Famine to Investment

Today we are going to continue discussing the idea of actively allowing God to help us shift our thinking by trying to understand the concept of Famine to Investment.

What a second that is exactly what would happen to us. We would be called into the office, told that our services were no longer needed and asked to leave the premisis. We understand this reality in our jobs and so most of us

RetellThis was a pretty harsh story

however this is not This was a pretty harsh story

Last week we talked about the Mind Shift of moving from Random to Strategic when it comes to building the kingdom. Our thinking shapes our actions.

It is scary because it highlights the results of a mind set of fear.

Today we are going to continue discussing the idea of actively allowing God to help us shift our thinking by trying to understand the concept of Famine to Investment.

Today we are going to continue discussing the idea of actively allowing God to help us shift our thinking by trying to understand the concept of Famine to Investment.

Last week we talked about the Mind Shift of moving from Random to Strategic when it comes to building the kingdom. We discussed the importance of not only waiting on the Holy Spirit to move but then acting on His Strategic plan of going to our family, Friends, Enemies and Total Strangers wit the gospel of Jesus.

Today we are going to continue discussing the idea of actively allowing God to help us shift our thinking by trying to understand the concept of Famine to Investment.

Famine means to suffer or cause to suffer extreme hunger; starve. to starve to death.

to suffer or cause to suffer extreme hunger; starve.

to starve to death.

This is probably an overused word in our vocabulary after all very few if any of us haver very truly been famished or starving yet if we miss a meal or a meal time we often think we are starving…I mean look at me it would probably take a long time for me to get to the Place where I would be at the point of starvation…

However...I don’t overeat...I have taken time to invest in eating.

I mean not only do I miss very few meals I make up for it if I miss a meal and the result is that even if I do miss a meal I will probably be able to function.

So I am not overeating but I am investing…so I always have energy...

I know this is not a healthy example but it is a great reminder that Just as our bodies fail if we fail to feed it correctly so to does our spiritual life and the life of our body of believers fail if we fail to invest in the kingdom of God.

The truth is that famine happens in our spiritual life when we fear for our secular fate more than we fear the fate of the world.

This is at the heart of this passage of scripture.

The problem is not only that I may eat the wrong things it is that when I overeat if I do not exercise and burn off the calories food turns to fat…the more fat I have the more I have to burn in order to be healthy.

This passage is probably one of the most troubling passages that I preach.

In fact if you and I look at this parable the way that Jesus intended for us to look at it is down right scary.

It is scary because it highlights the results of a mind set of fear.

Believers who are ready for the coming of the Kingdom—and the coming of Christ—will not be passively waiting for that moment. Rather, they will faithfully invest in the Kingdom according to their abilities. --Hahn, R. L.--

Verse 28-30

Result V28-30

28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

The result of choosing fear over investing is that everything we value can be taken away from us.

However if we invest everything we are afraid of not having enough of we can have more than we ever dreamed.

Seminary professor Roger Hahn says

Believers who are ready for the coming of the Kingdom—and the coming of Christ—will not be passively waiting for that moment. Rather, they will faithfully invest in the Kingdom according to their abilities. --Hahn, R. L.--

Hahn, R. L. (2007). Matthew: a commentary for Bible students (p. 300). Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House.

It seems like we are constantly swept away from spiritual investment by the constant demands of this life. This leads us to constantly having to choose how much we are willing or able to invest in building the kingdom of God.

The passage reminds us of a couple of things:

GIVE EXAMPLES....

1. We must continue to activley invest what we have if we want to be a part of God’s movment.

2. Starving

We know this but it seems like we are constantly swept away from spiritual investment by the constant demands of this life. This leads us to constantly having to choose how much we are willing or able to invest in building the kingdom of God.

That does not change the fact that God expects us to invest in the kingdom not starve it.

Every generation including this skdkdkdddw

That does not change the fact that God expects us to invest in the kingdom not starve it.

So what ways are we to invest?

We are going to start with probably the most sensitive area for most of us.

God through this passage tells us we are to invest Money.

MONEY

Verses 14-18

14-18

14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.

15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

If you are a follower of Jesus this parable is reminding us that every cent we have belongs to God. (The Master)

If you are a guest here this morning you might be thinking I knew it all this guy wants is my money…well I want to set you at ease here because if you are not a believer then even though every cent you have comes from God it is not an expectation that you invest in the kingdom…you can give if you like but it is not required.

However for those of us called his servants this is a requirement. Not just the tithe either…the tithe is simply living up to a requirement.

God calls his people to invest God’s money as much as we can to build his kingdom. He does not call us to save it for a rainey day…he really does not call us to dig a hole and bury it.

One of the things that God’s people have to get over is the idea that money is a limited commodity.... There is no limit to finances if we are in God’s will because it all belongs to God.

So when we are using God’s money for God’s will it is not an expence it is an investment…

Expense is money that sustains...investments yield a return.

For God the return is not measured in dollars and cents but in the salvation of people.

But that is not the only investment that is important

But Investing from our need or abundance is what yields eternal capital.

But that is not the only investment that is important

Money with out time is just a donation not an investment.

Once the Master gave the money he left for a time to give His servants time to invest. Verses 19-22 talks about time and the praises of using the masters time away to invest His money.

19 “After a long time...

21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

While Money is a sensitive subject I find that people are most are more protective and sensitive about the idea that we are also called to invest out time.

Ball Games, Bible Study’s, Lesier activites, work etc…but to invest our time in ministry

.

TIME

Just like tithe the weekend Gathering is not sufficient to grow the kingdom or our own spiritual walk.

The investment comes in the time we could easily use to enhance our own life.

I am not saying that we should not rest and recreate…I think this is not only important but I believe God commands us to these things.

I also believe striving for family time and time to be good at our job is biblical and vital to our spiritual growth.

However these should not dictate the amount of time we invest in the Kingdom of God.

In other words Our spiritual growth and Kingdom growth time should not be relegated to leftovers or extra time.

In fact it should be the other way around.

Crumbs Christmas eve…Worship, and Ministry can be a family activity....

You may survive if you allow the secular to dictate the sacred but you will be leaving a legacy that investing Time in ministry is optional not vital.

When our Time and Money are focused on ourselves we run the risk of not having and abundance of either.

Roger Goes on to say this.

The nature of the investment requires that the believer understand the mind of Christ, because the investment is to be done as the Master, Jesus, would do if He were present. Failure to involve oneself in Christlike ministry invites terrible judgment when Christ returns. --Hahn, R. L.--

Hahn, R. L.

Matthew: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition 2. The Parable of the Talents 25:14–30

Believers who are ready for the coming of the Kingdom—and the coming of Christ—will not be passively waiting for that moment. Rather, they will faithfully invest in the Kingdom according to their abilities. The nature of the investment requires that the believer understand the mind of Christ, because the investment is to be done as the Master, Jesus, would do if He were present. Failure to involve oneself in Christlike ministry invites terrible judgment when Christ returns.

Over the years I have learned

ATTITUDE

Our Attitude is the last investment we need to talk about…this is vital as well. Attitude is vital because we can give money and time with the wrong motivations thus, nullifying the investment.

Verses 24-27 hit the core of what I believe the servant with one bag is judged for.

24-27

24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate....

26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant!

Do you see it. He started and ended with fear believing this is what the master wants.

...26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

When the master wanted His Kingdom to grow and gave the servant the means in which to do it.

It is not my desire today to preach a message that makes you feel guilty for not investing money, time and motivations.

It is my desire to remind you that you do not have to be afraid of not having enough of anything I have just shared with you.

If you and I invest these things for the kingdom then God will continue to give us what we need to be happy and fulfilled in this life.

If we are truly engaged follower of Jesus these investments will never be done out of fear or selfish ambition. They will be a natural act that leads to contentment in all the areas I have spoken of today.

Maybe today you know you can invest more of your money, time and Attitude in the things that build the Kingdom of God over the Kingdom of Man.

Money Box, Time Box, Attitude Box

Right now I want you to take a few moments and ask the Holy Spirit to direct you in One way for each of these things you can invest more for the Kingdom of God.

Money, maybe you have never tithed and a starting point is to tithe…maybe God is asking you to give 1 or 5 percent more than you normally to for a year…Maybe you have never really volunteered and a church ministry…maybe God is calling you to lead a small group…serve in children or youth or maybe he is calling you to risk by investing by sharing the gospel to at least 5 people this year

Maybe your attitude has been wrong…maybe you have turned cynical of church leadership, or simply, been too afraid to invest in the Kingdom of God for fear that you will not have enough to live

What ever it is I want you to write it on your paper as a promise to God…then leave it in the appropriate box as response to God as you come to the table..

As you receive the Broken Body and Shed Blood of Christ may you be reminded that this was an investment in you and me.

Jesus invested all of His Riches, Time and Attitude so you and I could be forgiven and in turn invest in others so they too can be forgiven.

Come to the Table.

Come to the Table.