8th March 2026
INTRODUCTION:
The assurance of prosperity isn’t without our willingness to embrace hard work! An adage says, “Hard work is the antidote for poverty.” Godly prosperity doesn’t answer to ordinary confession, dreaming, or talking about it. No, prosperity answers to diligent work. On this truth, let’s listen to King Solomon: Proverbs 13:4 & Proverbs 22:29.
Diligence is another wisdom for prosperity, and I say to you again, in whatever your hands find, do it well; add excellence to the work of your hand.
The sermon of today is about The Parable of Talents in Matthew 25:30 that zooms in on the One – Talent Servant to glean wisdom on why some people fail to Prosper! There are people today who wish to prosper but practice attitudes that God can’t trust with more/prosperity!
The Master has servants to whom he entrusted his property according to their abilities: “to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one,” v. 15:
- The Master owns all things: The servants and great wealth/property belong to the Master – Note the pronoun, “his” in verse 14; “His Servants and His Property” cf. Psalm 24:1, & Exo. 19:5.
- The Master is a Generous Giver: he gives to all his servants. Of course, the Master Pays attention to the ability of his servants. He’s not a blind giver; No he gives according to the ability of each servant, I Peter 4:10.
- The “More/Additional blessing” that any servant will receive from the Master depends on what they have done with the little given to them initially!
Looking at the one-talent servant whom the Master described as a wicked & slothful servant, we want to answer the question Why Some People Don’t Prosper:
- WRONG KNOWLEDGE, V. 24:
Ignorance is bad, but wrong knowledge is dangerously terrible. “Pata pata laa n foju, kumo kumo laa n dete, oju afo fotan ija ni da le,” which literally means, “it is better to be totally blind or leprous because partial blindness or leprousy lead to strife or crisis.” Wrong knowledge is a disease that gives birth to the abuse of resources. Hence, the need to appreciate the admonition of Solomon in Proverbs 4:7. The servant with one talent didn’t have this; hence, he failed to prosper! He was a victim of wrong knowledge about the Master, v. 24:
- His Person: “…‘Master, I KNEW you to be a hard man.” The word “hard” in here means a harsh, manipulative, difficult person to please.
- His Expectation: “…reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed…” The Master’s expectation is primarily diligence, faithfulness, and fruitfulness. The master didn’t expect what he hadn’t given him or more than what he had received.
- WRONG ATTITUDES, V. 25:
In life, attitude is everything. Every true change begins with chang in attitude! Your attitude attracts or repels blessings. But the servant in our passage has some wrong attitudes which we must pay attention to. They are:
- Attitude of Excuse Making, 25a: “So I was Afraid” – Questions: What is he afraid of? Why is he afraid? A lazy man is always afraid, Proverbs 22:13 & Prov. 26:13. Those who are given to empty excuses don’t achieve success in life! Prosperity isn’t a friend of those who have a phobia for hard work.
- Attitude of Laziness, v. 25b: “I went and hid your talent away…” This servant didn’t want to do anything but sought to justify his laziness with fear – factor! A lazy person sees work as a burden.
- Attitude of Irresponsibility: Opportunity is a waste in the hands of an irresponsible person. Instead of blaming himself, he was indicting his master for giving him something – blame game.
J. T. Oyebisi (Pastor) – FBC Ipaja Lagos
