Faithful Use of God-Given Resources
God gives us gifts freely, but we will be strictly judged on how we use them.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of the faithful use of God-given resources, reminding us that while God grants His gifts freely, we are accountable for how we utilize them. Each individual, regardless of the amount of talents or resources they possess, must answer for their stewardship before Christ's judgment seat. Tozer warns against the tragedy of neglecting our gifts, as seen in the parable of the man who buried his talent, and highlights the need for Christians to reflect on their use of money, which will also be scrutinized by God. He calls for self-auditing to ensure we are making the most of our time and resources before it is too late.
Text
One thing taught large in the Holy Scriptures is that while God gives His gifts freely. He will require a strict accounting of them at the end of the road. Each man is personally responsible for his store, be it large or small, and will be required to explain his use of it before the judgment seat of Christ. . . .
Then there are talents. These are included in the total store granted us by our Heavenly Father. Whether we have one talent or many, we must render up account finally, and the factor that will decide for us is not how many talents we had but what we did with them. The story of the man who hid his talent in the ground makes disquieting reading for the careless Christian who is failing to make use of his gifts. Some with modest gifts have made a brilliant record of spiritual achievement; others with far greater abilities have played through the summer of life like the grasshopper in the fable and have let their gifts lie unused while time idled by. This, we repeat, is tragedy, and that it is common does not make it any the less tragic.
Money is another item. American Christians make so much of it and spend it so lavishly that they have unconsciously learned to take it as a matter for granted and have forgotten that they will be strictly judged for their use of it. The Lord still stands by the treasury and observes what is placed therein. This has been turned into a joke by humorists who are ready always to find something funny in every reference to money. But it is safe to predict that there will be little laughter when the Lord with eyes like a flame of fire looks into our accounts and makes His just audit. We might do well right now to do a little auditing ourselves while there is time to make amends for our failures.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - God gives gifts freely but requires strict accounting at the end of life
- II points: - Each person is personally responsible for their store, whether large or small
- III points: - The use of talents, not their quantity, determines our judgment
- IV points: - Careless Christians waste their gifts and face tragedy
- V points: - Money is a matter to be judged by God, not taken for granted
Key Quotes
“Each man is personally responsible for his store, be it large or small, and will be required to explain his use of it before the judgment seat of Christ.” — A.W. Tozer
“The factor that will decide for us is not how many talents we had but what we did with them.” — A.W. Tozer
“We might do well right now to do a little auditing ourselves while there is time to make amends for our failures.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must take responsibility for our use of God-given resources.
- We will be judged on what we do with our talents, not just their quantity.
- We should audit our use of money and make amends for our failures.