23 Jul Wall Street or Gold Street… which one are you trusting in? Part 5
Has your 401K turned into a 104K? We certainly live in some “economically challenging” times, however I must continue to remind you, what is your source…Wall Street or “Gold Street”? Do you realize that in heaven our Heavenly Father’s streets are paved with transparent gold and the four gateways are made of one giant pearl (can you imagine the size of the oyster that coughed that one up?). In other words, your dad’s driveway is made of gold and His garage is made of one giant pearl! Heaven is our source of supply…not this world system!
Over the last few weeks we began our series and shared with you “8 Principles to Prosper in Recessionary Times”:
- Tithing (Prov. 3:9-10, Heb. 7:1-8)
- Budgeting (Prov. 21:5)
- Working (II Thes. 3:10, Prov. 10:4)
- Thinking (Prov. 21:5)
This week let’s continue our series…
- Producing (Matt. 25:14-30).
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
From these powerful passages you can glean this principle…faithfulness is revealed in fruitfulness. Faithfulness is not just showing up and being on time (although you certainly can’t be fruitful unless you do these things). It is so much more than that! When you are faithful…you are fruitful. When you are faithful…you are a producer! We live in a society that believes everyone in the softball league should get a trophy so no one’s self-esteem is hurt. Win, lose or draw you get a trophy so you won’t have to go on Oprah and discuss your self-esteem issues. While I think self-esteem is important (see Mark 12:31), Jesus had a different thought process. Let’s look at verses 28 and 29 again:
“Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”
Jesus doesn’t take from him who has and give to him who has not. He takes from him who won’t and gives to him who will! In other words, if you want abundance…be a producer! I truly believe that we have had a lot of excellent teaching on prosperity over the last 20 years, but I believe this is a missing piece to long-term prosperity…being a producer! As a pastor and an employer, I can’t fully tell you how much I value people who produce! Pastor David Goldner and Pastor Rob Simms are great examples of producers. They have been so fruitful that I reward them well financially. According to Jesus, producers…people who are fruitful, will eventually have abundance!
Please allow me to ask you three very important production questions that I want you to ask yourself, which will assist you in becoming a producer:
1) What is required of me?
- What must I do on my job that no one else can?
2) What gives me the greatest return?
- What yields a higher return for effort than other things?
3) What gives me the greatest reward?
In other words, if you do:
1) What you must
2) What is effective
3) What is enjoyable
…eventually you will be a producer! Make your boss’s job easier. Solve problems…don’t create them! Remember this, the Bible doesn’t say God would give us wealth, it says God would give us the power to get it (see Deut. 8:18)!
Next week we’ll continue our series on “Wall Street or Gold Street”.