Seeds Before Needs (Part 1) // Being Blessable God’s Way

“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

SEVEN PRINCIPLES FOR INVESTING YOUR LIFE (Matt. 25:14-30)

1 . Ownership: Everything I have really

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.”  (vs. 14)

2 .  Allocation: God has given me some

“To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.” (vs. 15)

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…” 
Romans 12:6 (NIV)

3 .  ACCOUNTABILITY: God expects me to

“Each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Romans 14:12

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts.”  (vs. 19)

4 .  UTILIZATION: It is wrong for me to

   • 1st man doubled his talents.  (vs. 16)
   • 2nd man doubled his talents (vs. 17)
   • 3rd man buried his talents.  (vs. 18)

The master’s reaction:  “you wicked, lazy servant” (vs. 26-27) 

5.  MOTIVATION: keeps me from using my talent.

“I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.”  (vs 25)

Three Kinds Of Fear

• Self doubt.

• Self consciousness.

• Self pity.

“Then the man who had received one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.’” Matthew 25:24-25

6.  APPLICATION: If I don’t use it,

“The Master says, ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents.’” (vs 28)
 
The way to invest my talents is through: .

7.  COMPENSATION: If I use my talent wisely, I will be

“His master replied, ‘Well done good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things – I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!’”  (vs. 23)