This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
(Matthew 25:14-30 TPT)
14 “Again, heaven’s kingdom is like a wealthy man who went on a long journey and summoned all his trusted servants and assigned his financial management over to them. 15 Before he left on his journey, he entrusted a bag of five thousand gold coins to one of his servants, to another a bag of two thousand gold coins, and to the third a bag of one thousand gold coins, each according to his ability to manage.
16 “The one entrusted with five thousand gold coins immediately went out and traded with the money, and he doubled his investment. 17 In the same way, the one who was entrusted with two thousand gold coins traded with the sum and likewise doubled his investment. 18 But the one who had been entrusted with one thousand gold coins dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.
19 “After much time had passed, the master returned to settle accounts with his servants. 20 The one who was entrusted with five thousand gold coins came and brought ten thousand, saying, ‘See, I have doubled your money.’
21 “Commending his servant, the master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be my loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you have been a faithful steward to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of your master, who will say to you, “Enter into the joy of your Lord!” ‘
22 “Then the one who had been entrusted with two thousand gold coins came in and said, ‘See, my master, I have doubled what you have entrusted to me.’
23 “Commending his servant, the master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be my loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you were faithful to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of your master, who will say to you, “Enter into the joy of your Lord!” ‘
24 “Then the one who had been entrusted with one thousand gold coins came to his master and said, ‘Look, sir. I know that you are a hard man to please and you’re a shrewd and ruthless businessman who grows rich on the backs of others. 25 I was afraid of you, so I went and hid your money and buried it in the ground. But here it is–take it, it’s yours.’
26 “But his master said to him, ‘You’re an untrustworthy and lazy servant! If you knew I was a shrewd and ruthless business man who always makes a profit, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? 27 Then I would have received it all back with interest when I returned. 28 But because you were unfaithful, I will take the one thousand gold coins and give them to the one who has ten thousand. 29 For the one who has will be given more, until he overflows with abundance. And the one with hardly anything, even what little he has will be taken from him.’
30 “Then the master said to his other servants, ‘Now, throw that good-for-nothing servant far away from me into the outer darkness, where there will be great misery and anguish!’ “
So what does this mean for you today? Yesterday I used a “New Member Orientation for the Kingdom” approach in my teaching points. I will use the same approach today as I give you the points.
1. God (the King) owns everything.
(Psalm 50:10-12 NLT)
For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it.
(Hag 2:8 NIV)
The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
(Psalm 24:1 NIV)
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
— All the resources on this planet have come from God and belong to God.
(James 1:17 NIV)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
— Everything you have came from God.
— Don’t think you are a “self-made man.”
(Psalm 100:3 KJV)
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
— God made you.
— You did not make yourself.
— He sent you to this planet at just the right time to accomplish His divine purpose.
(Duet 8:18 NIV)
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
— Even your ability to give generously comes from God.
— Everything you have came from God.
— The stewards in the parable of the talents owned nothing. They realized they were responsible for managing what the owner placed under their care. This is the mindset we must develop.
2. God (the King) gives us things that align with what He already planned for us.
— You lack nothing, just as long as you are focused on doing what God sent you to this planet to do.
— The Bible (our manual) says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him…” (2 Peter 1:3).
— The Bible (our manual) teaches us that God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing we will ever need, in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:3).
— The Bible (our manual) teaches us that we were chosen by God, having been predestined according to His own plan (Eph 1:11).
— The Bible teaches us that we are literally God’s handiwork. We were created in His image and likeness (Gen 1:26). Not only that but when we were Born-again, we were recreated in Christ Jesus to do specific good works. Ephesians 2:10 reads, “God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.”
— In God’s mind, you lack nothing. If in your mind you see lack, it is because you are NOT getting your perspective from God.
— If you get your perspective from God, you will NOT live your life on your own terms. You will live your life for Him!
Jesus said, “If any of you want to be my follower, you must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following me” (Matthew 16:24 ERV).
— When you die to sin, self, and selfishness, you are free to do (with your life) whatever the Master (the King) wants. This is the mindset we must develop.
— Our life is not supposed to be about anything but what God planned for us.
3. God (the King) sent His own Son to redeem you (pay for your sin) with His own blood; therefore, your life is not your own.
(1 Cor 6:20 NKJV)
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
— Your life is not your own.
— Jesus redeemed (meaning the He PAID FOR YOU), with His own blood.
— Once you are Born-Again, you belong to Him!
— Your life cannot be about you or your selfish desires.
— Your life must be about Him and what He planned for you to do.
4. When you realize God (the King) owns everything, it frees you from materialism.
— The managers (or stewards) in the text were free to double the money that was placed under their care because they were not attached to it.
— They knew the money was not theirs, so the money could not get to their heads.
— They were free to make the most of the money (or resources) they had because they knew they were doing it for their Master.
— When you know you are doing what you are doing for the Lord, it helps you to have things without things having you.
— If God knows that you cannot handle material possessions without the possessions getting ahold of your heart, then He will withhold the possessions because your heart is more important than things.
— But if you can prove to God that material possessions will not cause you to lose your focus, then God can give you material possessions to advance His Kingdom.
— Not only that, but He even gives you material possessions to ENJOY (1 Tim 6:17) because He knows the “things” will not get you off course.
5. When you realize God (the King) owns everything, including you, you live your life with purpose.
— Prior to coming to God, most of you (myself included) lived your life for selfish reasons, pursuing selfish desires.
— Your life was all about YOU!
— You pursued what you wanted, how you wanted.
— Your life was about your desires. You formulated plans and put in time, energy, and effort to see those plans come to pass.
— When you are Born-Again and God begins to reveal to you what was already prepared for you, you then have a choice to make.
— You can either selfishly remain down the path you desire (the one you were already on), or you can die to your plans so you can live your life for God’s purpose.
— The manager (or steward) in the parable of the talents who refused to do anything with the money he was given is someone who placed his desires above his Master’s. Don’t let this be you!
7. When you realize you are merely a steward of the time and resources you have access to during the short time you have on this planet, you feel a sense of urgency to make the most of every opportunity.
King Solomon said: “Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life–this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past” (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NLT).
— You don’t have a long time on this planet.
— Your time here is limited, so you must attempt to make the most of “the short life” God has given you.
— As the text says, it’s a good thing to receive wealth from God and good health to enjoy it. But your life cannot be about things!
— For you to make the most of the short time God has given you, your life must be about His purpose!
8. When you realize you are merely a steward, you live your life focused on leaving a legacy and making an eternal impact.
— When you consider all you have learned today, I hope you can see how important your life is.
— Your life is about more than just the pursuit of THINGS.
— Your life is about God and His eternal purpose.
— The good stewards in the parable of the talents just wanted to make the most of what they had been given.
— Like those stewards, you must make the most of the short time God has given you.
— Live your life with an emphasis on leaving a legacy and making an impact that will resound in this life and in the life to come!
That’s enough to process for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
You own everything, Father. The earth is Yours, and everything in it. I acknowledge that all good and perfect gifts come from You.
I am not a self-made man or woman. You made me, Father, and sent me to this planet for a divine purpose.
You give me the ability to produce wealth and to do good. I understand that as a steward, I manage what You’ve placed under my care.
You’ve given me all things that pertain to life and godliness. I lack nothing for the purpose You’ve assigned me.
My life is not my own; Jesus redeemed me with His blood. I am Yours, Father, and I live my life for Your plans and purposes.
I am free from the grip of materialism. My focus remains on You, knowing that You can trust me with material blessings for Your Kingdom and my enjoyment.
I am filled with a sense of urgency, Father, to make the most of the time and resources You’ve given me during my short life on this planet.
I aim to leave a legacy that honors You, making an eternal impact for Your Kingdom. I want to be faithful in the little, so You can trust me with much.
Living with this mindset, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
