Mar 5, 2023: Worship Service Family Worship Series No.4  ,"The Parable of the Talents” 

Family Worship (4)  "The Parable of the Talents"

 

The Bible:

1 Peter 4:10

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Note:

The Parable of the Talents is written in the New Testament in Matthew 25:14-29.

 

Prelude:

Video:

 

If you want to hear the worship service in Japanese, click the following.

 

Dad:

"Today we are talking about the parable of the talents. The word "talent" is a unit of money in Jesus' time. In English, talent means special skill. Nowadays, "Talent" is used on TV to refer to people in the entertainment industry. By the way, what kind of talents do you guys have?"

Sophia:

"Yes! For me, it's being energetic."

James:

"Sophia, can those be called talents? Hey, Dad?"

Dad:

"That's interesting. We could also say that being energetic is one talent. James, How about yours?

James:

"Well, I'm good at soccer.”

Grace:

"I'm good at piano."

Mom:

"You all have a lot of God-given talents.”

Dad:

"By the way, how much money do you think a talent is?”

Grace:

"I think it's a lot of money because it's enough to do business.”

James:

"I think it's much more money, maybe 10 million.”

Dad:

"At that time, one talent was equivalent to about 6,000 days' salary, so roughly speaking, it means 16 years' salary. For example, the average annual income per person in Kushimoto-Town is 3.63 million yen, so 16 years would be about 48 million yen or 240 million for a person who earns five talents.”

Sophia:

"Wow! The master must have been so rich."

Mom:

"Now, do you have any questions or comments on this story?"

James:

"The master was very strict with the third servant and kicked him out. If the master was God, I am scared, too.

It is hard and miserable to be kicked out by God. And, I was surprised that they even had banks in that era.”

Dad:

"Well, I think You made a good point. What do you guys think about it?”

Grace:

"The master who financed them would want his servants to do well, and he deserves to expect profit.”

Dad:

“Grace is quite rational.”

Sophia:

"I feel sorry for the third servant. Because we sometimes fail, too. I think the master is lucky that he didn't lose any of his money at least, isn't he?

Mom:

"I see. Sophia feels sorry for the third servant.

By the way, last week we talked about God who forgave the prodigal son who was full of mistakes, right? So, I can understand why James said that. The image of God is just the opposite, right? I wonder if all the master expected from his servants was the result of  how much they made.”

Sophia:

"What? It wasn’t about money-making? Then, I wonder what it means."

James:

"The master expected his servants to be faithful. Because he praised two servants by saying, "Well done, you are faithful servants.”

Dad:

"Yes, that's true.”

Grace:

"I think it is our effort. He entrusted us with a lot of money, so we have to work hard to repay him.”

Sophia:

"I am getting confused.”

Mom:

"Sophia, I understand your feeling that. Dad, What do you think?”

Dad:

"I think this parable gets lost if we focus on the difference in the money given to the servants and how much they made with the money entrusted to them. I was surprised at the amount of money The master gave servants. I guess it means that the love God has for us is tremendous. People at that time may not have thought that Jesus would go to the cross, but Jesus forgave our sins, right? And Jesus also promised us eternal life. I wonder how the servants felt about the magnitude of God?”

Mom:

“Dad talked about the size of God's love. It was a great relief to know that God is not just scary. How did everyone else feel?”

Sophia:

"Yes, I feel much better now.”

James:

"But I am a little more unconvinced. Why was only the servant of one talent scolded so much by the master?

Dad:

"Well, let's think about it together. By the way, what kind of people were the people listening to this parable?”

James:

"The disciples of Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees.”

Dad:

"That is right. And Jesus told them at first that it is what heaven is like. By the way, who do you think Jesus was referring to the servant who received one talent?”

James:

“ They are the scribes and Pharisees.”

Dad:

“Yes, as the old brother was described as a scribe or Pharisee when he was the prodigal son, Jesus always spoke in parables when there were scribes and Pharisees. ”

The master trusted his servants and expected that they should do well. However, the servant who received one talent did not trust his master. He was afraid of God. The scribes and Pharisees thought that keeping the law was the condition for going to heaven. If people had to be good human beings to get to heaven, how many people would get into heaven?

Grace said that our effort is so important, but we have limitations. Where do we get the strength to overcome ?”

Grace:

"From God.”

Mom:

"Yes! God helps us. The Bible does not say, but in my imagination, even though the servant failed and lost the money, The master probably would not have scolded him.

Because the servant did his best for the master. God does not evaluate only the result but God sees the heart.

However, the person who tried to protect only himself by staying in his little shell buried his talents in the ground and made no effort. The servant did not want to negotiate or risk anything and he never apologized to his master either and insisted on his righteousness.

In the Old Testament, God was described as the God of justice and God destroyed people when they did wrong. So, God was seen as a strict God.

But, in the New Testament when Jesus came, God is described as having forgiveness, Patience, and Love. I believe God wanted us to rejoice because heaven was opened for us by sending Jesus into this world.

I guess that Jesus felt sorry for those who were in a state of bondage by the Law, so Jesus tried many times to let them know the true meaning of the Law. What law is the most important?”

Grace:

"Love God and love your neighbor. "

Dad:

"Yes, I think Jesus wants us to rejoice every day knowing that Jesus is always with us, and to help each other in our families, our friends, and in our society.

Mom:

“I want to let you know that we can never fully know the thoughts of Jesus, so I think there are many ways to interpret them. Let's leave the correct answer for when we get to heaven. But, I hope everyone will grow up from now on, and I would like to hear more opinions from you. Now, may I ask dad to pray for us today?”

Dad’s prayer:

"Yes, let's pray. Dear God, thank you for allowing us to worship together as a family today. Thank you for the parable today that shows us what heaven is like. May you guide each one of us to trust and be thankful for God's love that we all receive equally, to make full use of the gifts you have given us, and to expand heaven on earth where we can all love and help each other. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen!

 

Postlude:

 

Report

Dementia Care Seminar for Pharmacists was held at the following venues.

February 23: Wakayama Prefectural Pharmaceutical Hall in Wakayama City
February 26, 2022: Tanabe City: "Garden Hotel Hanayo Arena”

Three lecturers shared basic knowledge of dementia, principles of dementia care, and cooperation between medical care and nursing care. Dr. Michio Ono of the "Mustard Seed Home Clinic" was one of the lecturers. He talked about the life of old people in Japan, the current situation and issues of dementia treatment and care, the diagnosis and classification method of dementia that anyone can use, the choice of medication based on this method, and the amount of prescription, etc.

In summary, I asked requests to the pharmacists.

1. Please take more interest in patients and their families with a smile and compassion
2. Please be aware of dementia and developmental disorders in the elderly and connect them to community support.
3. Please be able to communicate better according to different diagnoses and symptoms.
4. Please pay attension to the following when dispensing prescription drugs.

(1)Pay more attension in prescribing multiple drugs to the elderly and the amount of prescriptions.
(2) Learn always about drug-induced dementia (prescription drugs cause dementia).
(3) Be careful about overdosage of antihypertensive and antidiabetic drugs.
(4) Pay attention to the appropriate dosages and prescriptions of drugs for dementia and peripheral symptoms.
(5) Please explain in detail the effects and side effects of medications when new prescriptions are issued.
(6) Confirm that they take the medications or stop due to side effects.
(7) I hope pharmacists work with a physician who is prescribing drugs as specialits. Let us work together.

 

 

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