust in you, my God, and I will not be disappointed. My enemies will not laugh at me.
(Prov 22:6 MSG)
Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.
(Prov 10:7 NKJV)
The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.
(John 14:26 ERV)
The Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.
(Isa 30:21 ERV)
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
(1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV)
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
(Psalm 34:19 NIV)
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.
(Psalm 91:7-11 ERV)
A thousand people may fall dead at your side or ten thousand right beside you, but nothing bad will happen to you! All you will have to do is watch, and you will see that the wicked are punished. You trust in the Lord for protection. You have made God Most High your place of safety. So nothing bad will happen to you. No diseases will come near your home. He will command his angels to protect you wherever you go.
(1 Tim 4:12 ERV)
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
(1 Thes 5:19-22 MSG)
Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.
(Deut 31:6 ERV)
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid of people because the Lord your God is with you. He will not fail you or leave you.
Declaration of Faith for Students to Declare as they go to School:
Father, my life is in Your hands. I trust in you, and I will not be disappointed. I know who I am and who I belong to. As Jesus is, so am I in this world. No one can influence me the wrong way. I refuse to allow myself to be corrupted by bad company. I surround myself with the right people, and I am influenced the right way.
I enter this day and this school year knowing I am intelligent, loved, and protected from all harm. I respect my parents and teachers. I honor my elders and those in positions of authority. I am kind, nice, polite, courteous, respectful, and gracious. I have friends because I show myself friendly. I am the righteousness of God by faith.
You can give me a supernatural memory, and I declare that You do. The Holy Spirit helps me remember everything I need to remember for class, and I have supernatural recall during quizzes, exams, and standardized tests. Every day I declare that my mind is alert, my body is awake, and I am ready to make the most of the day You set before me.
I excel academically, I am a Kingdom example socially, and I am healthy physically. I look in the mirror, and I am pleased with what I see. I love and like myself. I have strong mental health. I am confident, bold, and fearless. I am Your child, Father, and I act like it everywhere I go. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Declaration of Faith for Parents to Declare as their Children go to School:
Father, I place my children in your hands. As they go to school, I trust in You, and I will not be disappointed. You give, and I give, angels charge over them to keep them in all their ways! No evil shall come upon them. In their pathway is life and no destruction.
My children resist negative influences, they are shielded from all harm, they are resistant to physical illness, and they are divinely capable of excelling at everything they put their hands to do.
I love them, and You love them. More importantly, my children know they are loved. They love and like themselves. They believe what You believe about them. They are bold, confident, and fearless. They are respectful and kind. They are courteous and polite.
My children are sharp and focused. They understand, comprehend, process, and digest everything that relates to their education. They excel academically, socially, and spiritually! This year is their best year because You are with them everywhere they go! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Prayer for children for the school year:
Father, we pray for children all over the world as they go to school this year. We stifle the hands and mouths of bullies. We come up against danger, violence, fighting, attacks, and school shootings. We command angels to shield and protect our children, their teachers, and their school grounds this year.
May Your love fill every facility. May teachers have the patience required to adequately teach their students. May the students be respectful, well-mannered, and focused on their education. May the children excel academically and socially. May this year be the best year of their lives.
As parents, may we also develop patience with our children. May we all be involved in our children’s education and their lives. May our children grow up to be the men/women You have called them to be for such a time as this! May our children know that You are ON them, IN them, WITH them, and FOR them! We pray this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
