Latest / The Daily Word / October 6 – Be About the Father’s Business
Transcript
- Brandon: Well, welcome once again to the Daily Word podcast. My name is Brandon, and I am one of the pastors here at our church. And this morning, on behalf of all of our pastors, our leaders, our staff, our friends, our family, like how how far are you going with that, Brandon? Our dogs, our cats. no, on behalf of our entire team here at Lakeshore, just want to say thank you so much for listening. Thank you so much for those who've been a faithful supporter of the podcast. you're listening, you're liking, you're subscribing, you're sharing, you're sending encouragement. We love it. And we're close to a couple months away from being a full year into the Daily Word podcast. And in the new year, we're hoping to not only keep it going, but make it better. And so thank you for all your support. if it's your first time listening today, let me remind you the whole reason we do this is twofold. One to bring encouragement to you every day simply by taking the New Testament reading. From the life journal reading plan, the reading plan that we use as a church, and sharing with you what we got as a source of encouragement, strength. Maybe it's challenging you, helping you grow in your faith, but also encouraging and reminding you to go spend time with God for yourself. that being said, today is October the 6th, and our New Testament reading today is Luke 19. And want to read to you verse 13, and We'll see how far we will read. I'm unsure how much I'll read for time's sake, but let's just let's go for it. Luke chapter 19, verse 13, here's what it says: calling ten of his servants. By the way, this is a parable. A parable is a story that Jesus would tell that paints a picture for us of what his kingdom is like. So remember when you're reading parables, a parable is different than like a story, for example, David and Goliath. That's real. That actually happened. It's not metaphor, it's not a parable. But then Jesus would tell parables. He gives stories and examples to paint a picture of what his kingdom is like. So we're gonna read this parable, and this parable is teaching us about God's kingdom. So here's here's the parable that Jesus tells all to start in verse 12. And he said, Therefore, a nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Sound like Jesus? Jesus, he has. Ascended from earth to heaven, and he's seated on high at the right hand of God. The Bible says, preparing a place for us, and he will then return. So this noble man is a picture of Jesus. So verse 13, calling ten of his servants, that would be you and I, those who serve him, his disciples, his followers, he gave them ten minas and said to them, Engage in business until I return. But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, We don't want this man to reign over us. When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him saying, Lord, your my your mina has made ten minas more. He said to them, Well done, good and faithful servant, because you've been faithful in a very little, You shall have authority over ten cities. And the second came saying, Lord, your mina has made five or your your minas has made five minas. And he said to him, You are to be over five cities. We'll stop right there. Because this parable goes on and continues. and and essentially you're you're you're getting the picture. Now let me just back up to to the beginning. The parable is a picture of God's kingdom, and I made mention of this that the noble man is Jesus. Who has gone to to it to heaven and he will return. We are the servants to whom God has given not minas, but he's given gifts, talents, abilities. God's given us time, God's given us days, God's given us relations. Think about for a minute how much God has given you. You woke up today and God gave you this day. you you're you you have gifts and talents and abilities and skills God gave those to you. you have friends and family, neighbors, coworkers, and people you are you will interact with today at the local Starbucks. God God's given that to you. There are are resources. You have you have a house, you got a car, you you you got golf, whatever it may be. You have stuff in your hand is my point. So in the parable, the nobleman is Jesus. We are the servants. And what he gave his servants, these ten minors, are the things that God has given us. And now here's what I want you to see. Here's what I caught today. When the nobleman goes to the far country, he says, Do business. Do business till I return. And when he came back to those who used what they were given, they did business. And they they they increased it. He said, Well done, good and faithful servant. Now, if you keep reading, there's one person who did nothing with it. And he says, You wicked and lazy servant, even what you have will be taken away. Here is what this parable is teaching me today. That's my scripture. Here's my observation and my application. That in the same way this parable shows us this picture, the reality is that Jesus has given all of us something. You might not have everything you want, but hear me today, you have more than you're giving yourself credit for. You got more resource, you got more gifting, more talent, more ability, you got more influence, you have more than you're giving yourself credit for. God has placed things in your hand with the command that you do business. Now, what does he mean? Like he wants you to make money? Well, I don't think God's opposed to that. But but I think what this parable is teaching us is that we're supposed to be. Leveraging our life for the kingdom of God. Think about it. The nobleman was interested that they used what he gave them to increase his business. Hey, I'm giving you resources. Go build my business. And when I return, you'll get rewarded for it. Jesus essentially is the nobleman saying, Hey, I've given you something, build my kingdom. Don't leverage your life to build your own kingdom, build my kingdom. Don't leverage your life to build your thing, build my build my church, advance my kingdom, be about your father's business. And the implication is that all of us, we will stand before Jesus one day and we will give an account, not for our sins. Jesus took care of our sins on the cross, but we will give an account for what I often refer to as a post conversion life. You got saved, great, you're forgiven. But now you're standing before the noble man who will return, that is Jesus, and you will give an account for how you stewarded your life according to his kingdom purposes. I I really do believe that we will stand before Jesus and He will look at us and He will go, All right, I I gave you that business, I gave you that house, I gave you I gave you those gifts and talents and abilities, I gave you that charisma. I gave you that influence. How did you leverage it and use it to build my kingdom, to build my church, to advance my how did you use it? And according to how we've used what he has given us for his purposes, we will either receive reward or we will not receive word. This is what the apostle Paul says. He says, Finally, there's laid up for me a crown of righteousness. He goes, there's reward laid up for me in heaven because the way I live my life on earth. Do not be mistaken. We will get to heaven, and for those who will be about the Father's business, there is reward laid up for them in heaven. God, I want my life to be about your business. I want my life to be about leveraging what you have given me for the purpose of building your church, advancing your kingdom, and reaching. Those who are in need of a savior. So my application is am I using everything God has given me for his purposes? Man, I I got an amazing house, Pastor. Awesome. Are you hosting a small group? You having people over? You leveraging that amazing property you have to build his church and advance his kingdom? Pastor, I'm so blessed. I got so much money. It's amazing. Are are are you building your bank account and your portfolio? Are you just doing more hobbies and activities? Are you know buying a boat and getting more cars and getting more or are you saying I've got so much resource? How can I use this resource to help people, bless people, build the church, advance the kingdom? Pastor, I'm so talented. Awesome. Are you using that talent for you or for God? Because Jesus will return. And when he returns, we will give an account of how we've used our life for his purposes. Lord Jesus, my prayer is use my life, use our life and everything you've given us to build your kingdom, build your church, and be about your business. In Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you again today for listening to the daily word. I hope this encourages encourages you, challenges you, and you take this today and you run with it. Remember, you've got more. And you're giving yourself credit for, so use it for God's kingdom.