Expanding Your Orbit

Dr. Aaron Coe joins us for another week of our Orbit collection, focusing on expanding the orbit of our relationships and our gospel impact by living generous lives. God has entrusted us with various resources, and it’s our responsibility to steward them for His glory.

A frugal person values every resource—they make the most of what they have. But a stingy person? They hold on too tightly and miss the opportunity to bless others.

Generosity enlarges your orbit; stinginess diminishes it.

Read Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Bags of Gold).

Jesus begins this parable with a vivid picture of a master entrusting his wealth to three servants before departing on a journey. It’s not a random distribution of resources—it’s intentional. The master knows the capacity of each servant and gives according to their ability. In this story, the master is a reflection of Jesus, who has ascended to prepare a place for us, leaving His Church with the responsibility of stewarding His Kingdom here on earth.

This stewardship is not passive. It’s not simply about maintaining what we’ve been given or burying it in fear of loss. It’s about multiplication, about taking the resources, opportunities, and abilities God has placed in our hands and putting them to work. The rebuke of the wicked servant—“You wicked, lazy servant!”—is a sobering reminder of what happens when we fail to act in faith.

You Have Been Given a Purpose

Jesus starts this parable by telling us about a master who entrusts his wealth to three servants before going on a journey. This master represents Jesus, who has gone to prepare a place for us but has left His Church to steward His Kingdom.

Notice something important here: each servant received something. This isn’t a story about exclusion—it’s a story about inclusion and responsibility.

Let’s step back and ask: Why did the master entrust them with his wealth? Because he saw potential and purpose in each of them. This echoes Genesis 1:27, where we are told that we are created in the image of God.

Think about that for a moment. What does it mean to be made in God’s image? It means we reflect His creativity, love, and power. It means we have value and worth.

“To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability.” (Matthew 25:15)

If you are created in God’s image, you have a unique, God-ordained purpose. And that purpose is tied to the gifts—your time, talents, and resources—that God has entrusted to you.

Not Everyone Will Be Given the Same Gift

Let’s talk about fairness. Why didn’t everyone in this story get the same amount? Isn’t that unfair?

Here’s the truth: fairness in God’s Kingdom isn’t about sameness. It’s about stewardship. God doesn’t give all of us the same gifts, but He gives each of us gifts perfectly suited to His purpose for our lives.

This diversity is by design. It’s part of the beauty of the body of Christ. Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, where he compares the Church to a body with many parts. Each part has a unique role, but all are essential.

Imagine if the body were made entirely of hands or eyes. That wouldn’t work! Similarly, in God’s Kingdom, each of us has a role to play that no one else can fulfill.

But here’s the challenge: the enemy wants to distort this truth. He whispers lies that lead us to disunity and envy. He wants us to believe that sameness is the goal, that we should all look the same, act the same, and have the same gifts. But that’s not God’s design! Sameness is boring; oneness is powerful.

When we embrace the diversity of gifts within the body of Christ and work together in unity, we create a mosaic that reflects God's glory.

Leverage Everything You Have

The parable tells us that two of the servants immediately went to work with what they had been given. And what happened? They doubled it. But the third servant buried his talent, and when the master returned, he had nothing to show for it.

“To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability.” (Matthew 25:15)

“The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his

money to work and gained five bags more.” (Matthew 25:16)

Here’s the principle: Generosity multiplies. Fear stagnates.

When you invest your time, talents, and resources generously, God honors that investment and produces a harvest. Paul says it clearly in 2 Corinthians 9:6: “Whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

But when you hold back—when you live in fear like the third servant—you miss out on the joy and impact of partnering with God.

Let me ask you: What are you holding back today? Maybe it’s your time. Maybe it’s a skill you’re not using. Maybe it’s a financial resource you’ve been hesitant to share. Whatever it is, God is inviting you to leverage it for His Kingdom.

Expanding Your Orbit

The master in this parable returned and rewarded the two faithful servants with these words:

So, how do I expand my influence–the orbit of time, talent, and financial resources? You get started by putting one foot in front of the other.

If you wait until you have “enough” time, expertise, or money, you might never take action. But starting small—sharing what you can, giving your time or talents in manageable ways—creates momentum. Each small act of generosity builds trust, influence, and a foundation for greater impact.

You don’t need to have it all figured out to make a difference. It’s better to start being incrementally generous today than to wait for the perfect moment that may never come.

But for the servant who buried his talent, there was no reward—only regret.

“Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master’s

happiness.”

Don’t bury your gifts. Don’t play it safe. If you want to expand your orbit—to see your relationships, influence, and gospel impact grow—then live generously.

Generosity is the key to multiplying what God has entrusted to you. It’s how we reflect His image to the world. So, step out in faith. Leverage everything you have. Expand your orbit.