GOOD SEEDS OF FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
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· 3 viewsA MAN, HIS MONEY & HIS SERVANTS Seeds, Sowing, Steward, Responsibility
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A MAN, HIS MONEY & HIS SERVANTS
INTRO:
STORY 1:
An old man was driving his Lamborghini 100 miles/hour when suddenly he saw a police officer chasing him with his lights on. So, he sped up to get away from him, 140, then 150, then 180mph.
Suddenly he slows down and thinking: "I'm too old for this."
So he pulled over and waited for the officer to catch up. The officer gets out of his car frustrated seeing it was an older man and says:
"Sir, my shift ends in 10 minutes, it's Friday and I'm leaving town with my family this weekend. I will let you go on two conditions:
1. You give me a very good reason for driving so fast, and
2. It has to be something I have never heard before.
The old man looks at him in deep thoughts and says:
"Years ago, my wife ran away with a policeman and when I saw you chasing me I thought you're bringing her back"
The officer merely said, "Have a good day sir."
STORY 2:
I heard a funny but sobering illustration comparing governmental models used across the globe:
Let’s start with…
SOCIALISM:
You have 2 cows
The government takes 1 and gives it to your neighbor, who doesn’t have a cow, but also doesn’t have a field to keep it in.
COMMUNISM:
You have 2 cows
The government takes both and gives you some milk and the cows die from a lack of care.
FACISM:
You have 2 cows
The government takes both and sells you some milk.
NAZISM:
You have 2 cows
The government takes both and shoots you.
CAPITALISM: (a much more biblical model)
You have 2 cows
You sell 1 and buy a bull
Your herd multiplies, the economy grows
You sell them and retire on the income
We are living in a culture that is on a trajectory to adopt Socialistic ideals.
70% of college graduates believe we should move toward a Socialistic Government (David Barton)
One problem I see with Socialism, is it throws things out of balance and creates a gray area between entitlement & human responsibility.
It is very important to understand that God’s kingdom is one of generosity but it requires responsibility and comes with great expectation.
LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND SAY… “YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN GREAT GIFTS, AND ALL OF US, WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT, FOR HOW WE USE THEM”
Luke 12:48b (NLT)
48.b. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
Matthew 25:14-30
MESSAGE:
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.
BONUS:
Jesus was down to earth and relatable - He loved to tell stories
2 Characters to look for in every parable he told: EXAMPLE...
GOD = MAN who was going on the trip
US = SERVANTS that he divided his wealth among
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.
TAKEAWAY #1: What we have is not ours. We are only overseers.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
TAKEAWAY #2: God gives in proportion to our abilities.
- We all have abilities. You have something to offer.
- We have a responsibility to further our abilities.
- Leaders should be learners
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.
19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.
TAKEAWAY #3: We will all give an account of how we used what God gave us.
12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
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!’
TAKEAWAY # 4: God rewards those who are faithful!
We see 3 things in those 4 verses...
- Affirmation: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
- Promotion: “You have been faithful over a few, I will make you ruler over many.”
- Celebration: “Enter into the joy of your lord!”
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.
25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
TAKEAWAY #5: “What we do, with what we have…reveals our view of God.”
- The first two servants focused on the Lord,
They saw Him as good, and wanted to please Him
So they were fruitful and multiplied.
They were obedient...
- The third servant focused on himself
“I Knew” “I Saw” “I Was Afraid” (Look at verse 24-25 again)
His Fear and His Insecurities prevented him from being obedient to his master.
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.’
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.’
TAKEAWAY # 6: God judges those who are lazy.
- God calls him: wicked and lazy.
- God didn’t sympathize with his fear or ignorance and He didn’t extend mercy to him because he was insecure of his abilities.
- God took what little he had and gave it the servant with 10 bags of silver and cast him into outer darkness.
11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
CONCLUSION:
I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU IN 3 AREAS:
1. TIME: Ephesians. 5:16, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.”
a. What are we doing with our time? Are you making the most of it? Serving God?
b. Lifespan = our brief time here on this earth
c. SALVATION? Do you know Him?
2. TALENTS: 1 Peter 4:10, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts.
a. Use them well to serve one another.”
b. Where are you using your gifts and talents to serve the church and community?
3. TREASURE: Matthew 6:19-20, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”
1 out of 10 verses in the Bible deal with money
a. Where are you putting your treasure / your money / your resources?
b. If you don’t plant you will not harvest...
The seed leaves your hand but not your life, God will look over the seed to produce a harvest for your life
PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
Appreciated assets help decrease capital gains and death tax
Check Into Charitable Trusts:
Charitable Lead Trust - A CLT is an irrevocable trust designed to provide financial support to one or more charities for a period of time, with the remaining assets eventually going to family members or other beneficiaries. Charitable lead trusts are often considered to be the inverse of a charitable remainder trust.
Charitable Remainder Trust - A CRT prioritizes distributing assets to you and your chosen beneficiaries during your lives, and then gives the remainder to a charity organization.
c. The Trump tax reductions are expiring soon and we will return to Obama tax rates so plan now.
d. Are you stewarding or stingy?
HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED?
HELP YOUR KIDS SUCCEED
SUPPORT YOUR FAVORITE MINISTRIES
CHANGE YOUR LIVING WILL AND TRUST WHEN… life events occur (retirement, buy or sell homes, death of parents, selling a business)
Find companies that can help you plan with good tax strategy:
www.philanthrocorp.com