What Is Your Vision
GNLCC 01/04/04 Numbers 14:25-33 Matthew 24:37-51 Text Matt. 25:14-30
We are at the beginning of a new year that is filled with unlimited possibilities and potential. A year from now, some of us will be far ahead of where we are today, some of us will be in the same place, and some of us will have slipped even further behind. This will be true in both the natural and spiritual parts of our lives. A lot of where we are now, and where we’re going in 2004 will be determined by our vision.
I define vision as seeing yourself reaching a goal that will better prepare you to handle and to enjoy life in the future. We all need a vision to receive what God has for us. There are things God wants us to have, but because we lack vision, we settle for a whole lot less. In our Scripture reading, twelve men went and saw a tremendous blessing of land and wealth just spread out in front of them. Here was a chance for them and their families to have their lives completely turned around. Beautiful homes, rich land, an abundance of animals which represented huge bank accounts back in the day.
To top it all off, God had said, “this is what I’m going to give to you, because I have chosen you as my people, and I promised your ancestors that I would give this land to you.” God had a vision for his people. He wanted to take them from wandering in the desert, to lands rich with food, water, and wealth. It was God’s desire to bless His people. God wants to bless you in 2004.
But of the 12, only two had visions of God’s faithfulness. 10 saw the blessings of God, and said, “it’s too much work, and we can never have it. We’ll die just trying to get a piece of it. The problems are too great, and the cost of it is just too high. There is no hope of going forward.” Their vision determined their destiny. They had called God a liar, and discouraged the hearts of the people. It got so bad that the people wanted to abandon God’s vision for them and go back to Egypt to become slaves all over again.
Two of the 12 had positive vision. They were Joshua and Caleb. They saw the same problems, the same situation, the same possibilities and said, “what on earth are we waiting for. Let’s go get what God has for us right now. Let’s go at once and take the land.” 10 of the spies had a vision of death. Do you know all 10 of them were dead before the week was over? 2 of them had a visions of life. That vision carried them for forty years and they got everything they had told the people they could have and then some.
What is your vision in 2004? What is your vision for your education? What is your vision for your finances? What is your vision for your bible knowledge? What is your vision for the relationships you are involved in? What is your vision for your marriage? What is your vision for your parenting? What is your vision for your walk with the Lord.
What is your vision for your role in this church? What is your vision for being used by God to win others for Christ? What is that you would like to see God do differently for you? Even more important, what is that you would like to do differently for God.? If you haven’t given any thought to these questions, chances are you will do the same thing, this year as you did last year with little changes in results.
Every vision has to consider that there are some unknown things that might happen that may cause the vision to make certain adjustments. For us as believers there are two events that should always have an influence on our vision. Those events are, first the possibility of a very untimely death on our part, and second the possibility of the Lord’s return. The real fact of our own death and the return of Jesus Christ should have a balancing effect on our vision. If our vision is to have a million dollars by age 30 and it totally consumes us, but we die at age 29, then we have been foolish with our lives.
Our scripture passage this morning is found in the context of Jesus’ teachings on being prepared for when He might come back to earth. If you knew that Jesus was coming back today at 4pm what would be the one thing you’d want to make right by 3:58? Whatever it is or was, should be a part of your vision for your life before this day is over.
Let me introduce you to Steve. Steve had received an urgent message, that required him to leave his business. He wasn’t told how long he would be required to be away. He was evaluating who would be the best people to keep everything running for him while he was out of the country. He called Frank, Sylvester, and Tracy into his office to let them know that he was going to put each of them in charge of a portion of his money.
Let’s read the story together in Matthew 25:14-15 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
Now the word “it” in it will be like, is referring to the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is used in two ways by Jesus. It is used to refer to a realm in which God is in control of everything and His rule is acknowledged by all. It also refers to those people who have made a profession of faith to God with their mouths. For us today, that would be the church or the body of Christ. Now Jesus makes it clear in the bible, that not everybody who claims to know Him, really knows Him. So the kingdom has saved and unsaved people in it.
Jesus is using the kingdom of God in this second way in this verse. Now there are four visions that are taking place in this story. Steve’s vision is go away and do what he has to do to take care of business and then come back to a profit of some kind. Frank, Sylvester, and Tracy all had visions. Steve gave Frank five talents, he gave Sylvester 2 and he gave Tracy one. It wasn’t that Steve was trying to play favorites or that he was hating on Tracy. Steve had looked at what each one could handle, and he entrusted his property based on what he had seen in each of the men.
Now some translations of the bible of this story will use the words money, or bags of gold. A talent was simply a measure of weight. In this story, a talent obviously deals with money. But Jesus is also using the story to get across the point that God has entrusted everybody with some gift, some talent, some ability, some responsibility or some task. The point is being made that whatever it is that has been given, does not necessarily belong to the person, but it has been entrusted to him or to her. If I entrust you with $20, I expect you to give it back to me when I ask for it. Don’t act like its your to spend as you please.
The second thing about this talent, is that you don’t get more than what you’re currently able to handle. There’s not a soul here who does not think, he or she would be of much better use to the kingdom of God if only he or she had such and such a gift. No, if you had that gift at this point in your life, it would either ruin you or harm the rest of the body. Your vision may be to become more than what you are, but you reach it by demonstrating growth in certain areas of your life or your spiritual walk.
Few things are more damaging to the body, than having an extremely gifted or talented person who does not have the character to go with the gift. Character is what you are and who you are when you think nobody sees you or nobody knows you. It’s not my vision for my spiritual gift that will make me an asset to Christ, it’s the vision I have for my character that shows how close I want to be with God. Pray for a godly character. Accept the gifts when they come.
Well Steve said goodbye to Frank, Sylvester and Tracy. Let’s read how they made out in verses 16-18. Matthew 25:16-18 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Frank had a vision of making something of himself for Steve’s sake. Frank did not wait until tomorrow to get started. This translation says he went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. Another translation says he went immediately and began investing it. Another translation says he went right off to work.
Two things we should notice is that he got started as soon as he could. The second is that it took some time for him to double it. He did not double this money in one single transaction. He had to keep doing whatever it was that he was doing. Frank had a vision to make the most of whatever time he had to make this money grow.
There are people like Frank who come into a relationship to Jesus Christ and immediately start using what God has given them for the kingdom of God. They come in serving, they come in singing, they come in tithing. They have a vision, “I’ve given my life to Christ, Lord what do you want me to do.” And they simply do it. Their goal is to build the church and to work for the good of the body. You do not have to do things their way, as long Jesus gets the glory. The thought in their mind is, how can I help.
Are you as eager with your gifts or talents to serve God as the Franks in the kingdom are, or do you treat your gift or talent as though it belonged to you instead of to God. “I will if I feel like it.” The question is, “does the body need you to do it, and can it be fit into your schedule in God’s plan for your life.” There will be seasons in which you may have a gift, but God calls you to concentrate on another area in your life for a period.
Sylvester took his two talents and went and gained two more. Now we can see Steve understand there was something different about Sylvester and Frank. Sylvester caught a vision on how he could double his money, but it took a little longer for him to come up with his plan. Sylvester went to work, but it did not have the same kind of immediacy that Frank had. We probably have more Sylvesters than we do Franks in the kingdom of God and in the church.
It takes a little longer for things to click in, but when they do click in, we do what God tells us to do. When we are in Bible study, and see that God is calling for a change in our behavior or actions, we get a vision to go about making the necessary change. We become more loving at home, more generous in our giving, and more aware God is expecting to use us at home, school and work. We keep going, but God did not entrust us with as much, because we are willing but hesitant. The good part is that we are open to the Lord moving our hesitation to be available to be changed.
Now Tracy had no intention of doing any work at all. It didn’t matter that he had only received one talent. He would have done the same thing if he had received five. Steve had seen this flaw in Tracy’s character from the beginning, but he still wanted to work with the brother. He was willing to give him a chance to turn around and make a difference. Tracy had made up his mind, “it was all about him.” If he was going to double somebody’s money, it would either be his own or nobody’s. Nobody was going to get rich off of his work. He wasn’t even sure Steve would make it back, but just in case he did, He dug a hole and hid the money in it.
There are too many Tracy’s in the church. They’ve got talents but won’t use them. “I’m too busy.”They got money, but won’t tithe. “It’s my money.” They got voices but won’t sing. “I don’t want to be in no choir with them.” They got talents, but won’t ush, won’t count, won’t dance, won’t clean, won’t serve, won’t teach and won’t show up to church as often as they could.
About the only thing they will do is show up to eat as long as its free. Tracys lack vision for their future. They’re too busy trying to get over on somebody to recognize they’re missing what God has for them. Tracy’s are too cool to sing praise songs, to hip to worship, and too sophisticated to be prayed for. Whatever talent they have, they don’t want it if it has to be used for someone else. Talents are like spiritual gifts—they are given to be a blessing to somebody else.
Well word gets back into town that things have gone well for Steve and he’s be back in town. One by one, Frank, Sylvester and Tracy all hear that Steve is back in town and he wants to see each of them. Frank could barely wait for the meeting. Oh man was he excited. “Steve, Steve. Check this out. You gave me five talents when you left. Brother here are your five talents, and over here is a bag with five more talents.” Sylvester comes running in and says “Steve I’m sorry for running in like this but I just couldn’t wait any long. You gave me two talents when you left, I doubled your money. Can you believe it? I actually doubled your money.”
Steve says the same thing to both men with a big smile on his face and joy in his heart. Let’s read verse Matthew 25:23 "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!’
Now everybody likes a pat on the back for a job well done. You like to hear somebody say, “you did a great job there.” But the size of the feeling you get depends a lot on who it is that gives you the compliment. In other words, if you were in a play, and afterwards I told you, wow you did a great job of acting, you’d feel pretty good inside. But if Denzel Washington or Halle Berry was at the same play, and they said, the exact same words I used, it would take you to another whole level. If somebody asked you, what happened at the play, you wouldn’t say, “Well Pastor Rick said so and so, no you would say, “ Denzel said this or Halle said that.”
Now think what it will be like in front of millions of people, Almighty God who created the heavens and the earth says to you personally , “well done, you really did a great job for me.” Who loves Jesus who wouldn’t fall down in tears to hear God says, “you really did a great job for me.” My friends to hear that would mean we had the right things included in our vision.
Notice also that Steve invited them to share in his happiness. I think Steve was willing to split some of the money they had earned, in addition to giving them all promotions in the company. We cannot be a blessing to God without be blessed by God in return. If you really want to enjoy life, serve God to the best of your ability in all of your relationships. God knows how to bless your life. God’s got things in His mind for you that you never would have dreamed of on your own.
Tracy had taken what he thought was the easy way out. He had lived for his own good time. He wasn’t that glad to see Steve. He basically said look, “man I know you are hard on people and you expect them to work like a dog to make money for you. If they lose your money, they’re in big trouble. I was afraid of you, so I hid your money in the ground so that I could give it back to you. See here is what belongs to you. (not a penny less and not a penny more). To the very end, after all those years, Tracy could not see that he had been provided with an opportunity to benefit himself.
I see it every year in the year church. Our young girls who if they had just listened in Pioneers, they’d have their BA degree right now instead of two babies and unfilled promises from lying young men. Couples who could have made it, if they had only applied half of what’s taught in marriage sensation. They don’t understand the opportunity is to benefit themselves. Instead the search is for an illusive happiness that does not exist.
There was no joy in Tracy when Steve returned, and there was no joy to be found in Steve, listening to Tracy’s excuses. How many years do you think you have left to work for God? Do you have a vision for your meeting with Him to be a joyous for both of you? Or or you just hoping to get by. All Tracy wanted to do for Steve was enough to get by.
Steve called him to the carpet. He said, “man, you were just plain lazy. You wicked man, you didn’t want to work for me in the first place. You’re full of lies and excuses. If you were as scared as you claim you could have put my money in the bank, and as long as I’ve been gone, I could have gotten some interest.” He said to some one, “take the talent from Tracy and give it to Frank.“
Jesus takes over at this point in the story and declares to all who are listening. “Everybody who has something extra from what I gave them will be given more, but the one who has nothing extra is going to lose what I gave to him or to her. It’s not enough to simply give back to Jesus what He gave to you. Have something to show for your appreciation.
Jesus lets us know ,that all the Tracys in the world have a common destination. He called Tracy a worthless servant that needed to be thrown outside into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. That’s Jesus way of pointing to the eternal darkness and pain suffered in hell. Tracy lacked a vision of what he could have become, because he only thought about pleasing himself.
As you look at your vision for your own life. Who are you ultimately trying to please? As long as your vision includes changing our character to becoming more like Jesus, it’s a vision that’s acceptable in the eyes of God. As we journey into 2004, again I ask you, “What is your vision.”
Sermon Outline—Pastor Rick GNLCC 1/04/04
What Is Your Vision
Numbers 14:25-33 Matthew 24L37-51 Text Matt. 25:14-30
A. Welcome To The Year 2004 And Beyond
1. New Possibilities, New Potential, Go, Stay, Back
2. Vision—Reaching A Goal To Better Prepare You To
Handle & Enjoy Life
3. God Has The Blessings—We Need The Vision
4. 12 Spies—But Not Enough Vision 10 No 2 Yes
5. Visions Of Death Or Visions Of Life
B. Making It Real To Me For My Vision
1. Education, Finances, Relationships, Marriage
2. Parenting, Walk With The Lord, Church,
3. Visions Must Consider Adjustments
4. Unexpected Death—Imminent Return Of Christ
5. What If 4pm Today Changed Everything
C. The Life And Times Of Four Man Tied Together
1. Steve –Man On A Mission With Urgent Message
2. The Call Of Frank, Sylvester, & Tracy
Matthew 25:14-15 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
3. It—The Kingdom of God Two Types
4. Kingdom—The Realm In Which God Is In Control
5. Kingdom—Those Who Make A Profession Of Faith
6. Not All In Second Kingdom Are Saved
7. Frank 5, Sylvester 3, Tracy 1
8. Steve Had A Reason For The Distribution Of Talents
9. Talent—A Measure Of Weight Of Something
10. God Entrusts Us With Gifts, Talents, Responsibility
11. Talents Given Based On Ability To Handle It
12. Seek First Character, Then Accept The Gifts
D. Steve Leaves The Country For Parts Unknown
1. Three Men Begin To Go About Their Task
Matthew 25:16-18 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
2. Frank Had A Vision To Act Immediately
3. Frank Had To Work Over A Period Of Time
4. Franks Come To Christ On The Run To Work
5. Here I Am, What Can I Do
6. The Goal Is For The Good Of The Body
7. Have You Decided To Be A Frank
8. I Will Do Verse If I Feel Like It
9. Recognizing Seasons For Spiritual Gifts
10. Sylvester With Two Begins The Process
11. Sylvesters Are Hesistant But Change With The
Word
12. Keeping The Vision & Completing The Work
E. A Lack Of Vision Will Hurt You In The End
1. Tracy With One---I’m Not Going To Work
2. It’s All About Me
3. It’s Mine To Use Or To Bury
4. Too Cool, To Hip, To Sophisticated For God
5. Spiritual Gifts & Talents Are For Serving Others
F. Good News Steve Is Back In Town
1. Frank Can Barely Contain His Joy
2. Your Five Has Brought Back Five
3. Sylvester Is Excited For The Reunion
4. Your Two Has Been Doubled
5. Steve Is Happy & Excited—So Are The Two
Matthew 25:23 "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!’
6. We All Like To Have A Pat On The Back
7. Who It Comes From Makes All The Difference
8. Pastor Rick, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry
9. When God Almighty Speaks
10. Steve’s Joy Was Spread Around
11. Key To Being Blessed Is Knowing How To Bless
12. Life—Serving God To The Best Of Your Ability
G. When The Easy Way Out Is Not Really The Easy
Way Out
1. Tracy Not Happy At The Return Of Steve
2. Tracy Has Excuses, Complaints, & Gripes
3. I Was Afraid, So I Did Nothing—Take Yours
4. Could Not See The Opportunity Lying Before Him
5. When We Miss Opportunities For Pleasure
H. Steve Does Not Buy Into The Reasons Given
1. How Many Years Do You Have Left For God
2. Making A Hit Or Just Getting By
3. Steve Calls A Spade A Spade
4. Lies & Excuses Come At A Price
5. Frank Gets More
J. Jesus Makes A Promise
Matthew 25:29-30 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
1. It’s Not Enough To Just Give Back What You Got
2. Lack Of Vision On Tracy’s Part
3. Who Will Benefit From Your Vision
4. A Vision That’s Acceptable In God’s Sight
