It’s Not About Money, It’s About Management

GET DOWN TO BUSINESS – IT'S NOT ABOUT MONEY, IT'S ABOUT MANAGEMENT

Main Text: Luke 19:11-27 (AMP)

REVIEW

Luke 2:41 (NKJV) - The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars 41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (KJV) 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NLT) 11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 12 Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

Luke 19:13 (NKJV) 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'

Alignment Leads to Assignment

• So he sends his creation to oversee the expansion

Genesis 1:26-28 (AMP) 26 Then God said, "Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth

Create, Duplicate, Dominate

Matthew 6:33 (AMP) 33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

Matthew 6:9-13 (AMP) 9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 'Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Apple Analogy- Seed is in you

• Create

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Parable of Money Usage

Luke 19:11-13 (AMP) 11 While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they assumed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately [as soon as He reached the city]. 12 So He said, "A nobleman went to a distant country to obtain for himself a kingdom, and [then] to return.

• Church, what's the distant country? Earth

• The first king was supposed to be Adam

13 So he called ten of his servants, and gave them ten minas [one apiece, each equal to about a hundred days' wages] and said to them, 'Do business [with this] until I return.'

• Each servant received the same amount? 1 minas

• The money was given not earned, not work was done to receive the initial investment

• Each servant started the race at the same time

• Each servant got equal opportunity

• Work with what I have giving you

• We are made in the image of God

• We all have a talent

1 Peter 4:10 (AMP) 10 Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God's multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God's unmerited favor].

• We have a measure of faith

Romans 12:3 (AMP) 3 For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].

The Servants' Response

Luke 19:14-21 (AMP) 14 But his citizens [the residents of his new kingdom] hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to be a king over us.' 15 When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these servants, to whom he had given the money, be called to him, that he might find out what business they had done. 16 The first one came before him and said, 'Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.' 17 And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you proved yourself faithful and trustworthy in a very little thing, you shall [now] have authority over ten cities [in my kingdom].' 18 The second one came and said, 'Lord, your mina has made five minas.' 19 And he said to him also, 'And you shall take charge over five cities.' 20 Then another came and said, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I have kept laid up in a handkerchief [for safekeeping]. 21 I was [always] afraid of you, because you are a stern man; you pick up what you did not lay down and you reap what you did not sow.'

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

The Master's Response

Luke 19:22-27 (AMP) 22 He said to the servant, 'I will judge and condemn you by your own words, you worthless servant! Did you [really] know that I was a stern man, picking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Then why did you not [at the very least] put my money in a bank? Then on my return, I would have collected it with interest.' 24 Then he said to the bystanders, 'Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.' 25 And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas already!'

1. Management Proceeds Promotion

2. Use it of lose it

26 [Jesus explained,] 'I tell you that to everyone who has [because he valued his gifts from God and has used them wisely], more will be given; but from the one who does not have [because he disregarded his gifts from God], even what he has will be taken away.' 27 [The king ended by saying,] 'But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them, bring them here and kill them in my presence.'"

The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:18-23 (NLT) 18 "Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"

Discussion Questions

1. The message title is "It's Not About Money, It's About Management." How does this principle apply to the resources, talents, and opportunities God has given you?
2. Genesis 1:26-28 shows that humanity was created to "Create, Duplicate, Dominate." What does it mean to carry out this original mandate in your sphere of influence today?
3. In the parable, each servant received the same amount (one mina) and equal opportunity. What does this teach us about God's fairness and our personal responsibility for what we do with what He gives us?
4. The first servant turned 1 mina into 10, the second turned 1 into 5, and the third hid his. Which servant do you most identify with right now, and why?
5. The unfaithful servant was motivated by fear (v. 21). How does fear paralyze us from using our gifts and taking risks for God's kingdom? What's the antidote to this fear?
6. The principle "Management Proceeds Promotion" means faithfulness in small things leads to greater responsibility. What "small things" is God asking you to be faithful in right now?
7. Jesus said "to everyone who has, more will be given; but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away" (v. 26). This seems harsh—how do we understand this principle of "use it or lose it"?
8. The parable of the sower (Matthew 13) shows four types of soil. Which soil type best represents your current spiritual condition, and what needs to change for you to be "good soil"?
9. 1 Peter 4:10 says we are "stewards of God's multi-faceted grace." What specific gift or talent has God given you, and how are you currently stewarding it?
10. The nobleman in the parable went to a "distant country" (representing earth) and left his servants to "do business" until he returned. How should the reality of Christ's return motivate us to be faithful with what He's entrusted to us?

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