God's Economy Part 3

God’s Wealth in Circulation

Matthew 25:14–30 MEV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his ability. And immediately he took his journey. He who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. So also, he who had received two gained another two. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. He who had received five talents came and brought the other five talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted to me five talents. Look, I have gained five talents more.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master.’ “He who had received two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow. So I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ “His master answered, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not winnowed. Then you ought to have given my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ” ’so take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. And throw the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Good Servant or Evil Servant

The importance of this parable can be identified by the first seven words of the passage, it reads; “the kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by…” 

This introduction alone tells us that Jesus is teaching us some kingdom principles, and he is giving us some eternal truths. 

In essence, Jesus is telling us how HIS kingdom operates…and not just in Heaven, but also here on Earth.  So we should listen very closely and pay careful attention to these words.  When Jesus speaks…we should listen.

In this parable, each one of the master’s servants were entrusted with a specific number of talents or a certain amount of money.  These talents were given to them in the sense that they could use them in any way that they wanted to, but they did not own them. 

They were stewards. 

They had all the rights to them,

they had the decision making power concerning them,

they could use them however they saw fit,

but they would eventually have to give an account for how they used them, because one day the master would return and they would be judged for how they used it. 

Church, your talents that you have you can use them anyway you want to, understand this, you do not own them. It might be wise to use your talents for the benefit of the one who owns them.

This illustrates the Kingdom of God.

These talents did not belong to the servant, but they belonged to the master

; which is a very important principle in understanding God’s Economy. 

· Everything…

all the physical riches…

all spiritual riches…

all unseen riches…

on this Earth…

in the universe…

in eternity…

It all belongs to God. 

EVERYTHING. 

It all belongs to God.

THE Bible says “the Earth is the Lord’s and the FULLNESS thereof.”

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary XII. The Olivet Discourse (24:1–25:46)

25:14 Then Jesus told a parable about the kingdom principle of stewardship. To be a steward is to protect and expand the assets of another on his behalf. When you put your money in the bank, you’re asking the bank to act as a steward. You want it to protect your funds and to expand them by paying you interest.

So if everything belongs to God, then we are just stewards;

· Stewards of this Earth

· Stewards of that money in your account

· Stewards of your house and car

· Stewards of those children

· Stewards of your talents

And as stewards, we will be judged by the master on how we use HIS talents. 

There is coming a judgment day when we will have to give an account on what we did with what God entrusted us with.

In the parable, the master gave his servants these talents for a reason, and that reason was to continue with His work and do His business. 

He modeled for them while he was with them how they were to use these talents, and how his kingdom operated so that they would know and understand, and He gave them plenty of instruction. 

Then when He went away, they were expected to carry on His work until He returned.  He promised them that he would return.

Last week we studied that God has a plan;

he has an eternal plan and we as Christians should be working toward that plan. 

God’s plan is to glorify Jesus, and that all things come under his Lordship. 

While Jesus was here on this Earth, He modeled for us how the kingdom operates, and then He gave us a clear commission to evangelize the world. 

We are to fulfill this mission by using all the resources at our disposal to do so, and then Jesus went away with that expectation of us; stewards of His resources to do HIS WORK.

What you have been entrusted with has been entrusted to you for the purpose of continuing the work of Christ. 

And… Jesus…the master… is coming back.  When Jesus comes back, we will have to give an account for how we used those resources He gave us, and whether or not we fulfilled our commission.

In this parable, two of the master’s servants were faithful with their talents.  They took the masters money and they invested it.  They invested it into the kingdom.  They put their master’s money into circulation.  They operated in faith on the principles that their master had taught them.  And the end result was that when the master came back, they had already doubled what the master had given them, but then they got a reward on top of that already double portion blessing.

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary XII. The Olivet Discourse (24:1–25:46)

Jesus is your King, and he expects you to live faithfully with a kingdom agenda. Live today with a future orientation, knowing that one day he will call you by name to settle accounts.

God wants his wealth in circulation. 

God desires for you to invest your talents into his kingdom, and have faith and trust in the principles that he has laid out for you. 

If you will put your faith in God, and operate in his kingdom, and put to use what He has given you for his purposes…then He will double your talents also.

Who here could use a double portion in their lives? 

If you want a double portion, then you have to be a good steward. 

God rewards good stewardship.  The only way to get a double portion is by circulating what you have already been given.

So the two servants were faithful with their talents, but the other one was unfaithful.  This one—the one who was given the least of all of them—did not invest his talent into the kingdom of God, but instead he hoarded. 

He buried his talent in the ground; he hid it. 

The word hoard means to “store up” for your own use, and it denotes a refusal to share. 

So when the master came back, this servant was judged harshly for His actions. 

He had been taught like the others, and instructed like the others,

but He refused to operate in the kingdom for lack of faith in His master. 

He refused to invest God’s money into the kingdom. 

He refused to put God’s money into circulation.

Here we see that the one with the least… struggled the most with the principles of the kingdom;

· “I don’t have enough”

· “it is impossible”

· “my little bit will not make a difference”

· “as soon as I get a little more then I will give”

· “I can’t afford it”

He told the master, “I was afraid… I know that you are a hard man.” 

He obviously had no faith and no trust in his master; in his master’s words,

in his master’s character, and

in his master’s promises. 

His fear and non-understanding caused him to hoard and hide His talent.

Here is how the evil servant responded;

· He had an excuse

· He justified his actions

· He made light of what the master said

· He didn’t take his commission serious.

I ask you…

· Do you always have an excuse for why you cannot give?

· Do you try and justify yourself for not giving?

· Do you make light of God’s words concerning stewardship by convincing yourself that they are not really that important?

· Do you think “giving” is no big deal?

Don’t make light of these scriptures or make light of these commands;

Stewardship is important. 

Stewardship has eternal consequences. 

We will stand before God, and give an account for how we use the resources He has given us.

So examine yourself this morning; are you a good servant or are you an evil servant? 

Do you invest what you have been given into the kingdom, or do you hoard it up. 

Do you share, or are you selfish? 

This principle is vital to God’s economy, because God wants his wealth in circulation, and He blesses people who live in this principle.

God wants His Wealth In Circulation

We have established in the last few weeks that money is merely a tool; it is a tool that God uses to advance His kingdom.  And the only way that this tool can be used for His kingdom is if God’s people put HIS money into circulation. 

· God wants his wealth being used, and used for his purposes. 

· He wants His wealth doing His work. 

· He wants His wealth supplying the needs of His people. 

· He wants His wealth advancing His kingdom. 

· He wants His wealth showing the world HIS love and provision. 

And he wants His wealth circulating and filtering through the hands of His children.

The nature of true wealth is such that it cannot be stored up.

When wealth is stored or hoarded…it ceases to be beneficial and it ceases to be true wealth. 

We all have heard stories of the old miser that stuffs his mattresses full of money, while in the meantime he lives a poor and pitiful lifestyle; would you call that true wealth?

There’s an old story that people will get all you can can all you get and sit on the can.

  No, we would call that miserable and poor.  Even though he has lots of money, he is a miserable and poor man. 

He would actually be poorer than the ones that really don’t have anything, because he had it, but refused to use it. 

God never intended for his wealth to be hoarded up, but he always intended it to be in circulation. 

Let me give you four reasons why God wants His wealth in circulation

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1.  God’s nature is “Giving.”

It is the nature of God to Give…that is what God is all about—giving

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This verse sums it up for us; this shows the character, the love, and the nature of God.  “God so loved the world that he gave.”  He gave—and he keeps on giving.

Our God is a giving God;

· He gave us life

· He gave us love

· He gave us this Earth

· He gave us dominion

The Bible says that “every good gift comes from God”

· He gave us free will

· He gave us the right and the freedom to make our own decisions

· Then He gave the most precious, most dearest thing he had…He gave us his only begotten son. 

He gave us his child, so that we could become His children

Our God loves to give, and He loves to give good gifts. 

The Bible says just as earthly or sinful fathers love to give good gifts, how much more does your father in heaven love to give good gifts. 

The Bible is centered around the principle of God’s giving. 

God is a giving God. 

It is his nature. 

If we are like God, and are supposed to carry on His work, then we are to express that same giving nature. 

God is a giving God, and as God’s people we are supposed to be a giving people. 

If it is God’s nature to give…then it should be our nature to give. 

When you give—you are doing God’s work. 

And if it is God’s nature to give…

then it is Satan’s nature to hoard. 

God is generous while Satan is selfish. 

God wants to distribute while Satan wants it all for himself. 

Which attribute best describes you? 

Which principle is most apparent in your life?

And God rewards those who are generous and who extend his giving spirit to the world. 

When you give, it so delights God that he will give back to you…

Luke 6:38   (NLT)      

If you give, you will receive.  Your gift will return to you, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over.  Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you

Jesus declares that you will not just be given back what you gave, but you will be given  “MORE” then you gave. 

So what are you afraid of? 

Do you believe the word of God or not? 

Do you believe what God says or not? 

If you really believe then you will be looking for opportunities to give.

Jesus’ lifestyle was one of “Giving”

(1) God’s nature is giving and

(2) Jesus’ lifestyle was one of giving

Jesus was placed here on this Earth to redeem us, but he was also placed here to show us what a redeemed man should look like and how a redeemed man should live.  He is our example!

God shines in many ways throughout His universe… He shines best of all in the lives of men and women He created and then redeemed.18

A. W. Tozer

· Jesus said, “if you see me, then you see the father”

· He also said “I only do what I see the father doing”

So, just as it is God’s nature to give…

it is also Jesus’ nature to give.  J

esus’ whole life was a gift. 

From his birth to his death—it was a gift

Jesus was God’s wealth in circulation. 

He was the most precious thing Heaven had to offer. 

Jesus was always giving until He gave it all. 

And Jesus is still giving.  The Bible says that He is giving right now as he sits at the right hand of the father making intercession for us.

Those who center their lives around Jesus, and truly become His disciples, will discover that this lifestyle of giving becomes theirs without them really having to try. 

As children of God and disciples of Christ, we find it natural to give because it is the nature of God the father, and the nature of God the son. 

If we don’t find it natural to give, then the nature of God is not in us. 

Jesus said “if you shut up your bowels of compassion for others, you do not have the love of God in you.”

You cannot have compassion on others and not desire or feel compelled to give to them in some way.

And again let me clarify to you that God’s economy is not just about money—money is the least wealth in God’s kingdom

· But you can give friendship

· You can give love

· You can give time

· You can give prayer

· And most importantly; you can give the most precious commodity our kingdom has to offer; the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ

This is how God’s kingdom is built; A giving God, A giving son, and A giving people

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There is a law of nature that demonstrates this Principle

(1) God’s nature was one of giving

(2) Jesus’ lifestyle was one of giving and

(3) nature itself even demonstrates the fact that God wants his wealth in circulation

There are many laws of nature that God created and established;

· the law of gravity; what goes up must come down

· the law of sewing and reaping; you shall reap what you sew

God set these laws into motion perfectly and precisely, and they give us a glimpse of His character.

One of those laws is; The law of mutual beneficence.  Beneficence means “active goodness”, or “benefaction.”  Benefaction means “a charitable donation”, or “giving to another.”  This law is written within the context of nature.

The Law of Mutual Beneficence is basically this; all things give to each other mutually.  Mutual means; “with respect to each other, in relation to each other, and in the same manner or response to each other.” 

So what this law basically means is…that all things in God’s creation gives equally and mutually to each other and equally and mutually all things give back. 

This is how God created the earth. 

This is what paradise looked like; everything giving, and everything receiving.

· The trees and plants give

· The animals give

· Adam and Eve give

· The trees and plants receive

· The animals receive

· Adam and Eve receive

The garden was perfect, because everything gave…therefore everything received.

But something happened; sin entered the world when man disobeyed, and Satan introduced a new concept; GET! 

Mankind became a getter instead of a giver.  God made the earth perfect, and in such a way that there would be no shortages, but a terrifying imbalance was brought about by the sinfulness of man. 

The world was thrown into an imbalance by man’s greed and selfishness, and according to Romans, the Earth has been groaning ever since.

But God still owns everything…and God wants all his wealth in circulation…and he will trust it with those who will circulate it. 

God’s plan still works. 

His laws still work for those who dare to live in His reality. 

God wants you to be a giver. 

And He wants to give to you so that you CAN be a giver. 

But you have got to start where you are.

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The Scriptures teach circulation of God’s wealth.

(1) God’s nature is one of giving 

(2) Jesus lifestyle was one of giving

(3) Nature shows us the principle of giving and circulating

(4) The scripture teaches us the principle of circulating God’s wealth

The scriptures tell us that what we receive is directly related to what you give. 

Look at the law of sowing and reaping;

· giving to the ground—receiving from the ground

· if you don’t give—you don’t get

· and the more you want—the more you must give

It is a very basic and easy principle to understand;

If you want more, then give more. 

Don’t make excuses like the evil servant, but trust God and live out the principles of the kingdom of God. 

· If you have a need, then give

· If you need to reap, then sew some seed

Look at this passage…

Ecclesiastes 5:13-14   (NLT)

12   People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much.  But the rich are always worrying and seldom get a good night’s sleep.

13   there is another serious problem I have seen in the world.  Riches are sometimes hoarded to the harm of the saver

14    or they are put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost.  In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children

15    people who only live for wealth, come to the end of their lives as naked and empty handed as on the day they were born

16    And, this, too, is a very serious problem.  AS people come into this world, so they depart.  All their hard work is for nothing.  They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away

17    Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.

Do you know anyone like that? 

They seem to live under a cloud; frustrated, discouraged, and angry? 

They never have enough? 

They never seem to get ahead in life? 

That might be you. 

You may feel that way right now.

Well let me tell you what the Bible says, “seek first the kingdom of God, and then all these things will be added unto you.”

  Don’t let money be your motivator in life, but let the kingdom be your number one focus. 

If the kingdom of God is your focus, then you will have all the money you need to fulfill your mission.

In a stable economy, there has to be a proper circulation of wealth.  And remember that wealth is not just measured in natural resources

· God’s love needs to be in circulation

· God’s Joy needs to be in circulation

· God’s Peace needs to be in circulation

· God’s Fellowship needs to be in circulation

And we are the ones that need to be circulating it!

So according to God’s principles…

· when we give love—we will receive a greater wealth of love

· when we give joy—we will receive a greater wealth of joy

· when we give peace—we will receive a greater wealth of peace

· when we give fellowship—we will receive a greater wealth of fellowship

· when we give money—we will receive a greater wealth of money

Here is another good point for you to consider; if you want something different then what you got, then you have to do something different then what you are doing.  

Are you satisfied? 

Do you have MORE than enough? 

Do you struggle? 

Are you in need?

Then do something different! 

Become a Giver! 

Begin to operate in God’s Economy.

2 Corinthians 9:8   And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Altar Call #1;             For God so loved that he gave….. he is a giving God.  Are you in need today?  He desires to supply your need

Altar Call #2;             God is a giving God and he wants us to be a giving people.  If you desire to be a giving person, come and stand along the front and let us pray together.