“Breakthrough Investing”
                                 STUDY GUIDE FOR MATTHEW 25:14-30

“Whatever our unique gifts are and whatever skill we have in using them, they are not God's key concern with us. Maturing in our walk as Christians is not helped or hindered by our ‘special’ talents (or lack thereof), save one--obedience. This is one gift everyone has a crack at.”
                                                               Michael K. Blanchard in “A Common Thread”
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Day 1:  Read Matthew 25:14-30. What are the master’s expectations with regard to the servant’s accountability for the vast sums they’ve been given?
 
        NOTE:  A talent was a weight of money varying from 58 to 80 pounds, 
        therefore a silver talent varied from $1000 to $2000 in value. A gold 
        talent could be worth more than $30,000. The purchasing power of this 
        money should be viewed in a context of a person who would work all 
        day for 15¢.   John Walvoord in Bibliotheca Sacra.

Day 2:  Who owns the talents in this story? Why is that significant?

Day 3:  What similarities are there, if any, between the servants in the story?

Day 4:  How are the five talent and the two talent servants alike? In what ways are they different? What was the response of the master to each of these servants? Why did the one talent servant react the way he did to the master’s return? What was the master’s response to the one talent servant? How is this different from the first two?

Day 5:  Two servants would have provided a contrast between faithful and unfaithful servants in this story. Why does Jesus use three servants to make his point?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS – TAKING IT HOME
   Some people have trouble seeing the opportunities God has given them. Recognizing the opportunities is the first step towards taking advantage of them. If this fits you, then try this exercise. List five functions you must attend in the average month. Rename them, finding an analogy that compels you to see it as a God given opportunity. For example: Old Name: Staff meeting. New name: Tuesday Think Tank. Or try this. Old Name: Schedule interruption. New Name: Divine appointment.

Maybe you are using your “talents” already.  If you have an accountability partner, share two or three of the opportunities you are using. 

What are people’s favorite excuses for avoiding opportunities to use their “talents”? Are they valid excuses? Why or why not?

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“If this world is going to be reached, I am convinced that it must be done by men and women of average talent. After all, there are comparatively few people in the world who have great talents.”                                                         D.L. Moody