Infinite Fellowship Ministries

The Import Of Opportunity – Part 1: Sermon By Bishop Gobanga

Import of opportunity refers to the poundage or weight of opportunity.

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 besides 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. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:14-30 (NKJV)

There are lies that have been perpetuated by the enemy, and they are:

1. If you work hard enough you will be all what you want to be. 
2. You can be the best in the whole world. 

These lies have been told even to little children. They distort the Biblical view of success and perpetuate self-idolatry and humanism (new age). They omit divine ordinations from eternity and redact God from the picture.

These two lies say that you must be a master of your own destiny, but it is by Divine ordination that one becomes whom God wants them to be. 

Talent in Hebrew does not denote gifts and abilities, but a definite amount of money. It is equivalent to $1,000. In this parable, the concept is talking about money and more than money – there is a revelation to it.

What is it that God has given to us to invest that corresponds to the servants in the parable?

Do not look at the parable of the talents thinking of how God will reward you when you serve Him. He is not obligated to reward you. Do not have selfish motives in your service to God.

There is a giving that unlocks certain things in your life.

The parable of the talents speaks of salvation and the ultimate destiny of a servant of Christ. 

And throw the good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. 

Matthew 25:30 (AMP) 

This parable is applicable to believers and non-believers. 

We miss out when we relate to God on our own terms and not on the principle of God and His terms. God is more concerned with what is done with the talent that has been distributed and not just the talent.

The destiny of your life hangs on what you do with the talent. It determines if you will be rewarded or not, whether you will enter into the next level or not.

Whatever you do with the talent has a lot to do with your motive of what you have received and your perception of the Giver. 

This parable is a question of life and death. It relates to missing out on the purpose of God for your life.

The talent distributed does not belong to the person it’s distributed to but to God. It is not man that gives but God, the Master, who gives. It has to take the hand of God. 

For it is like a man who was about to take a long journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his property.

 Matthew 25:14 (AMP)

There are certain things you desire that you cannot give yourself no matter how well you pray and fast. Remain content even if He hasn’t given them to you. If He gives you must receive.

God has every right to withhold certain things from you and to give it to whosoever He desires to. God is sovereign. If God gives to you, it is a privilege and not a right.

These talents are not given the same way natural talents and gifts are given but they are given to those who have a special relationship with God and see Him as a Master. It is on the basis of relationship with Him. If God gives you a talent it is because you have a relationship with Him – we are in a Season of Communion, Fellowship and Relationship with God. 

Having a relationship with God is not fasting, praying and going to church. It is spontaneous and without structure. There is no premeditation on the words that you are going to speak. 

God disperses these talents according to your relationship with Him and not what you have done or not done, because a relationship with God is not based on what you have done or not done.

God is looking for a people that have a pure, contrite and broken heart. A people that have a relationship, fellowship and communion with Him. 

God gave the talents according to the person’s abilities. These talents do not speak of natural abilities. They were dispersed according to one’s natural abilities. 

To one he gave five talents [probably about $5,000], to another two, to another one—to each in proportion to his own personal ability. Then he departed and left the country.  

Matthew 25:15 (AMP)

The one with 5 talents had more natural abilities resident in him. The talents were given in terms of ability. 

God does not give you what you cannot handle. 

The Master expected gain from the talents given to the servants – a Return on Investment (ROI).

A talent is something that must be invested.

Investing involves risk. God is looking for risk takers not cowards or people who are too cautious. If you are not a risk taker, you are unfit for the Kingdom. 

There is nothing at the shallow waters, good things are in the deep. You must take the risk. You have to be a risk taker. God wants people who can dare Him at His Word!

God has already taken the risk – He will not take the risk for you.

Fish is gotten from the depths. Go to deeper depths. The risk is that the boat will capsize but there is also the opportunity to get the catch.

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, yes, even [divide it] to eight, for you know not what evil may come upon the earth. If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. 

 Ecclesiastes 11:1-4 (AMP)

The talents were not given to the servant for their own benefit but to multiply it for the Master’s benefit.

It was the duty of the servants to discern the heart and mind of the Master and know what He wanted done with the talents because of the relationship they had with the Master. When you are in relationship with someone, you pre-empt their needs.

The revelation in this case of the talents means opportunities. The talent is not money or your natural gift. The talent refers to opportunities. 

When God gives you a talent, He is speaking of an opportunity. 

The moment you discover you have a talent and gift, you will need opportunity to manifest this. At the time of opportunity, there is a grace dispensed to multiply and the multiplication will be for the Kingdom.

Look at work as an opportunity to invest in your talent or ability. Do not be tied to a salary. At your workplace, maximise an opportunity to make a positive impact on an individual client and person who could serve as the person to take you to the next level.

Talents are golden moments of opportunities. It is an event or moment which an action of importance or significance is achieved. God wants us to be achievers when our actions are expressed at the season of opportunity.

Opportunities will only come on the basis of how many natural gifts you have resident in you. You only need an opportunity. 

It is what will bring your reward. You gifts and talents will be manifested in an opportunity that has to occur for you to function.

God will not give you an opportunity to be frustrated but to function and manifest your prowess. 

Opportunities are those instances where your natural proclivities are used to make you relevant to your generation. You must discern the opportune moment for you to maximise it. Woe unto you if you miss out on it. 

The first servant had 5 opportunities. The second one had 2 opportunities. The third one had 1 opportunity.

We need to be like the sons of Issachar discerning time and season because every time and season has a corresponding opportunity tied to it. 

God is not a respecter of persons but of principles.   

Why does God give us opportunities? He gives us opportunities to afford us a way to display our talents and abilities. 

God wants us to display what we have at the time of opportunity so that Jesus may gain. When Jesus gains, you gain too.

Whenever God is glorified, so are you. When you lift up Christ – He lifts you up. God’s glory is never at your expense.

Anytime you do something for the Lord, you also benefit. Yet many times we seek self-gain and self exaltation. 

He is seated at the right hand of the Father. We need to focus on the Father and the Son. 

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. 

Matthew 5:14-16 (AMP)

Be willing to go through the process. Every opportunity comes with a reward. 

God knows you have certain abilities and He is looking for a return. 

The first and the second servant sought the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first. All the rest was added unto them.

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. 

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

God gives you an opportunity at a designated place, not anywhere. Opportunities show up at a particular season and a particular place.

Opportunities are moments where you count the cost for the glory of the Father. 

Opportunities are moments of decision making – to do the right thing and suffer or do wrong and gain momentarily.  

Every opportunity has inherent to it a moment of reward. God gives you opportunities at designated places and seasons.

at designated places and season. 

Discern your moments!  

When the Master came and began to reward the servants; the one with 5 and had gotten 5 – it was 100%. The one with 2 and got 2 more – it was 100%. The one with 1 and none was at 0%. 

The person with two talents was operating at a higher level than the one with 5.

The biggest fool was the one with 1 talent –  it could have multiplied much more.  

The one opportunity you have can be the make or break opportunity you need. That opportunity is not a jackpot. In the Kingdom, there is no jackpot. 

God wants us to come to a place where we understand the season we’re in, discern the opportunity, and look at the abilities within us to use for His glory, so as to become a blessing and make an impact in our generation.

The third servant was very fortunate but did not make use of that opportunity. If you do not make good use of the opportunity that you’ve been given, God will take it and give it to another. Each of the three servants was unique and necessary for the Kingdom.

The one with 5 talents needed more opportunities to sharpen what he had. The one with 2 talents needed to work a little harder. The one with 1 talent needed to discern the opportunity available. Time and chance happens to all. Whatever chance you have, make good of it.

I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, neither is bread to the wise nor riches to men of intelligence and understanding nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

 Ecclesiastes 9:11 (AMP)

Do not compare yourself with others. We are all at different levels. Discern the opportunity available for you as it may differ from that of others.

What are you supposed to invest in this time that you are in

Invest in Godly counsel. It is going to build you up. Where there is no counsel, purpose gets frustrated.