Investing Wisely (Hix)

Luke 19:12-27-He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return.

13 Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’

14 But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’

15 “After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were.

16 The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’

17 “‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’

18 “The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’

19 “‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’

20 “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe.

21 I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’

22 “‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant,

23 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

24 “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’

25 “‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’

26 “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

27 And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’”

There is something all of us Christians have in common, doesn’t matter what background you have, or the color of skin, or the education you have or have not!

We all have the gospel message!

Everything you need to do business (our Father’s business) while Jesus is gone is right here!! (Holding up the bible)

From the moment you are saved, you have the ability to win others to Christ, you have the tools you need to share the gospel, you have the capacity to be a witness for the Lord, you have been given everything you need to invest into the kingdom of God!!

I’m not saying that you can’t better at it, or be more equipped, but you don’t have to wait till then to be God’s witness!!

Jesus is saying to them and to us…”Take whatever I have given you and use it, invest it, share it!”

What are you doing with gospel?

How good of a Stewart are you with the gospel?

We have a Lord, who came to earth, died on a cross, and on the third day arose from the grave, and ascended to heaven to receive His kingdom.

He is coming back to rule His kingdom

But in the meantime we need to be investing the gospel that He gave us to be getting others ready for His kingdom.

That’s The Preacher’s Job!! Yes it is, but not because he’s a preacher, but because he’s a Christian!!

Now, get this, I don't have a bigger responsibility to share the gospel, than you do!!

Matthew 28:18-20-And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Mark 16:15-And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Acts 1:8-But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Do none of those scriptures apply to us?

Or do they just apply to a select few?

Stewardship goes beyond just giving, goes beyond us reading our bible, goes beyond praying, goes beyond going to church.