Dr. Gough:

"God is unfair!" he said. I said, "No, life is unfair!"

--God is merciful, gracious! Ever more than fair!

--God loves us all alike. Sent Jesus to die for all.

--To save sinners. He arose! Lives to pray for us.

--The question is, Are we fair with God, as our God?

Some blame God for all wrongs. But is God to blame?

--We have enemies, "the world, flesh, and the devil."

--Yet the Lord is everybody's Friend! God is fair!

Matthew 25 troubled me. For long I felt it unfair.

--A master gave "talents" - one 5, one 2, another 1.

--Why not give each five? Or give all the same?

--Because we are not all the same. We're different.

--In background. Looks. Opportunities. Abilities.

--Like our body parts - all different but necessary.

I'm the oldest of five children - all different.

--All loved alike. Prayed for. Similar training.

--But each unique; in God's plan, fair to everyone.

In Izmir, Turkey, ancient Smyrnawe learned of Polycarp.

--Polycarp (69-155), was taught by the Apostle John.

--John got it from Jesus! So was well taught of God.

--As Bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp won many to Christ.

--But doomed to die, unless he denied Jesus.

--"Swear by Caesar; curse Christ, or die," they said.

--"For 86 years have I served Christ," he replied,"and He hath done me no wrong; how can I blaspheme my King Who saved me?" Amid flames, he knew God is fair!

--So testify martyrs, and servants of our Savior.

Peter, with Jesus 3 1/2 years, yet denied Him and forgiven, writes of Jesus Who "left his case in the hands of God who always judges fairly" (I Peter 2:23 LB).

"Born again believers" with God's Spirit, know it also.

--How God takes our weakness, and works His wonders!

--How seeming disadvantages "work together for good."

--Like Isaac Watts. Never married - unattractive.

--But could he preach! Write great hymns of faith!

--He made the most of what God had given him!

--That's the message I get from Matthew 25.

You know the story. Landlord goes away for a time.

--Gave his servants "goods-five, two, one, talents."

--A "talent" then was money. Today, it means ability.

--Note, it was the landlord's to give. As it is God's.

--Each to use the gift, wisely, to gain others.

--We've little control of gifts - only how we use it.

Really, if all got the same, wouldn't be long before a few, by their abilities, had more than others.

Matthew omits it but Luke 19:13 says, "Put this money (our life) to work, until I come back." Use it!

--Verse 15, "The man knew what each servant could do."

--So use your talent, spiritual gifts, to glorify God.

--His gifts are suitable to our abilities.

Five talents would be too much for some folks.

--One or two talents, way too little, for others.

--We are to use what we proportionately receive.

--"To whom much is given, much is required," God says.

--Note, there was no envy, jealousy, or enmity shown!

--Each servant accepted what the landlord had given.

In Acts 12:2, wicked king Herod "killed James, brother of John with the sword," but Peter was spared!

--Was that fair? Was one better than the other?

--What it means, to me, is that God is sovereign!

--All wise. Almighty. All loving, to all alike.

--God writes with a pen that never blots.

--He speaks with a tongue that never slips.

--He acts with a heart and mind, in love and wisdom!

--And God is fair. "He does all things well!"

--It meant that for James he got to heaven before Peter.

--But it wasn't long before Peter went with His Lord.

The "landlord" in the parable is about Jesus!

--Jesus gives gifts to us of life. Has gone away.

--One day Christ will come again. We to give account!

--What have we done, for Him, with gifts God gave us?

Look! Five talent man gained five; two gained two.

--Both doubled! Both rewarded equally!

--Both heard, "Well done .. enter the joy of the Lord."

If little or much, if we are faithful, God rewards us.

--Nor did the servants find fault with gift or reward.

God is fair. Each got some gift, as He does for us all.

--The "talents" are like spiritual gifts given by God.

--The master gave to each "according to his ability."

--Wants us to mature - to our full potential for Him.

--To use gifts God gives - and they vary - to bless.

I remember an ordination at Olney Presbyterian Church, in Philadelphia, of an outstanding young man.

--I'd say with "ten talents." Handsome. Intelligent.

--Given unusual advantages in seminary education.

--Had a lovely, musically talented wife.

--He could charm most anyone, anywhere. And preach!

--Big brass from New York and all over attended.

--All extolled him. Expected great evangelism results.

--God had given this couple so many talents.

Listen! Great talent, without great faith and humility, can become a great disappointment! Are we faithful?

--Or, the ministry left him. His talents went unused!

--When they could have been a blessing to so many!

My friend, life is short. Service for God is brief.

--Only what is done for Christ, counts in eternity!

We don't all preach or sing or play. But we all live!

--And we can all live for the Lord, serve Him, as able.

Whatever your work, view it as a ministry for the Lord.

--Whether it is housework, or care-givers, or whatever.

--A friend used to say, "My main business is to serve the Lord, but I sell real estate to pay expenses."

--Alex Dunlap won many to Christ, as a layman!

Jesus tells of this third servant who "buried his talent," and never used it, nor "put it to interest."

--His master was disappointed. He lost what he had!

I spent a whole day at Billy Graham headquarters, and attended and served in several Crusades.

--He was raised on a farm; his. Dad wanted him to farm.

--Farming is fine. My grandfather was a farmer.

--God needs all occupations with Christians.

--But what if Billy Graham stayed on a farm, instead of evangelizing the world with the Gospel of Christ?

--Billy Graham sought God's will. Each of us should!

What if Isaac Watts had felt God was unfair, with such appearance destined to be unwed, we'd lost great hymns.

--Also, countless converts would be lost to Christ!

--Or, if Billy Graham, Bev Shea and Cliff Barrows, each had "hid" their talents, like this Jesus spoke of?

--And, what if you and I do not use our gifts for God?

--Use the "talent" God has given you! Do your best!

I tell you, God is fair! Even if life isn't. I know.

--As a lad I almost died with diphtheria, they were treating as tonsilitis - and God worked a miracle then.

--Prayers have worked many miracles for me and by me.

One day the Lord as our "landlord" is coming again.

--"Each shall give account to God" (Romans 14:12).

--Not for what we didn't have, but what we did have for God's use - and be "rewarded" or judged.

--I beg of you, don't waste your gift, time, talents.

Look at Matthew 25:26, as Jesus reprimanded the "wicked and lazy servant" who could have done better.

--He lost what he had, as "an unprofitable servant."

--I pray none would ever hear that from our Lord.

Maybe you have youth. Good health. Some talents.

--Whoever you are, be not like the Prodigal of Luke 15.

--After the Prodigal had lost it all, he saw his error; and, down and out, came back to father and home.

Too many today are hooked on drugs, drink, immorality.

--Some go to an early grave. "Without Christ or hope."

--Godly parents are left lonely; grieving and praying.

--Heaven's salvation and help all the while available!

Listen, you know why God is fair? Because He loves you.

--He is "not willing any should perish" (II Peter 3:9).

--In His love and fairness, God can save anyone!

--It is so simple: "Be born again" and "follow Jesus."

--To realize "all have sinned and come short ..."

--"Trust and obey" so you may hear what these two faithful servants heard, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your lord."

--I want to hear that from Jesus. Don't you?

--When we know we are saved, then we know God is fair!

--Let's be fair with Him!

Dr. Wilbert D. Gough