Gathering Music

Welcome

Dr. P. Kimberleigh Jordan

Opening Song

“We Resist”

Mark Miller

Scripture

Dr. P. Kimberleigh Jordan

Matthew 25:14-30 (The Message)

It’s also like a person going off on an extended trip, who called the servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one servant was given five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then the person left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled the master’s investment. The second did the same. But the person with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried the master’s money.

After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed how they had doubled the investment. The master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

The servant with the two thousand showed how they also had doubled the master’s investment. The master commended that servant: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb.