Sunday Sermon: Be Fruitful and Talented

Be Fruitful And Talented

Blessed are all who fear the Lord.

Human beings are the most talented beings created by the Most High God. The first mandate given to Man by God after creation was to be fruitful, talented and prosperous. According to the book of Genesis 1:27-28: “God created man in His own image and likeness; male and female He created them.  Then God blessed them, and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Man reflects God’s image through creativity. The more creative and more talented a man is the more he reflects the image of God the Creator.

Creativity and fruitfulness is not optional. Every human has been mandated by God to be fruitful, creative and talented. It is only through creativity and fruitfulness that we human beings could have dominion over every other created thing in the world. A creative person is indeed a talented person and a talented person is a fruitful person.  The more talented you are the more fruitful you become.

In the gospel of Matthew 25:14-30 our Lord Jesus told his disciples a parable that highlights the importance of talents and the benefit of using one’s gifts. According to him, “A man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two tal­ents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’

“And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’

“He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ “But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

Our Lord Jesus Christ concludes by saying “For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for the lazy and worthless servant, the master gave order that he should be casted into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

There are so many lessons one can derive from this parable. First, to whom much is given much is expected. Secondly the more you develop and use your talents the more you will discover more talents. Givers never lack! Moreover, practice makes perfect! Thirdly, most people will find themselves in hell fire not because they committed fornication or any other common sin but simply because they refused to use their gifts and talents. Most of the people who constitute nuisances in the society today are those who refused to use their talents.

Moreover as our Lord Jesus Christ said in John 15:8 “My Father is glorified, by you bearing much fruit; and so become My disciples.” The only way you can be a disciple of Christ is by becoming fruitful. The more fruitful you are the more qualified you are to be a disciple of Christ.  Through your fruitfulness God’s name will be glorified.

Proverbs    31:10-13.19-20.30-31

The book of proverbs 31:10-31 presents the attribute of a talented and industrious woman: “Who can find a good wife? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”

1  Thessalonians    5:1-6

As we make use of our gifts and talents we should also be at alert as we wait for the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his first letter to the Thessalonians 5:1-6 St. Paul wrote, “As to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything writ­ten to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” And as you do so it shall be well with you in Jesus name!

Finally, dearly beloved one, may I conclude by reminding you that there is special reward for those who make use of their gifts and talents. Psalm 128 declares, “By the labour of your hands you shall eat. You will be blessed and prosper.” As long as you are talented, fruitful and hardworking you will succeed! By the labour of your hands you shall eat. God will surely bless you! You will be prosperous and it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!

Psalm         128:1-2.3.4-5       (R. _la)

1. Blessed are all who fear the Lord.

Blessed are all who fear the Lord,

and walk in his ways!

By the labour of your hands you shall eat.

You will be blessed and prosper. R.

Your wife like a fruitful vine

in the heart of your house;

your children like shoots of the olive

around your table. R.

Indeed thus shall be blessed

the man who fears the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Sion.

May you see Jerusalem prosper

all the days of your life! R.