WEBVTT 00:00:00.620 --> 00:00:05.259 Of all the parables that I preached of Jesus, this is not 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:05.799 one of them. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:09.660 And I was tempted to skip it. 00:00:12.820 --> 00:00:14.759 I read what a lot of people had to say about it. 00:00:14.780 --> 00:00:15.759 A lot of them skipped it. 00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:19.699 And so let's try it together. 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:22.980 Because you seem to be a forgiving folk. 00:00:23.339 --> 00:00:25.980 I know it's early, but you seem to be. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:29.100 And it's different. 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:34.719 And it's a little bit difficult, at least until you get your 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:35.259 mouth right. 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:39.620 And I want you to see it, though, because it's told by the 00:00:39.620 --> 00:00:40.240 master teacher. 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:42.980 It's worth our time. 00:00:44.780 --> 00:00:49.100 And I believe if you get the message, it can be life-changing. 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:55.159 It's in Luke chapter 16, beginning in verse 1. 00:00:55.159 --> 00:01:05.420 Jesus also said to the disciples, there was a rich man who had a 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:11.079 manager and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:11.640 possessions. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:17.459 And he called him and said to him, what is this that I hear about you? 00:01:17.579 --> 00:01:21.939 Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager. 00:01:21.939 --> 00:01:26.659 And the manager said to himself, what shall I do? 00:01:27.159 --> 00:01:32.459 Since my master is taking the management away from me, I'm not strong enough to dig. 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:34.819 I'm ashamed to beg. 00:01:34.819 --> 00:01:42.619 I've decided what to do so that when I'm removed from management, people may receive me into their 00:01:42.619 --> 00:01:43.079 houses. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:53.759 So summoning his master's debtors, one by one, he said to the first, how much do you 00:01:53.759 --> 00:01:54.459 owe my master? 00:01:55.399 --> 00:01:57.839 He said, a hundred measures of oil. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:02.579 He said to him, take your bill and sit down quickly and write 50. 00:02:04.060 --> 00:02:07.520 Then he said to another, and how much do you owe? 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:10.400 He said, a hundred measures of wheat. 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:14.719 He said to him, take your bill and write 80. 00:02:15.939 --> 00:02:23.140 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. 00:02:23.139 --> 00:02:27.839 For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the 00:02:27.839 --> 00:02:28.519 sons of light. 00:02:29.519 --> 00:02:38.299 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth so that when 00:02:38.299 --> 00:02:43.699 it fails, they may receive you into eternal dwellings. 00:02:45.459 --> 00:02:46.319 See what I mean? 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:54.259 It is often misunderstood or just passed by. 00:02:54.799 --> 00:02:57.219 And I had misunderstood it in the past. 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:03.459 And so I want to first share with you some mistakes that people often make when they read 00:03:03.459 --> 00:03:04.039 this parable. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:06.500 You got to get this now. 00:03:07.539 --> 00:03:09.620 The first mistake they make is this. 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:14.259 Jesus is not the owner of the estate in this story. 00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:16.219 He is not. 00:03:17.239 --> 00:03:22.400 The mistake that a lot of people make is to read this parable like an allegory and believe 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:24.459 that everything in the story stands for something. 00:03:24.900 --> 00:03:26.919 And therefore there are many messages here. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:29.000 There is one message here. 00:03:29.060 --> 00:03:30.680 And that's often the case in parables. 00:03:30.780 --> 00:03:32.819 It's not always the case, but it's often the case. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:34.099 There's one message here. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:41.159 And it is not that God appreciates our seemingly successful deception. 00:03:41.799 --> 00:03:42.859 That's not the message. 00:03:42.860 --> 00:03:53.080 The second mistake people make is they don't understand that Jesus does not condone the manager's actions here. 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:56.640 He states what he did clearly. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:00.880 He states what the master's response was clearly. 00:04:02.100 --> 00:04:04.080 He said we ought to learn from it. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:06.620 But he does not condone it. 00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:09.240 The master condoned it. 00:04:09.900 --> 00:04:12.380 But Jesus is not the master in this story. 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:16.519 And he was still speaking. 00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:22.279 It says that he, in verse 1 he says he also said this to the disciples. 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:28.659 He's still speaking to the Pharisees and the scribes and they heard him say it. 00:04:28.660 --> 00:04:32.000 Third thing is this. 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:36.020 We are not sure what the manager did here. 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:45.620 There's some options as to how he was trying to win some friends for upcoming hard times. 00:04:46.460 --> 00:04:50.240 He could have forgiven some of their debt and paid it himself. 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:52.100 That's what some folks said. 00:04:52.540 --> 00:04:53.640 That's not what he did. 00:04:53.639 --> 00:05:02.759 He could have given them credit for some of the debt and then gave the master less than expected. 00:05:03.979 --> 00:05:05.120 That's possible. 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:13.339 But most likely he knocked off what he was going to charge them for handling the debt. 00:05:13.339 --> 00:05:22.859 And what I mean by that was a common trait in that culture was that if somebody owed 50 measures of oil on credit, 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:34.959 the manager who's responsible for billing that and collecting that under the authority of the owner of the estate would add his little surcharge on there. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:46.659 And so he may only owe 50 measures of oil on credit, but instead he'd write the ticket for 80. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:57.259 Not call it interest because interest was considered usury and it was highly frowned upon. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:05:59.339 And the Old Testament speaks of it often. 00:05:59.339 --> 00:06:02.399 That was not looked upon good well. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:06.819 So instead they'd just make the ticket out for a different amount than what he had previously borrowed. 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:08.899 He'd just put 80. 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:14.099 And the manager would keep the 30 on the authority of the owner. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:16.479 Owner didn't care. 00:06:16.559 --> 00:06:17.579 He just wanted his 50 back. 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:20.659 Now that was common in that day. 00:06:20.719 --> 00:06:27.159 So it could be that the manager is cutting out his portion or at least some of his portion 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:30.500 and looking like he's doing his friend a favor. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:35.400 And so he can have a friend because he's about to be terminated. 00:06:36.840 --> 00:06:42.300 And he didn't have the back to dig or do heavy physical labor. 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:46.260 And unlike the temptations, he was too proud to beg. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:51.480 He had been in management. 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:54.860 He was no beggar. 00:06:55.780 --> 00:06:56.720 Just ask him. 00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:04.280 It reminds me of a lady that due to health concerns fell into hard times. 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:07.939 And I knew she had worked hard before that time. 00:07:08.200 --> 00:07:13.800 And the church I was pastoring at the time wanted to help her, offered to help her. 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:15.240 She wouldn't take it. 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:18.820 She said, I don't stoop. 00:07:20.640 --> 00:07:22.420 I didn't know what she meant and I thought about it. 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:27.480 This man ain't gonna stoop. 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:37.080 So when the owner and his boss finds out about his parting gift, 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:42.400 he admires him for making the most of a bad situation. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:48.719 So why did Jesus share that story? 00:07:48.720 --> 00:08:01.360 Well, anytime you read a miracle in scripture, read the context of what's happening around it. 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:04.820 Because there's always a message in a miracle. 00:08:05.820 --> 00:08:07.060 It's powerful to see. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:09.040 Once you get that concept. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:11.439 There's always something there. 00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:14.340 Of all the people Jesus healed, he didn't heal them all. 00:08:15.300 --> 00:08:16.900 So why did he heal the ones that he did? 00:08:16.960 --> 00:08:19.740 There's always a point there that shows that. 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:26.720 And if you look at the context of this parable, you'll understand more so why he shared what he did. 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:28.519 It's in the verses that follow. 00:08:29.840 --> 00:08:31.500 It says in verse 10, 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:39.840 One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much. 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:46.120 And one who's dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much. 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:52.799 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth who will entrust you with the true riches. 00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:59.019 And if you've not been faithful in that which is another's, who would give you that which is your own? 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:03.299 No servant can serve two masters. 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:06.320 For either he'll hate the one and love the other. 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:09.740 Or he'll devote to the one and despise the other. 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:14.159 You can't serve both God and money. 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:23.959 Now the point is that the manager had very little time to use the resources that he was in charge of. 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:26.600 And so he made the most of it. 00:09:27.199 --> 00:09:28.779 He did not freeze up. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:35.419 He made use of the authority that had been given to him while he had that authority because he was about to lose it. 00:09:36.219 --> 00:09:39.159 And for that he's called dishonest, but he's called shrewd. 00:09:40.199 --> 00:09:41.799 And we ought to learn from it. 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:50.500 Now, if the wicked of the world can make the most of opportunities, shouldn't the people of God make the most of opportunities too? 00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:52.699 Not in the same way. 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:56.120 But Jesus is saying we need to make the most of the opportunities. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:01.099 Not with dishonesty, but with shrewd decisions. 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:06.220 So I believe the message here is a threefold one. 00:10:07.820 --> 00:10:09.279 The first one is this. 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:13.320 Make the most of what you have. 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:16.620 Make the most of what you have. 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:18.940 And you have two things. 00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:21.120 You have your treasures. 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:23.540 And you have your time. 00:10:23.539 --> 00:10:31.240 The moment you die, you can no longer sign a check. 00:10:32.699 --> 00:10:36.659 And if one's been endorsed to you and somebody else signs their name on it, that's illegal. 00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:42.679 Once you die, it's worth nothing to you. 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:44.719 You have to leave it behind. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:47.819 You can't take it with you. 00:10:47.820 --> 00:10:52.640 And so you use it now for purposes that last. 00:10:53.640 --> 00:10:58.020 I would encourage you to use it for purposes that will even outlast you. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:01.140 Use it for eternal purposes. 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:04.220 And back to the context of the parable. 00:11:05.020 --> 00:11:12.360 And may you be welcomed into heaven by the lives that you've impacted due to your generosity. 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:20.480 When he says here what you do with unrighteous wealth in verse 11, he's not saying this is dirty money. 00:11:20.659 --> 00:11:22.620 He's not saying this money is evil. 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:26.560 Because money's not evil. 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:29.240 He's really saying it's neutral. 00:11:30.300 --> 00:11:31.620 It's not righteous. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:34.360 It's unrighteous. 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:36.000 It's just wealth. 00:11:36.300 --> 00:11:37.600 It's just money. 00:11:38.420 --> 00:11:41.039 Money's not evil no matter where it comes from. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:42.639 I'll tell you what's evil. 00:11:42.719 --> 00:11:43.899 The love of money's evil. 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:45.899 I'll tell you what's evil. 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:47.539 The improper use of money. 00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:48.319 That's evil. 00:11:48.819 --> 00:11:51.179 The lure of money is evil. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:59.639 But money that sometimes is used for wrong purposes can then again be used for right purposes afterwards. 00:12:01.459 --> 00:12:06.279 And God has entrusted you with whatever you have, little or much. 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:09.259 So how you doing? 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:12.839 With what God has given to you. 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:19.919 A man heard a message something like this and took it to heart years and years ago. 00:12:21.579 --> 00:12:23.620 And he made a commitment to his pastor. 00:12:24.319 --> 00:12:26.860 He said, I'm going to tithe my money. 00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:29.740 And the man at the time made $40 a week. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:36.639 And so he began writing a check for $4 and putting it on the plate every week. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:39.060 And God blessed him. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:41.560 Many times over. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:46.000 Over the years, God blessed him a hundredfold. 00:12:47.460 --> 00:12:48.480 True story. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:55.920 And the man was tithing $500 a week to his church. 00:12:58.920 --> 00:13:02.200 He came back to his pastor, who was W.A. 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:06.580 Criswell, who pastored First Baptist Dallas for 50 years, who told the story. 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:14.139 The man came back to W.A. Criswell and said, I need to back off my tithing commitment. 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:18.480 He said, it's a little too costly now. 00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:22.540 Don't you think I could back off that some? 00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:26.000 And Criswell said, no. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.919 But we can ask the Lord to take you back to $40 a week. 00:13:31.699 --> 00:13:33.439 So you won't have to give so much money. 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:37.939 Friend, it's all in perspective. 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:42.339 Make the most of what you have. 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:44.779 Second thing is this. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:46.620 Be a blessing. 00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:49.019 Be a blessing. 00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:54.620 Listen, the manager blessed those in debt with giving them a way to get out from under the debt. 00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.519 Did he do it right? 00:13:57.659 --> 00:13:58.699 No, he did not. 00:13:59.699 --> 00:14:02.659 But I believe you can learn truth from other people's examples. 00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:08.919 Truth is always the truth, even if it is spoken of by untrue people. 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:18.679 And the truth here is that we can be a blessing to those who are overwhelmed by a debt that they 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:19.579 cannot pay. 00:14:21.579 --> 00:14:27.139 Because we are surrounded by people in spiritual debt. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:31.279 Debt they cannot pay. 00:14:33.579 --> 00:14:41.000 People who are heavy in sin, separated from God, struggling in the midst of that. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:56.700 And I want you to know, if you're a born-again believer today, we have been authorized, we have been instructed, we have been empowered and able to tell them how they can have their debt removed from their life. 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:59.779 Jesus said, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. 00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:01.639 Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:05.700 And when he says that, he's talking about the keys of the kingdom. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.059 I'll tell you what that means. 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:10.019 He's talking about the power of the gospel. 00:15:11.119 --> 00:15:16.219 The debt of others that we need to be concerned about is the spiritual debt that they carry. 00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:28.619 And today, I'm under the authority of the owner of heaven as just a measly manager to offer you spiritual debt forgiveness. 00:15:29.739 --> 00:15:35.439 Thank God, regardless of what you owe God, he'll forgive you today. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:39.420 I do not do it dishonestly. 00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:42.640 And I probably don't do it very shrewdly. 00:15:43.640 --> 00:15:46.240 But I offer it all the more. 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:51.480 And I want you to know, if you're a child of God today, you can offer it too. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:54.960 And when you do, you'll be a blessing. 00:15:56.680 --> 00:16:04.660 Take advantage of the time that we have and be a blessing. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:08.740 And the third thing I learned from the story is this. 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:12.180 Serve the right one. 00:16:13.900 --> 00:16:17.440 Put your resources in the right place. 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:22.520 It is amazing what we get enthusiastic about. 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:25.079 I will not tell you who. 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:30.299 But I cheered hard for a team yesterday that I normally don't care if they win or not. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:33.480 But yesterday, I was charged. 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:52.700 If we get as excited about Jesus as we are of the matters that we put our heart into, that we put our money into, what a world of difference we could make. 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:56.900 And that's what Jesus is saying. 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:01.140 Jesus is saying, make a world of difference. 00:17:02.900 --> 00:17:08.059 Because if we're not careful, we won't until it's forever too late. 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:15.279 And so I'm going to ask you, are you faithful with what you have? 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.679 You're not responsible for anything that you don't. 00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:22.099 But you are responsible for what you have. 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:26.819 Malachi chapter 3, verse 7 and 8 and 10 says this. 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:31.980 From the days of your fathers, you've turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. 00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:35.559 Return to me and I'll return to you, says the Lord of hosts. 00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:38.779 But you say, how shall we return? 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:41.359 Will man rob God? 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:42.700 Yet you're robbing me. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.159 But he says, how have we robbed you? 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:48.919 God says, in your tithes and contributions. 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:54.379 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. 00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:56.439 And therefore put me to the test, says the Lord. 00:17:56.819 --> 00:18:04.639 If I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down to you a blessing until there is no more need. 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:10.439 How much blessings are we missing? 00:18:11.639 --> 00:18:15.639 How much ministry are we missing out on? 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:24.259 How many opportunities are we meandering by because we're robbing God and missing the blessings of heaven? 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:28.619 May the Lord let us hold on. 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:36.640 May the Lord not let us hold on to things on this earth so tight that we miss the blessings of God that would fall into our open hands if we just open them before the Lord. 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:43.579 G. Campbell Morgan tells the story of being in a home of a wealthy man for dinner. 00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:52.500 As they sat down to dinner, the man prayed over the meal and he prayed an elegant and tender prayer for the salvation of the lost and for missionaries serving the world. 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:58.759 And when his prayer was over, he was startled by his son who said, Dad, I love to hear you pray for missionaries. 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.460 He said, well, I'm glad, son. 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:08.339 And the little boy said, but you know what I was thinking was when you were praying, if I had your money, I'd answer half your prayers. 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:19.839 Those who rob God by withholding their tithes will never be all that they should be for the Lord. 00:19:20.199 --> 00:19:22.799 It stunts your growth. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.039 Not only financially. 00:19:26.379 --> 00:19:30.179 Not only in faith, but it stunts your spiritual growth. 00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.720 Now, I want to be clear. 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:35.419 One salvation is not based upon their giving, but giving is an evidence of one salvation. 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:47.279 May the Lord not allow us to settle for showing religious concern for matters that we could make an eternal difference in for simply just by being faithful. 00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:49.480 Enough with tokens. 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:51.720 Let's just be faithful. 00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:58.140 And if we gave God our all, a tenth of our income is a gesture. 00:19:58.840 --> 00:19:59.660 It's a gesture. 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:05.220 A gesture that's obedient and faithful, that is coming to the storehouse. 00:20:05.320 --> 00:20:06.279 That's the place you're fed. 00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:10.300 But it's more than a gesture. 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:16.259 For me, it is an acknowledgement that all that I truly have is his. 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:23.100 And gladly, cheerfully give that portion that he's shown us that we're to give. 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:27.480 You say, well, I don't know that I can. 00:20:29.179 --> 00:20:35.819 Well, I promise you, if you'll obey God in any area of your life, God will fill your void. 00:20:37.219 --> 00:20:39.199 God will provide your need. 00:20:41.179 --> 00:20:43.179 You be a blessing and God will bless you. 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:52.620 And the good news is, folks, we have all we need to fulfill our budget goals. 00:20:53.340 --> 00:20:56.420 We have all we need to fulfill our building plans. 00:20:56.820 --> 00:20:59.660 We have all we need to fulfill our mission efforts. 00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:01.480 We have all we need. 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:04.600 The bad news is too much of it's still in our pockets. 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:20.779 It's time to be spiritually and financially shrewd and watch God bless beyond what we can ask, beyond what we can think. 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:23.899 I want you to listen to how Jesus describes. 00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:28.099 He says in Luke chapter 6, verse 38, he says, 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:30.339 Give, and it will be given to you. 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:36.859 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, we'll put it into your lap. 00:21:36.919 --> 00:21:41.319 For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:45.240 Do you ever buy one of those big bags of chips? 00:21:46.699 --> 00:21:51.839 Or like a big old box of cereal? 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:55.079 And you open up that box. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:58.259 And you pull out that bag. 00:21:58.319 --> 00:22:00.559 Now, I'm going to warn you, if you pull out that bag, don't go home and do this. 00:22:00.679 --> 00:22:02.939 Because you'll never get that bag back in the way it came out. 00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.299 Okay? 00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:03.939 It just don't want to happen. 00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:08.500 I'm just going to go ahead and tell you, that bag ain't but half full. 00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:15.959 And them chips full of air, it ain't but half full. 00:22:18.899 --> 00:22:19.879 But I'm going to tell you something. 00:22:19.879 --> 00:22:21.759 That's not the way God gives to us. 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:24.299 He don't leave us half full. 00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.480 Notice what it says. 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:32.939 It says, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, it'll pour out into your lap. 00:22:33.959 --> 00:22:34.980 You know how God gives? 00:22:35.159 --> 00:22:38.859 God gives like a kid fills up a cup at a fountain drink machine. 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:39.879 You know? 00:22:40.699 --> 00:22:42.179 Never backing up. 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:46.599 Letting it flow all over the floor and then putting a lid on it. 00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:51.359 That's how God blesses. 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:54.079 So let's be a blessing. 00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.679 And let's be blessed. 00:22:58.839 --> 00:23:01.319 John Wesley had three rules for managing money. 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.199 I thought it was pretty good. 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:06.759 Maybe all I need to say, but I wouldn't dare let you go that early. 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:09.920 Make all you can. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:12.400 Save all you can. 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:14.460 Give all you can. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:22.460 Jesus is telling us, folks, make the most of the opportunity that you have. 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:25.400 Be spiritually shrewd. 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:28.839 See lives change with our opportunities. 00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:35.159 Those who serve the world get good at it. 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:39.600 They become shrewd at it. 00:23:39.600 --> 00:23:45.019 Those who serve the Lord ought to do it as well. 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:56.599 May all we do with whatever God gifts us with bring honor and glory to him. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:58.740 And I want to be clear. 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:07.199 When you obey God by his formula, that does not mean the rest of it's yours. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:09.480 It's all still his. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:12.620 He just allowed you to be a steward of it. 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:15.660 So don't be dishonest with it. 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:33.019 Now, if that makes you mad or you don't like that, I'm going to tell you, you can't serve both God and money. 00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:41.120 You'll hate the one and you'll love the other and you'll serve the other. 00:24:42.560 --> 00:24:43.640 Who are we going to serve? 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:49.000 Let's make the most of our opportunity. 00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:58.380 With every head bowed and every eye closed, let me tell you what your greatest opportunity is. 00:24:59.300 --> 00:25:02.360 And that is to surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:09.780 I don't ever want you to misunderstand me this morning or what the focus of what we do and who we are. 00:25:11.320 --> 00:25:12.860 Most important to us. 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:17.320 Is that folks come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and then grow in him. 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:24.119 And if today you're here and you don't know the Lord Jesus, I want you to know he'll save you today. 00:25:24.919 --> 00:25:26.359 I'd love to guide you in that. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.899 Love to help you in that. 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:29.740 We're going to stand and we're going to sing in just a moment. 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.419 I encourage you to sing. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:34.119 But more important than that, I want you to do exactly what God tells you to do. 00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:37.159 And if you don't know the Lord, just come down and tell me, 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:39.259 Pastor, I need to be saved. 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.320 I need to know the Lord. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:46.080 Now maybe you do and maybe you need to put your wallet or your pocketbook on this altar. 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:50.340 You can do that where you are or you can do it at this altar. 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.360 I just want you to obey God. 00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:53.800 Just do what he tells you to do. 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:57.519 Maybe God's drawing you to be a part of this fellowship, this church. 00:25:58.040 --> 00:25:59.960 You know this is where God would have you to be. 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:02.360 No need to put that off any longer. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:05.240 You come and we'll guide you through that process. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:08.180 I don't know what God's telling you to do. 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:11.880 I just know you're responsible for whatever he's leading us to do. 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:14.319 So I encourage you to simply be obedient. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:21.559 Let's honor him today by making the most of this opportunity by simply being obedient. 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:24.000 Lord Jesus, I love you. 00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:26.680 And I thank you for the opportunity to be here today. 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:29.480 Thank you for the opportunity to worship with these dear folks. 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:34.059 God, guide us right now to be obedient to everything that you tell us. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:36.799 In Jesus' precious name, amen. 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.620 Stand together. 00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.319 We're going to sing.