Are you investing in eternity? We can’t earn our way into heaven. Only God’s gift of grace through Jesus gains us entrance. Yet once in, Jesus tells us there is reward for how we invest our time and resources. Our message series, E*TRADE, explores the biblical strategies for wisely investing in our eternity.
Listen to Sunday’s Message:
Sunday’s Message: “E*TRADE: Trading Tip #2: Go With What We’re Given”
Key Points from Sunday’s Message:
TRADING TIP #1: What we do matters! Investments on Earth influence rewards in Eternity.
TRADING TIP #2: Go with what you’re given! Investing responsibly multiples opportunity.
Avoid Theses Common Investment Mistakes
Claiming what isn’t mine
Holding what I have
Forgetting who I serve
BIG IDEA: Our reward is based on managing God’s resources God’s way for God’s glory.
Scripture:
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
“The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’
“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (NLT)
Questions for Further Discussion:
- Have you ever experienced or helped in the recovery of a fire, flood, or natural disaster? What impression did it leave on you?
- Read Matthew 25:14-30 How does the king determine who received what amount? Do you think it is fair? Why or why not?
- Why do you think the first two servants were successful?
- What do you see as some of the mistakes the third servant made? Where have you been guilty of the same?
- Which “Common Investment Mistake” do you think happens most in our culture? our church? your family?
- In light of this parable, how would you define investing responsibly? For what are we given responsibility? To whom are we responsible? Why?
- Restate the BIG IDEA in your own words. What time & resources have you been given? Where are you investing?
