Another thing that we learned from the book of Matthew is that God expects us to use the things we have been blessed with, our talents, for His glory.  I believe this means abilities and resources.  God never intended to bless us just so we could keep His blessings stored away simply for our own use..  If we are to be good stewards of the things that God blesses us with, then we must use them for His glory.  We can never allow fear of losing something, whatever it might be, to keep us from using the things God blesses us with to accomplish the task He presents us with.  We are not to just sit and wait for the return of Christ, but we are to be at work for His kingdom until He returns.  We also learned that we are to be prepared for the return of Christ at any moment.  When Jesus returns, it will be to late to suddenly realize that we need Him.  We must make the decision to follow Jesus in this lifetime and before His return.  We also learn that bold professions of faith are not enough if we don't follow through with them.  We, like Peter, may claim to follow Jesus even if it cost us our lives, then fail to stay awake to pray for an hour.  I believe that most of our tests of faith will come in the little things, and if we fail there, we will most likely fail when the big tests come.  We also learn that the crucifixion of Christ was something that He willingly endured.  In spite of what some movies may depict, I do not believe that Jesus wavered on the way to the cross.  Jesus had already prayed that if there was another way, let it be shown to Him, and the answer was that there was not.  There is still no other way today.  Then, we learn that the cross and tomb were not the end.  The really good news of the book of Matthew is that Jesus arose from the dead and goes before us to prepare a place for us.  This is the message that we, as followers of Christ, are to proclaim to the world today.  Next, we will look at the book of Proverbs.