IDEA: Wrong views of God lead to wrong living before Him. TEXT: "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability, and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents beside them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest' " (Matthew 25:14-27).

PURPOSE: To have listeners understand why belief about God is basic to their behavior.

We know that we are to love God. Do you think most people like Him?

Do you think it matters?

In the parable that Jesus told, what is the man’s excuse for burying the talent that was given him to invest?

I. What do you think about the attitude of this slave in talking to his master as he did?

What does he reveal about his attitude toward his master?

He thinks the master is more demanding than giving.

He thinks the master is someone to be feared, who makes unreasonable demands.

II. This servant didn’t like his master.

He resembles people who might say that they love God, but if they’re honest, they feel He is hard.

Sometimes it’s what we think we’ve learned in our Sunday school lessons.

Sometimes we read the image of a severe parent into God.

A wrong view of God leads to wrong living before God