'God Is Not Giving Me What I Need': Matthew 25:14-30 (Faithfulness)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Faithfulness?

Read Matthew 25:14-30:

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

In all honesty, how confident are you in the promises of God?

What promise of God do you struggle with the most?

Write you answer in the space provided.

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chambers' comments.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Oswald states:

"We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God."

Do you agree that there is a direct relationship between the ability to believe in the promises of God and spiritual capacity?

Oswald observes:

"If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.”

How frequently do you feel like God is asking more of you than He has given you the power to accomplish?

Oswald continues:

"When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us."

What is God currently asking you to do that, in all honesty, you question whether you have the ability, intelligence, qualifications, spiritual maturity or courage to achieve?

Oswald adds:

"The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, “Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me.” Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? (Matthew 6:33). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied—“I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.”

Would you like to apply one of the promises of God right now and reduce your current level of worry?

Take time to meditate on Matthew 6:31-33.

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Continue to meditate on this promise of God until it begins to penetrate.

Keep working at it. Put in the work until you fully digest this life changing, unfailing promise.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Oswald states:

"A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, “I haven’t had a decent chance,” and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way."

In your spiritual life, how lazy do you consider yourself to be?

Regarding your spiritual laziness, is there anything you would like to repent of (express your sorrow)?

If so, you can do so privately, or in the space provided.

Read 2 Corinthians 1:20-22:

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Oswald concludes:

"Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit."

How important to you is it to not be a 'lazy servant'?

What is one spiritual discipline you can add to life to increase your current level of 'spiritual fitness'?

Write your answer in the space provided.

Are you willing to tell at least one person what you have chosen to do and when you are going to do it?

How much has this Trail increased your current level of Faithfulness?