Matt. 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 

Prov. 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
 

INTRO.: Today I want to deal with a subject that is not really a stranger to us, but it is also one that we do not like to recognize. I want to deal with two kinds of sins. The sins of commission and the sins of omission. How they affect our lives and how they affect our service for the Lord.

1. Sins of Commission - The visible sins.

1. Obvious sins - We see newspaper accounts and are exposed to sins all the time that deal with what we would call obvious unacceptable sins. These are almost universally unacceptable in everyday Christian Norm standards. Sins like:

• Adultery
• Lying
• Thievery
• Robbery
• Murder, etc

If the results are sinful then the action must also be sinful. I call these...
2. Subtle Sins - There are also many sins we are exposed to that are less universally accepted as such:

• White lies
• Gossip
• Gambling, Lottery
• Abortion
• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Civil crimes (speeding, trespassing, etc.)
• Fornication (sexual sins - whether they are extramarital sex, pornography, homosexuality, or whatever).

If the actions are hard to distinguish, and they are sinful in nature, then we have sinned in our hearts. I call these…
 

3. Dark hidden sins of our hearts. They are like these:…

• Lustful eye
• Proud look
• Hateful heart
• Wicked imagination
• Feet swift to do mischief, and other hidden sins.

Pro. 6: 16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
 

2. Sins of Omission - The invisible sins

1. Our unseen sins damage the work of Christ.

• We make excuses
• We expect others not to notice
• We place little importance on obedient works
• We produce an example of laxness that is contagious
• We cheapen the experience of salvation
• Our excuses allow others to make excuses
• We are not pleasing to God

Let me ask you, if a parent is guilty of omitting care for their children, what happens? Does society approve?

Heb. 10: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
 

• Job - omit showing up
• Marriage - omit showing up after the ceremony
• Marriage - just wearing the ring - no change
• Surgeon - omit sewing up the internal stitches
• Mechanic - leave out the brake fluid
• Parachute packer - forget the chute
• House cleaner - hide it under the rug

Let me ask you this morning…

• Prayer form our lives - to read the paper?
• Quit times in our lives - to watch the news?
• Bible reading - to watch the game?
• Church attendance - to do the chores?
• Church attendance - to go to work?
• Church attendance - to go to Excel and exercise?
• Church attendance - to go to the Mall and shop?
• Church attendance - to go fishing, hunting, camping, bowling, hobbies, etc.
• Tithing and supporting God's work - but temporal items are a great necessity?
• Commitment - Substitute membership or attendance
• Sunday mornings - sleep in.
• Sunday evenings - relax
• Wednesday evenings - favorite TV show, bridge, whittling, etc.
• Revival - for twiddle-winks.

• Watch while others work?
• Play while others pray
• Slouch while others serve?
• Sleep while others sing?
• Tarry while others teach?
• Mope while others march?
• Rationalize while others reel from the load?
• Limit our commitment while others charge on to fight Satan?

Some advise:

Instead of sitting and thinking on what you cannot do

• Concentrate on what you can do
• Concentrate on what you would be willing to do
• Concentrate on what you like to do
• Concentrate on what the Lord wants you to do.

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist Church - 031900am