Working with What I Have Been Given
Luke 19:11-27
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Jesus tells us a parable about how we should respond to the news of His return.
We have a job and responsibility while we await our Lord’s return. The question for us is “what are we to do?” He has called us to watch, wait and work. How will Jesus find us if He returned today, faithful, or unfaithful?
I) We Have Been Entrusted with the King’s Goods While He is Away
A) What are the Gifts that we have Been Given?
1) Time:
2) Talent:
1 Corinthians 12:7&11
3) Temple:
1Corinthians 6:19-20
4) Testimony:
5) Treasure:
We should give God His money. Malachi 3:8-10
B) How do we Use the Gifts that Have Been Given
1) We are to Use the Gifts God has Given us to SERVE One Another.
1 Peter 4:10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19 says,
2) We are to be a CHANNEL of His Blessings, not a Reservoir.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
3) We are to be CAREFUL that Gifts are our Servant, Not our Master.
The warning is this: Matthew 6:24. Jesus also warns us: Luke 16:11
4) We are to Use What We Have to Honor the One Who Gave It to Us.
Proverbs 3:9
II) We Will Give an Account to the King When He Returns
A) The Giving of Account to the Nobleman.
B) The giving of Account to Jesus
So, what can we do if we haven’t done well thus far with what God has given us:
1. Acknowledge the areas that we have been bad stewards in.
Once I have acknowledged my sins and confessed my sins, then I need to
2. REPENT!
This means not only do I recognize I have been going in the wrong direction, but now I change directions and begin walking a new path.
3. DO NOT LIVE IN THE PAST!
You can’t change past mistakes and failures. Learn from them, get forgiveness for them and move FORWARD. Remember, God is the God of second chances.
Take what God gave you and turn it into something “bigger and better.” That’s a good steward.
