Principle #5: Victory Beyond Competiton

Principle #5: Victory Beyond Competition

Does it matter how I live today?

Matthew 25:14-30

 

So you accepted Christ as your savior...what now? Is it okay to keep living the same way? Why or why not?

Life Debt: If someone saves your life, your indebted to the. Would there be anything more important than saving someone’s life? Or better yet, saving you from eternal death? Jesus saves us from an eternal death, so wouldn’t we want to live a way that is honoring to God. There is nothing more fulfilling than living for God.

Additional notes before reading further:

*This goal of this study is not to guilt, but to empower

* Actions indicate true belief or indicate what is more important to a person

 

Our culture tells us to live for the moment and get all we can today without worrying about tomorrow but scripture tells us in Matt. 16:26 “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul.”

            What does Matt. 16:26 mean?

Worldly things = don’t last

Soul = eternal

In reality, if you have things that don’t last then you don’t really have anything at all.

 

            How do we try to “gain the world” in our lives?

           

            Championships, money, sex, etc.

            

The question we all need to answer is, “What will we live for?” or “How can we live with an eternal perspective?”

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells his disciples what they should be living for as He prepares to die for them.

Master = God

Servants = Us

Talents (worth more than 15 yrs of wages of labor) = God’s gifts to us

I.  God has entrusted much to His servants. He has uniquely gifted you.                           (Matthew 25:14-15)

                        (S)piritual Gifts- What are some of the spiritual gifts God has given you?

                        (H)eart- What are you passionate about?

                        (A)bilities- What abilities has God gifted you with?

                        (P)ersonality- the way you think, act, show emotion. What makes you laugh/cry?

                        (E)xperiences- How has God used different experiences (good or bad) to shape your gifts?

            What will you do with the treasures you are being entrusted with?

II.  His servants have a choice: Invest or Waste it. (Matthew 25:16-18)

            Contrast the actions displayed by the 3 servants. How were they different? Which                         one(s) did the right thing?

            Two servants invested (right), the other didn’t (wrong)

            A. Invest your talents completely.

                        - You were given talents for a purpose. What is that purpose?

Serve and honor God.

            B. Invest your talents immediately.

                 - You don’t know how long you have. Have you invested today well? Which one of the       servants in the story failed to use his talents? Who does this servant represent?

*Don’t feel guilty for not doing it in the past, tomorrow is a new morning. We tend to live that tomorrow is promised, but it is not*

III. God evaluates your investments. (Matthew 25:19-30)

            A. There are rewards to be gained

                 - What does the master say to the first two servants? Who do they represent?

“Well done good and faithful servant.” This represents people who believe in and follow

Jesus (Christians).

            B. There are consequences to be suffered.

                - What does the master say to the man who hid his talents? What did he do wrong? What  prevents us from investing?

           

            There is punishment for being giving something and not using it.

            C. Invest Faithfully: It will take courage.

          - What does faithfulness involve? Is any of what we have even ours to begin with?

            When you really think about it what could be safer then following God’s plans?

Disciples are defined, not by how they start, but by how they finish.

What will define you?

 

- Sarah