Managing Your Life
Message Summary:
In today’s message in our series, Kingdom Economics, Pastor John Carter taught us that as children of God, we must learn all that the Word has to say about what God’s intentions are regarding finances, blessing, and prosperity. God has more to say about the economics of His kingdom than just giving and receiving. And while it is true that if we understand the biblical laws around giving and receiving, our giving will be blessed, God has so much more in store for us. Kingdom means “God’s rule on the earth through His people.” Unfortunately, Christianity has historically separated many of the things we consider material things and spiritual things. But in truth, it is only in Jesus that we can bring these things into balance, as God intended for us.
Economics means “a system of knowledge that is related to the production, the management, and the transfer of wealth.” We are looking at this system through the lens of the kingdom, and God’s promises to His people. When we study the Parable of the Talents (Mt. 25:14-30), we see that people who neglect what God has given them, God called wicked and lazy. When the Lord gives us to do something with what He has given us. He expects us to increase what we have been given. That is the life that God rewards. In this parable, Jesus was using material things as a metaphor for spiritual things. But he pointed out a very important truth. Everything we are given, material or spiritual, we have the responsibility to steward or manage well.
Stewardship is the principle of managing what belongs to someone else. Productivity is a principle and command that God has given to every person on this Earth. (ex. Genesis – “Be fruitful and multiply…”) God wants us to be fruitful and multiply in every area of our lives. And we do that through the stewardship of the gifts and resources that God has given to us. We must use what we have wisely! “Kingdom Economics” is simply making a decision when it comes to our economics, that we are going to do it according to the rule and reign of His kingdom. We seek the wisdom of His word to steward and manage according to its commands what we have been given.
Scriptures:
[Read Matthew 25:14-30, The Parable of the Talents, also found in Luke 19:11-27] 23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' 26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
[Romans 14:12 NKJV] 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
Discussion Questions:
Why do we need to know God’s kingdom economics – the system related to the production, the management, and the transfer of wealth attached to God’s rule through His people?
In the Parable of the Talents, what do we learn from the steward who did not invest his talent?
How do we increase what God has given to us?
What is stewardship?
Of the six things we have all been given to steward, where do you need to start growing up?
Life Application:
Over the next week, as you study the key scriptures, ask yourself: Every person has been given these six things to steward: 1) your body, 2) your mind, 3) your relationships, 4) your skills, 5) your money, and 6) your time. Which of these six do you struggle the most to steward properly? Ask the Lord to give you a plan that will help you to better manage this area of your life. It will most likely start with baby steps. But each step in the right direction is a big win! It is time to steward your life to work for you rather than against you.