Investing in the Kingdom

What did you put on the table? What did God tell you to do with it?

Prayer

The Kingdom of God

Making what was most important to Jesus, most important to me.

A kingdom lends to understanding there is authority (found in the Godhead), there is a realm (creation, Israel, ‘here’) and there are subjects (His children/believers/followers).

When did God become king? According to our terms, when He gained authority, a realm and subjects. But time is a construct for the benefit of man, so it is much less important to consider when than THAT He is king. He has ruled over creation since creation.

Has He ever not been king? We have the account of Israel asking for a king in . He told them not to look at the nations around them. Not to want what they had. He told them He would be their king. They refused. But again, what man does or refuses to do can’t change who He is.

There are hints at God as King in the Davidic Covenant, but it was never really fleshed out in the OT. But let’s be clear, God doesnt change! He always has been everything He is and will be. But He has revealed Himself purposefully throughout human history.

Jesus, coming as Emmanuel, God with us was part of that great reveal. He started His ministry proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is at hand. , .

As far as we are able, the kingdom of God is made real by making what was most important to Jesus, most important to me and letting Jesus be King.

So how do I know what is most important to Him? The parables He gives throughout His ministry give us great insight to what is important in the kingdom and insight to the kingdom itself. Many of them started with “The kingdom of heaven is like...”

Letting Jesus be King. That simply means He calls the shots. What He wants, we do. Brandon Greene, prodigal son, servant carried out the desires of the father.

He mentioned the Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven interchangeably) 126 times in the gospels. To Him, it was what ‘all this’ is. He told the first people He healed not to tell… Not a geo-political kingdom. Just because those listening to Him didnt grasp it didnt make Him stop using the phrase.

Psalm 103:19 ESV

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

We can recognize that His kingdom is his reign. Not the realm or even the people. That Jesus rules the kingdom allows there to be a realm and a people. But the kingdom itself is the reign or rule of the King.

Let’s look at one of the parables He used. In this one, we should recognize that wealth, knowledge, status and authority are not weapons. They are tools. AAMOF they are borrowed tools.

Jesus gives a parable about what is expected in that kingdom:

Luke 19:11–27 ESV

11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ”

Mina - 3 months salary. Other telling included talents, about 60 times that.

We said wealth, status, knowledge, authority are not weapons, but tools. What ‘tools’ has He given me?

They always fall into these categories:

Time - Time is a tool we all have. Some of us seem to have a surplus, some seem to have none. But the truth is, we all have the same. The difference comes in how we spend it. Isnt that an odd phrase? “We spend our time.” As though its a finite resource. On this side of glory it is!

Energy - If time is the tool we all have, energy is is the tool we all wish we had. But how do I gauge and use my energy for the Kingdom? Or if I feel as though I dont have any of this tool, what do I do?

Those of you who worked VBS a few weeks ago, you can testify about how to use energy for the kingdom. When I feel as though I dont have any, I have either used it somewhere else or something has stolen it. It is possible to say yes to too many things. We get stretched thin and energy can get used up before the kingdom gets any. And then difficult times in life will steal energy. Seasons of depression, trouble at work, family issues all can sap our energy. We MUST guard against that. Prayer, fellowship and staying in the Word.

Resources - Everyone has the same amount of time. Energy is less evenly distributed. Resources is where it gets crazy:

First of all, its a wide category. Most folks tend to think about money when considering resources used for kingdom, but it is not often the most valuable. A tool that may be more valuable that money is knowledge. We dont always need to buy what the kingdom needs, but to DO what is needed. And when life has given us the knowledge to do so, we have the most valuable of resources! Stuff can be valuable to the kingdom. I mentioned last week the need for an auger when we put up the awning. This week, FIVE were offered. Influence and authority are tools for the good of the Kingdom. If He has put you in a place where you make decisions for other people, use that influence and authority for the good of the Kingdom!

Remembering that my money or knowledge or stuff is not to be hoarded but used for the success of the kingdom lets me view my resourced from a Godly perspective. A Kingdom Perspective.

Leave you with this: How much of the money in the parable belonged to the servants? It belonged to the nobleman, right? How much was kept by the servants? It was ALL brought back to the master, but then kept for use in the new role He gave them! AAMOF the 10 got the extra 1!

The disciples listening to this parable likely didnt pick up on this truth (but the readers Luke wrote to did, and we do): Jesus was putting himself in the place of the nobleman. The time he was gone ‘receiving His kingdom’ was referring to the time between His ascension and return. So that parable is for our time.

What will you do with your tools?

For Bible study this week:

Davidic covenant

Parables of Jesus

Tithing/finances

From last week: my money is not mine.

It is a tool, lent to me, to be used to make the kingdom grow, flourish, expand, succeed.

In today’s parable, how much of what was made was given back to the king?

Learning/knowledge

How can others benefit from my life experience? There is great wisdom to be passed along. I have to admit there have been times when I was willing to complain about someone’s action instead of teaching them a better way. That is the prime example of sitting on the knowledge God has given me instead of investing it in the Kingdom!

Time/energy