Finances on Purpose

At this time of the year many preachers take the time to preach on money, and this week, I feel like God would have me to approach that topic as well.

Now, before you start thinking this is another message on tithing, I want you to know that tithing takes care of itself if we get the heart of this message right.

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Fact # 1 - It is ALL His

Psalm 24:1 NASB95

The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

The Lord blesses us with the ability to work and create wealth.

There is no such thing as a “self-made” man.

When you realize that even your ability to earn a living or receive an inheritance is only possible because God allows you to do so, it changes your thoughts as to how to prioritize your use of those things.

In the parable of the talents, the master gave them the talents to the servants but he was coming back to settle his account with them.

Even the “wicked, lazy slave” knew that the master was coming back to claim his possessions.

Fact #2 - We are Stewards

One Talent = 15 years of wage for a laborer

$436,800 at minimum wage

5 Talents = $2,184,000

2 Talents = $ 873,600

$936,000 at $30 per hour

5 Talents = $4,680,000

2 Talents = $1,746,000

Owner versus Steward

When we realize that we are not owners but stewards we recognize that there are exists an accountability regarding how we handle that which is entrusted to us.

The numbers expressed in this parable would have been shocking to the audience. The owner was placing a tremendous amount of responsibility upon these servants.

While we don’t know the time that elapsed before the master returned, we know it wasn’t long enough for the return to be possible by simple labor.

The 5 talents (75 years of labor) were now 10 (150 years) and the 2 (30 years of labor) were now 4 (60 years of labor).

This type of return was EXTRAORDINARY!

Fact #3 - It is a Heart issue

The first two servants, through wise and shrewd management, doubled the money that the master had left with them.

The first two slaves sought to honor their master by making a wise use of what they had been entrusted.

The third slave considered his master to be a “hard man, reaping where (he) did not sow and gather where (he) scattered no seed.”

The third slave did not truly know his master’s heart.

Because the Master was not known by the servant, he failed to honor him with what had been entrusted and instead hoarded it. The talent did the master nor the slave any good. It was simply wasted.

Conclusion

So for you and I, how we handle the blessings God gives to us is indicative of what is in our hearts.

Know that there is coming a time when the Master will return and how we use that which we have been given will demonstrate what we believe to be true of Him.

May we be purposeful to properly use His blessings for His glory.

1 Corinthians 4:2 NASB95

In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.