Stewardship 09 #1 - What's Mina Is Yours
Stewardship 09 #1
Luke 19:12-27
What’s Mina Is Yours
A week before Jesus was crucified, Jesus went through Jericho.
While he was in Jericho, he met a tax collector named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus took Jesus to his house and there gave himself to Jesus in repentance and Jesus said, in With that backdrop, and a crowd gathered by the salvation of a tax collector, Jesus took a moment to tell a parable.
This parable deals with the topic of stewardship – and we are going to focus on this topic month
It is more than just about money
DEF - A Steward – one employed in a large household or estate to manage domestic concerns; a fiscal agent; one who actively directs affairs
And so Stewardship is the office, duties, and obligations of a steward; the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care
So, after meeting and seeing the Repentance of Zacchaeus, … and literally directly before entering Jerusalem the week before he was crucified … Jesus takes this teachable moment and tells a story about a King, his Servants, and Stewardship
Read with me Luke 19:11-27
We need to look closely at this story if we are going to learn anything
Jesus never told stories just to tell stories
Jesus told stories to teach a lesson
So we need to know who these people are and if we FIT in the story and if there are instructions and promises?
1. Who’s The King?
Let’s see, was Jesus telling a Random story? Or was this talking about someone in particular?
A. He Was Noble From the Start
The lead character in this story was a King. But before he was known as King in this land, he was of “noble birth” … He was NOBLE before they knew he was King
John said in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was With God and the Word was God … All things were made by him, and without him nothing was made that was made … and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us … and we beheld his glory …
Jesus said “Before Abraham was, I am”
Jesus is called “the firstborn of all creation” not meaning that he was born at the beginning like we are, but that he is the height of all, the beginner of all, the prototype of all.
So the King was Noble BEFORE Him Came …
And he “went to a distant country to have himself appointed King”
B. He Was Appointed King
Oh can’t you see that Jesus is talking about himself
Phil 2:6 and following says that Jesus being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to grasped … he made himself nothing, taking the nature of a servant … he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on the cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place … that at the name of Jesus ever knee should bow, … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
He was appointed by God as Lord over all because of his obedience
But his mission was more personal than that
Jesus came to be made King over the heart of every person who would humbly receive him in to their hearts and lives
Romans 10:9-10 – says If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confess is made into Salvation
If you are here today and that verse is your testimony … And one day in your life, you humbled yourself to God admitting his RIGHT to be LORD and Confessing your Sin and believing the he is Risen … giving yourself to Jesus …
would you Raise Your Hand?
You are a Christian by your confession and so … Jesus is Your King
He has Been Appointed King
But when he rose from the dead nearly 2000 years ago, he appeared to his disciples for 40 days … and then he gathered with them one last time on the Mount of Olives and he ascended into Heaven and is presently seated at the Right Hand of the Father and Ephesians 1 says with all things subject to him
Eph 1:20-22 - … seated him at this right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church
He has been appointed King … But
C. He Will Return
Our text says in v13 “until I come back”
This King in the Story Promised that he would come back
It was a promise but it was also a statement of accountability
He gave money to each of his servants … the equivalent of 3 month’s salary and told them “put this money to work” “until I come back”
He was saying, I’m going to be coming, I’m going to check on what you have done with what I have given you
So, can we all see, that Jesus is the King in the Story
He is the one of noble birth who left his home and came to a distant country to have himself appointed King …
But …
2. Who Is The Servant?
In Isaiah 49:3 God says You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor
Israel was a unique Old Covenant Group that God chose as a vehicle to display his splendor to the world
In the New Covenant that group has been enlarged to all those selected and known by God, responding in faith who make up the Church of Jesus Christ and we too are his Servant.
The word here in the parable is the Greek Word Doulos
It means “slave, bondman, one who gives himself up to another’s will; those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men; devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests
This was one of the Apostle Paul’s favorite terms for himself, Paul, a Bond Slave for Christ
Paul said in 2 Cor 4:5
2 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
James referred to himself as a servant or bond-slave
Peter as well
Jude also
But this is NOT just for the apostles
The Book of Revelation according to 1:1 was written to us of revealing to his “Doulos” “what must soon take place” –
We as those who have repented and followed Jesus, confessed our sin, proclaimed him as Lord, are his servants, his self chosen slaves, freed but choosing to serve
We are the Servants referred to in this Passage
3. What Is Your “Mina”?
He called together 10 of his servants and gave them each a “Mina” –
Now let me stop for a minute and put us back in their shoes as they listen to this story
V11 says he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once
These people were sick and tired of the state of the world they lived in
They LONGED for God to rule them again through the promised one who would be in David’s line.
Those who didn’t believe in Jesus hoped he or someone would be the one
Those who believed in Jesus believed he was the one but wondered if NOW was the time
Jesus told them this story to show them something
1. YES he was the one
2. he was WITH them
3. he would leave them and he would return
So if he was with them, that meant that in the story line, there was still much to develop. He still had to leave them and return before he established his Kingdom
You see they were just focused on what THEY wanted
Jesus was saying, I have expectations
This is not YOUR story this is my story
I went to school and studied HIS STORY not MY Story
It’s about Him …
So he gave them Ten Minas or Ten Pounds … it is the equivalent of 3 Months Wages.
You do the math.
But the point is not the amount but the giving, the owning, He gave them resources … that means he had them, he owned them, but he gave them to them.
And he gave instruction … the NIV says “put this money to work” … KJV says “occupy till I come” … that rendering is a little weak and passive …
The Young’s Literal is closer to the NIV and says “Do business, till I come”
They were GIVEN something by God … they did not EARN it they were GIVEN it …
What have you been given by God?
A. Your Physical Life
You didn’t earn physical it is a gift from God
That is why we so strongly oppose the attacks today on life
All life is a gift from God. We can’t create life. We can’t generate it ourselves. God is the Creator and Giver and Sustainer of life
Isaiah 42:5 (NIV)
5 This is what God the LORD says— he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:
Life is a gift from God
B. Your Family
Your Parents and Grandparents – good or bad are still a gift to you from God because without them he would not have given YOU life
Your Children are a Gift from God – they are an extension of your life and mission in Christ
C. Your Possessions
James 1:17 (NIV)
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NIV)
19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God.
He has entrusted us with our possessions, our wealth, the things we value are from our King, the Lord Jesus Christ as is …
D. Your Career
Ecclesiastes 3:13 (NIV)
13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV)
18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, …
God Gave you your career, the ability to work, as a gift for you and for his purposes
E. Your Future
We have been GIVEN Hope in Jesus Christ and it is a Gift we should invest in our lives
Titus 1:2 (NIV)
2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
You and I as servants / stewards, bond slaves to Jesus Christ have been entrusted with things in this life and the life to come
We have been given
Life
Family
Possessions
Careers
4. What’s “Mina” is God’s
A. He Gave It
Simple and easy to understand
Any stock brokers here?
Any investors here in the stock market?
Most of us have money that is impacted by the Stock Market in one way or another.
You may invest directly or you may invest through a fund for your retirement
You call that stock broker and you say “I’m going to GIVE you some Money, I’m generous like that, enjoy it, do what you want with it”
NO! … you GIVE him money to put it to WORK for YOU …
What’s MINA … is God’s
He gave it to me so it belongs to him
My Life
My Family
My Possessions
My Career
My Future
They all belong to God …
And
B. He Will Return
V13 says … “put this money to work … until I come back”
He IS coming Back
The Word is erchomai – to come; to appear; be established, become known
He IS at the right hand of the Father but the day will come when he will appear, and Satan will be forever and finally defeated and ALL things will be fully under him
He IS coming Again
Titus 2:13 says “we for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”
In John 14 Jesus says that he is going to prepare a place for us … and he says in v3 if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am
Oh can I just stop here for a minute and encourage you
He IS Coming Again … this should make us stop and think
Jesus IS Coming again
In the Cloud
In the Glory of the Father
In his Own glory
In Flaming Fire
With Power and Glory
Like he left he will Return
With a Shout and the Voice of the Archangel
With the Angels
With his Saints
Suddenly
When we least expect it
Like a Thief in the Night
Like Lightning that flashes from One end of the Sky to another
With Reward for those who are his and Punishment for those who have rejected him
He is Coming Again
He could come any moment any day
We can be sure
We should long for it
We must wait for it
But we should pray and work as if we could speed it up by our efforts for the Kingdom
We should be ready
We should watch
We should be patient
We will be presented blameless
We will see him as he is
We shall be like him
Satan will be destroyed when he comes
And we shall reign with Jesus forever and ever
He will Return!
You and I will stand before him and give account
C. We Are Accountable
Bernie Madoff – got himself in Trouble didn’t he?
He took advantage of people
People gave him their money and expected him to use it the way they expected him to
And they expected to return and still have money
The King in this story gave them all equally but we have three of their accounts told to us
One took his 1 Mina and turned it into 10
How? We don’t know but he “put it to work”
Another took his 1 Mina and turned it into 5 Mina again by “putting it to work”
But the third one we are told about …
He took his, wrapped it up in a cloth and “laid it away”
Why? Cause he said he was afraid … He said about the King
“you are a hard man”
“you take out what you did not put in”
“you reap what you did not sow”
Notice there is nothing that says this is TRUE about the King
The King says “Ok, if that’s what you think of me, then that’s how I will be”
God is NEVER Hard, he is Always Just and Always Love perfectly combined in perfection.
He is not Hard
He is Not UNJUST or Unfair
So then …
Why did God take away from the guy who only had one and didn’t get any more? Didn’t he NEED that one. The other guy had 10 … why would God give him another 1?
We have a tendency to live with a sense of entitlement …
“That is mine, why did you take it away”
“That’s not fair, he doesn’t need any more”
But we are missing the point!
If you have money invested and the broker or the investment is doing a badly, what do you do?
Do you say, “well they need the work, or they need my money I’ll let them keep wasting it”
NO you put it in something that is doing well or you use a broker that knows what they are doing …
What we have is a TRUST that has been GIVEN to us BY God
That Means it was God’s FIRST
That means it belongs to God
That Means God expects us to do something with it for HIS Benefit
That means God is going to follow up to see what we have done
That means that God expects us to do something with what he has given that will give HIM increase, that will bless him, that will further HIS Kingdom
And if we are NOT going to do something with HIS resource, he’s looking over here at this guy who has taken the 1 and turned it into 10 and said, if YOU will not do something with what I have given you, then I’m going to give it to someone else, someone who I know will do something with it for My Glory and for My Kingdom
We are accountable to God for what we do with the Resources he has given us
And God has EVERY RIGHT to Hold Us Accountable because everything we have is FROM Him
Everything we have Belongs to Him
He created Everything
He gave everything
And we are accountable to him
And perhaps one would say “well yea YOU are accountable to him because YOU are his Servant. But I’m not a follower of Jesus, I am NOT his Servant, he is NOT My King, so I am NOT accountable.”
Oh he speaks to that person as well … and I don’t think I have to elaborate much on what he says in verse 27th …
“But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”
We all will answer to him
We all will stand before his throne
To Some he will say “well done my good and faithful servant”
To some he will say “you are my servant, but you could have done better”
To some he will say “depart from my I never knew you
This I can promise you, those who are his servants and those who are faithful over the little things he gives you, you can be CERTAIN that he will bless you
What’s Mina is God’s
He gave it
He will return
We are accountable and finally
D. He Will Bless
The problem with the one guy was NOT that he lost what God gave him … but he failed to put it to work
God did NOT say “protect this”
He said “put it to work”
“do business”
He’s given you a voice … don’t ‘save your voice’ USE it … better to go hoarse for the gospel than save it and be quiet
He gave you financial blessing … spend it for the kingdom
Not one missionary will be bless with the Tithe that you HOLD on it
Not one church will be equipped for ministry with the money you protect
He’s given you a position of influence in a joy, neighborhood, school, use it
What’s the point of influence if you don’t use the influence
And trust him to Bless you … When he returns
He will bless us for the faithfulness with what he has given us
Maybe not today but In “A Little While”
Some folks will tell you that God will Always bless you in this life and that is just not necessarily the truth
As a matter of fact in THIS parable, he says that they were blessed AFTER he gathered them to himself
So whether that means after we die or after we are all gathered together in Heaven, it still means as Jesus said “in a little while” …
What did he do to bless the faithful?
To the 10 Mina guy he gave 10 Cities to Rule Over – plus the 1 Mina from the other guy as a bonus
To the 5 Mina guy he gave 5 Cities to Rule over
Notice a couple of things
The Blessings far outweigh the investment, the responsibility, and effort
They were given 3 months wages … and they then were given rule over multiple cities
And also
There is a Promotion ahead
From Slave to Ruler
There is a principle here that is true at your job and is true in the Kingdom as well
You show yourself faithful and you can get greater opportunity
The King said “you have been faithful in little”
Elachistos – smallest
“Take Charge”
Exousia – power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases, permission; the power of rule
The King is Saying I TRUST you do what you want over 10 Cities
5 Cities
And we too …
2 Timothy 2:12 (NIV)
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him …
Revelation 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.
Revelation 20:4 (NIV)
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 20:6 (NIV)
6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 22:4
They will reign with him forever and ever
What exactly does this mean?
I don’t know
What will we rule?
How will we rule?
I don’t know because the Word doesn’t exactly say
But I LIKE it
I’m going to be faithful with my little
If the Word of God teaches me that all I have belongs to him
Then I’m going to live my Life like it belongs to him and make the most of it
I’m going to operate in my family like it belongs to him and return my wife and children to the Lord as shining examples of his Grace
I’m going to hold my possessions like they are simply an investment from God in my life and seek to make them magnify him
I’m going to work in my job as unto the Lord that my Job would increase the Kingdom
I’m going to live with a mind for the Future knowing that My only hope is in Jesus Christ and I will live for Him
What will you do?
If you have never given your life to Christ … You need to give it back to him
He gave you life, now give it to him
If you are a follower of Christ and are a member or regular attender of New Life Baptist Church we have a special opportunity for you today
We are going to invest in you today
Not 3 month’s salary
But every adult will receive $10
Every child will receive $5
But this is Not yours this is the Lords as entrusted to New Life
We will ask you to receive it from the Lord and decide as individuals and/or families how you can return this to the Lord with increase on the last Sunday in November, the Sunday after Thanksgiving
We will ask you to come to the altar today during the response time. Come as individuals and as families and our deacons will distribute the Lord’s investment
Then go back and pray and commit it to the Lord
Be creative and Put it to work
And return it to the Lord with increase
Now this is not money for you to dispose of as you see fit, this belongs to the Lord for the ministry of this Body
So you are to put it to work and increase it and bring it back to the Lord
Come Now it is Time to Worship Him with Receiving his Challenge and Responding with Joyful Obedience