WHAT WILL BE ON YOUR HEADSTONE?

Matthew 25:14-30

I. INTRODUCTION

A. For what will you be remembered? You will be remembered for sure!

B. Interesting to go through cemeteries, especially older ones and see the

inscriptions on headstones. One of the most interesting I've seen:

HERE LIES THE WORLD'S GREATEST COON HUNTER.

II. SOME HEADSTONE INSCRIPTIONS:

A. Job's wife

1. All we know about her is one statement: Job 2:9 "Then his

wife said to him, 'Do you still hold fast to your integrity?

Curse God and die!'"

2. Job's wife was focused on the present. She felt that God had

forsaken Job and that he should retaliate by cursing God and

dying.

3. Job's wife is certainly remembered in the Holy Canon, but her

legacy was rather negative. Hopefully, she repented of her

negative attitude, but our remembrance based on what we

know from Job 2:9is nothing to respect. I would put on her

headstone: I DON'T TRUST GOD.

B. Susanna

1. Not a well known Bible character, probably not as well known

as Job's wife. Mentioned only one time in the Bible Luke 8:3

2. Whereas Job's wife left us with a negative attitude, Susanna

gives us positive image.

3. Not sure what these women did -- maybe provided

money, cooked meals, provided clothing -- the KJV says

"substance"; NIV says "out of their own means"

4. Knowing exactly what these women did is unimportant; what

is important that they DID WHAT THEY COULD

5. My inscription on Susanna's headstone would be: I DID

WHAT I COULD

6. We have many "Susannas" in this congregation: persons who

do things for the Lord, but you seldom hear their name

mentioned. One example: the person who developed our

website.

a. has worked tirelessly for many months -- sometimes all

night

b. site now has 134 sermons; 112 class lessons in 10 areas;

listing of 115 books, or series of books, tapes, etc.

C. Servants in the Parable of the Talents - Matthew 25:14-30

1. Every parable has one central lesson. This purpose of this

parable is to teach us that we lose what we have if we don't use

it.

2. Historically, a talent represented many things

a. Initially, weight (75 pounds)

b. Coinage -- one of the largest units (too large for a single

coin) Depending on whether silver or gold, whether

Hebrew or Roman, it could have been up to 6,000 day's

wages (more than 23 years in our economy)

c. It's interesting that the dictionary and World Book

Encyclopedia both indicate that today's definition of

talent (special ability) may have come from this passage.

3. The two servants who were blessed received the exact same

reward because the lord had given to them according to their

ability. (Notice verses 21 and 23) GREAT LESSON: We will

be rewarded according to our ability.

a. A great lesson for the congregation's Program of

Work:

· Not all should be participating in every activity.

· We all have different abilities.

· But we all must work.

b. A great lesson in terms of judging our fellow servants.

The servant with 5 talents did not judge the servant

with 2 talents because they received the same reward.

How easily could he have said: I gained 2-1/2 times

more than my brother who gained only 2 talents. IT

SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE LORD GIVING THE

JUDGMENT

c. Inscription on their headstones: WELL DONE THOU

GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT

4. Servant with one talent was afraid; he hid his talent; offered

excuses for his lack of production.

a. God will not be impressed with excuses.

b. He was not expected to produce 5 talents or 2 talents,

maybe not even 1 talent, but he was expected to do

something.

c. His inscription: I WAS AFRAID

III. WHAT WILL BE THE INSCRIPTION ON YOUR HEADSTONE?

A. Knowing most of you well, I feel that it will be a positive one -- not like

Job's wife or the servant with one talent.

B. However, should you need to work on that "inscription," we offer you

the Lord's invitation to come today to accept Jesus as your Savior.