Sermon Tone Analysis

/How many bags were you given?/

/February 2005/

/Rev.

David L. Tayman/

/Carpenter's Home Church, Lakeland, FL/

 

God has a purpose and plan for every single one of us.

He knows us and knows what we're capable of.

He knows our potential and He knows what drives us.

It is God's purpose and plan to use every willing life that is given to Him to the utmost of his or her capability and potential.

At the same time, God will not give us more than we are capable of handling.

He gives us gifts, talents, abilities, and resources in direct proportion to our ability - capability - and willingness to invest them (use them) for His glory!

When considering the subject of LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES from a Biblical Perspective it is absolutely essential to understand how God looks at the people we are called to lead and how He distributes – what we often view as gifts, talents, responsibilities, opportunities, and resources.

*There is a story told by Jesus that I want us to look at this evening.*

| ¸THE STORY ABOUT INVESTMENT (Matthew 25:14-30 The Message)"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip.

*He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities.*

To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, *depending on their abilities.*

Then he left.

Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment.

The second did the same.

But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his mas­ter's money."After

a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them.

The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment*.

His master commended him: `Good work!

You did your job well.

From now on be my partner.'*"The

servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment.

His master commended him: *`Good work!

You did your job well.

From now on be my partner.'*"The

servant given one thousand said, `Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error.

*I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money.

Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'**"The

master was furious.

`That's a terrible way to live!

It's criminal to live cautiously like that!

If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least?

The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.**"'Take

the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most.

And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb.

Throw him out into utter darkness.'*

|

*Matthew 25:14-30 (NLT)14* "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip.

He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone.

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

16 The servant who received the five bags of gold */began immediately to invest the money/* and soon doubled it.

17 The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money.

18 But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money for safekeeping.

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.

20 The servant *to whom he had entrusted* the five bags of gold said, 'Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.'

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 "Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, 'Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.'

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!' 24 "Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, 'Sir, I know you are a hard 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 and here it is.' 26 "But the master replied, 'You wicked and lazy servant!

You think I'm a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn't plant and gathering crops I didn't cultivate?

27 Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest.

28 Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold.

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 are unfaithful, 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.'

I.

God has a very clear expectation of those whom He has blessed and given a trust.

| ¸*/14 /**/"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip.

He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone.

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

|

A. *1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV) **2**Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.*

1.

In the story that Jesus told, the man going away entrusted each of his three servants with a portion of his wealth.

a.

He had a very clear intention and expectation that those servants would *"invest for him while he was gone".*

 

1)  They were able to use the resources in any way they desired as long as they understood that whatever profit there might be belonged to their Master.

After all He was the one who entrusted them with the resources to begin with.

| ¸*God’s blessings always come with an expectation and responsibility* |

*b.

There was never an attempt to hide the fact from the servants that with the money came an expectation and responsibility.*

 

1) The Master was more than fair with them.

2) There was no trickery or deception.

Only openness, honesty and trust.

B.

The Master entrusted each with valuable resources - giving everyone the opportunity and resources needed to succeed.

| ¸*God always gives us everything we need to succeed.*

|

 

1.

Sometimes the resources are financial - sometimes they're human.

a.

Some of us are given opportunities to lead men and women into spiritual battle.

b.

Sometimes it's in ministry

 

c.

Sometimes it's administrative for the work of the ministry.

1)  Resources are resources and it all comes from God

 

2) and it's always adequate for our success.

* *

| ¸*/15 He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last-dividing it in proportion to their/* */abilities/**/-and then left on his trip./**

* |

II.

God uses people in direct proportion to their "abilities" and "willingness"

*/ /*

A. The Master in the story was a very wise man and recognized that each of his servants were unique and had very unique and individual talents and abilities.

1.

Each was treated and "gifted" in accordance with three criteria:

| ¸*God often delegates and gives gifts according to THREE criteria:** **ABILITY* |

a. Their ability

 

1) Not all of us are "Donald Trumps" or "Bill Gates"

 

2) Not all of us are "gifted" with the knowledge and investment savvy that would qualify us to handle the multi-million dollar investments that some are capable of.