Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Matthew 25:14-30 / Matthew 13:44-46

Though the phrase “put your money where your mouth is” has only been around 100 or so years, its origin isn’t clear. One theory on how it caught on comes from boxing. Boxers would talk and hype themselves in the pre-match sparring but be warned that they better back that up with action in the ring. We’ve been doing a lot of talking lately about who we are as a church. Today we need to transition that into action. We need to put our money where our mouth is.

Throughout this series, we’ve discussed the 4 values of this church (DEPENDENCY on God, DELIGHT in Church Family, DEDICATION to Community, and DRIVEN by Mission) and been reminded of how important it is that we live in the AND culture of Acts 1:8. The question for you today is simply, are you in? Do you share this vision, and will you step in to help make it happen? Will you put your money where your mouth is? This was exactly what Jesus was challenging His followers with when He shared with them the parable of the talents

Everyone Has a Talent

The word talent is translated from the Greek word “talanton” which means item of great value. In this context, money or currency is what is being described. The man in charge gave each one of his servants a large sum of money (in varying amounts) and expected them to increase it upon his eventual return. The story denotes a difference, not in total value, but in activity. The servants that had the 5 and 2 talents used theirs to get more. The last servant hid the money underground. The key here in understanding this passage matches a quote from Gandalf in Lord of the Rings – “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us” (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring) We only have the time, the talent, and the treasure that we have. The question is what you do with it.

Each of us have those 3 things, when you boil it down to the brass tax. We have time, we have talent (ability), and we have treasure (money), all in differing amounts. The question is not how much of anything you have at the starting point, but what you do with what you have. Susan Boyle has always been a woman of modest means. She did receive vocal and acting training, but mostly just honed her singing talent in the church choir and at karaoke bars. Not a typical Hollywood stereotype, she didn’t get many opportunities, but when one finally came across her desk, she took it and ran with it. She stole the show at 2009’s Britain’s Got Talent and between 2009 and 2021 sold 25 million records (Wikipedia). She used what she had and made it big.

Your Talent Isn’t Yours

Here though, is the catch. As God’s servants (we belong to God through our faith in Christ), neither our time, nor our talents, nor our treasures are ours. Psalm 8:6 shows us that they belong to God—He is the giver of all and owner of all—and we are merely stewards of the resources He gives. So this is not about us using what we have for only our own benefit, but instead using what we have for God. Is your time being used for activities God lays out for you? Are you serving in ways that glorify Him through the natural talents and abilities He gave you? And are you handing your treasure (money) back over to God through tithes and offerings? Tithing is a consistent offering back to God of a predetermined percentage of your income (usually 10%). Your tithe goes towards the church general fund and both on a local and national level, including overseas missions work. An offering is an often random, need-based gift that does not replace a tithe, but goes along with it.

Next Steps

Our vision is to grow in our relationship with God through this church, becoming people who make disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples, turning us into a church that creates disciple-making churches. Are you in on this vision and the 4 values we focus on to achieve that (a 4D church that replicates 4D churches)? Will you put your money where your mouth is?

1. Partners – engage and pray as God leads you.
2. Volunteer in a ministry activity that is a fit for you – note that outreach ministry is a subset that everyone is called to do.
3. Commit to tithe and be open to sacrificial offerings throughout the year.

This is not a talk about financial giving. Yes, that is part of this – but don’t miss the fullness of what God wants – He wants ALL of you! He wants (and deserves) your time, your talents and your treasures. Everything you have comes from Him—practice good stewardship and make sure you give it all back to Him.