In doing my research for this study I found a couple of interesting points about the matter of covetousness.
I found that there is an abundance of resources and information on the subject of this parable, and on the matter of hoarding, possessions, greed, false security, and covetousness. I asked myself this question. This is not an overly interesting subject (greed and covetousness) so why is there so much information available? Then the answer came to me almost immediately. It is because we know so much about the subject matter. We are taught it from birth, throughout our growing to maturity, and throughout school and college. Then in the secular world it is a primary focus. Get a good education, a good job which pays well, invest wisely make a lot of money, plan for your retirement, buy a home, a nice car or two or three, then another (retirement home) and then enjoy what you have acquired. Living large and victoriously, buy a motor home, travel in luxury and leisure. Some of the perks of doing so well. Then when the time is right, at the peak of your wealth, retire and you're set for life. Take a couple of cruises a year, and enjoy the good life until you pass. Then leave it to the kids. We are experts at it. there are complete industries built around it, The banking and financial industry, and the retirement and travel industry cannot function unless it's there. There are more than just those two but you get the point. We did not invent it, but we have perfected it. That is why there is so much information available about it. We exemplify it. We are a nation of Rich Fools. (self included) I want it all! Pg.1
Opening Prayer
Father God, again we gather to study the teachings of Your Son our Lord Jesus. We pray that you will open our hearts and minds to your word, and help us to garner from this study those things that you would have us learn. We pray a blessing for those of our group who cannot be here tonight, we miss them and pray for their well being. Bless us now as we enter into this study. Amen
The Rich Fool
Scripture: Luke 12:13-21;
13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
What do we really want to hear
13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me."
14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Jesus has been speaking to the crowds when suddenly a man from the crowd asks Jesus to settle a dispute about an inheritance. Jesus refuses the request and instead replies with a question. Who made me a judge over you? Jesus had been preaching and teaching and his followers were deeply involved with learning, and here comes this man with an off the wall question. Has this man been preoccupied with business the whole time Jesus had been speaking? What has he been thinking? Probably how to get more than his share of the inheritance. In any case he wasn’t listening to Jesus’ teaching, He was concerned with self.
Then Jesus uses this mans request to make another teaching moment with a parable about covetousness. Jesus did not want to presume to be a judge over this man, nor to rule either way in the matter. Jesus gets directly to the heart of the matter: Covetousness! Jesus warns this person, and all within earshot, that our lives are not to be about gathering wealth. Life is so much more than the “abundance of possessions.” Are we aware of that?
Sometimes it does not seem that we are.
Q.1 We start this parable with a civil matter. Why did this man make such a request of Jesus?
Q.2 By what matter of reason do you feel that Jesus refused his request? Vs.14
Q.3 How do you suppose this man felt after Jesus spoke this parable?
Q.4 What is it that makes our minds wander off subject when the preacher is speaking?
Q.5 What meaning is conveyed to you by Jesus’ words in verse 15?
Pg.2
What do we really want to do
16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
What is the point of Jesus' story about a wealthy landowner and why does God call him a fool? Jesus does not fault him for his industriousness, so what is he criticizing him for? His anxiety over his crops or his ego-centric selfishness. His life was consumed with his possessions and his only interests were in himself. Here the rich man’s words to himself express his decision to continue on his present course of accumulating more resources without sharing them. His expectation is that his comfortable life, lived without thought of the suffering of others, will continue, only better organized, with a more secure future. His death was the final loss of his soul! In this parable Jesus gives a lesson on using material possessions. He gives a warning to beware of all covetousness. Jesus restates the commandment, do not covet, but he also states that a person's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Posessions have a special connection to the heart. The thing we set our heart on is our highest priority, our treasure. The study of this parable will give us an overview of certain aspects of our world today.
Q.1 Jesus’ parable is a description of someone who has an abundance of harvest, more than he can use in a season so what would you do in this case?
Q.2 The man put some thought into it and decided to build a bigger barn and store the abundance for future use. What is it that makes that a bad plan?
Q.3 As a farmer, do we not want to do this type of thing? It is after all what Joseph did when he was put in charge of all Egypt by Pharaoh. Joseph stored all the excess grain of the seven years of plenty, holding it for a certain famine. What was the difference in what Joseph did with the country’s excess grain, than what this farmer did with his extra?
Q.4 What would have been the “right thing to do: for this farmer?
Q.5 When we have excess as a country, what happens? As a city, what happens? Did you hear about the 20,000 dollars in the Millington police headquarters, in safe keeping?
Q.6 That is not what happened in the farmers case, but what is similar about it?
What will it take
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.''
When it comes to the things of this world more of them means less concern for the disposition of our soul. It behooves one to care for the spiritual things one possesses. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
The things of this world do not make salvation a reality. With things, salvation is as a mirage, something one thinks is there but it is not. Coveting material possessions is the instinct of the natural man, It means we rest our worth in what we possess, not in who we are.
Q.1 Why is it that those who seem to have it all, will always want more?
Q.2 Wealth and possessions seem to give us the feeling of comfort and security. Why is that?
Pg.3
Who are we?
20 But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Every parable has realistic features that draw us in, thinking it is just another innocent little story. The realistic portion of this parable is that a rich man in Jesus’ day would hoard his wealth while the poor around him were malnourished. This points to the social reality all around him, (and in our world today). The strange, unrealistic aspect here is that God speaks to him directly. God informs him of the futility of the priorities he has chosen in life and on the exact timing of his demise. God does not make a practice of speaking to his children directly, but when he does, it is a momentous occasion. It is something very important to him which he wants us to know. Does it make a difference in our priorities for living out the future days of our lives?
The parable... shows the pointlessness of greed. Possessions, even an abundance of possessions, cannot give us security; they can only give us an illusion of security. And that illusion can distract us from the true source of our security, God’s care for us. The folly of the rich farmer lay not in his having full barns, but in his believing that his full barns were all he needed.
We are children of God and as such we are to covet the things of God. Kindness and love, humility, and grace, trust and worthiness, righteousness and morality, goodness and charity. Those things which emanate from God, The Bible, Jesus our Savior, and our faith, not those things which emanate from the worlds attractions. Things such as greed, lust, jealousy, covetousness, immorality, envy and hate. The worlds things are unto death, Gods things are unto eternal life. It is a promise of God.
Q.1 What Is there about hoarding that is so destructive in this parable?
Q.2 How is it that covetousness is so destructive in our present world?
Q.3 Why is it that the good life is so destructive for this rich man?
Q.4 The Bible speaks to us about using our talents, and our resources in prudent ways.
And on the face of it, this man has done that, So Why does God call this man a fool?
Closing prayer, "Lord, free us all from covetousness and from attachments to our possessions. May we wholly and honestly desire Your Son Jesus as our priority, our treasure and portion. Help us to make good use of the material blessings you give us that we may use them generously for your glory and for the good of others. Now we offer our prayer for those of our friends and loved ones who need your healing touch.______________ We pray that your tender loving mercies will give healing, comfort and peace to those we have named, and others of our acquaintance who need your healing touch. " Bless us now as we go our separate ways, in Jesus name we pray Amen.
Pg4
Meditation
Understand!
1. Why do you think Jesus refused to judge the dispute between two brothers about their inheritance? What does the parable indicate about how God judges people like these brothers?
2. Jesus said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). According to his parable, in what should our life consist?
3. The Old Testament describes a fool as one who lives as though God does not exist (Psalm 14:1; 53:1). In what ways did the rich man forget about God or act like he did not exist?
4. In concrete terms, what do you think it means to “store up treasures” for ourselves (Luke 12:21)? To be “rich toward God”?
5. According to Jesus’ words in Luke 12:22-34, which immediately follow this parable, we should trust in our heavenly Father to meet our material needs. How does his teaching build on the message of the parable?
Grow!
1. What forms of greed do you recognize in your life? Desire to acquire things for their own sake? Selfish attachment to your possessions? Hoarding? How can you guard against such attitudes and practices?
2. If you find yourself at times basing your security on material goods, income, or achievements, why do you think this is the case? What would help you trust less in worldly things and more in God?
3. In what ways does a preoccupation with satisfying our material needs keep us from serving God and his people? What might help you increase your focus on the values of God’s kingdom and on eternal life?
4. Make a list of the qualities you think are necessary to be a good and prudent steward of God’s gifts. Which of those qualities would you like to grow in?
5. What have you learned about God and what is important to him from this parable? About yourself and what is important to you?
Reflect!
1. Still yourself and quietly meditate a while on the inevitability of your death. In this light, are there any ways that you should change how you relate to status, possessions, and material goods?
2. Reflect on the following passages to deepen your insight into the parable you have just studied:
[Job] said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)
All day long the wicked covet, but the righteous give and do not hold back. (Proverbs 21:26)
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). (Colossians 3:2-5)
There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
Act!
Simplify your life! Are you “storing up” things unnecessarily? Take some time this week to begin to sort through your clothing, household goods, and other possessions. Donate what you don’t need or aren’t making use of to a charitable organization so that others will be able to benefit from these items.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Saturday, September 5, 2015
The Parable of The Rich Fool
Pg.1
Opening Prayer
Father God, again we gather to study the teachings of Your Son our Lord Jesus. We pray that you will open our hearts and minds to your word, and help us to garner from this study those things that you would have us learn. We pray a blessing for those of our group who cannot be here tonight, we miss them and pray for their well being. Bless us now as we enter into this study. Amen
In doing my research for this study I found a couple of interesting points about the matter of covetousness.
I found that there is an abundance of resources and information on the subject of this parable, and on the matter of hoarding, possessions, greed, false security, and covetousness. I asked myself this question. This is not an overly interesting subject (greed and covetousness) so why is there so much information available? Then the answer came to me almost immediately. It is because we know so much about the subject matter. We are taught it from birth, throughout our growing to maturity, and throughout school and college. Then in the secular world it is a primary focus. Get a good education, a good job which pays well, invest wisely make a lot of money, plan for your retirement, buy a home, a nice car or two or three, then another (retirement home) and then enjoy what you have acquired. Living large and victoriously, buy a motor home, travel in luxury and leisure. Some of the perks of doing so well. Then when the time is right, at the peak of your wealth, retire and you're set for life. Take a couple of cruises a year, and enjoy the good life until you pass. Then leave it to the kids. We are experts at it. there are complete industries built around it, The banking and financial industry, and the retirement and travel industry cannot function unless it's there. There are more than just those two but you get the point. We did not invent it, but we have perfected it. That is why there is so much information available about it. We exemplify it. We are a nation of Rich Fools. (self included) I want it all!
The Parable of The Rich Fool
Scripture: Luke 12:13-21;
13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
What do we really want to hear
13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me."
14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Jesus has been speaking to the crowds when suddenly a man from the crowd asks Jesus to settle a dispute about an inheritance. Jesus refuses the request and instead replies with a question. Who made me a judge over you? Jesus had been preaching and teaching and his followers were deeply involved with learning, and here comes this man with an off the wall question. Has this man been preoccupied with business the whole time Jesus had been speaking?
Then Jesus uses this mans request to make another teaching moment with a parable about covetousness. Jesus did not want to presume to be a judge over this man, nor to rule either way in the matter. Jesus gets directly to the heart of the matter: Covetousness! Jesus warns this person, and all within earshot, that our lives are not to be about gathering wealth. Life is so much more than the “abundance of possessions.”
Q.1 We start this parable with a man wanting a ruling on a civil matter. Why did this man make such a request of Jesus? Vs 13
Q.2 By what matter of reason do you feel that Jesus refused his request? Vs.14
Q.3 How do you suppose this man felt after Jesus spoke this parable?
Q.4 Are there times when sitting in church listening to the preacher, your mind wanders?
Why does that happen?
Q.5 How do you feel about God’s word as a tool to be used to settle civil disputes?
Q.6 Jesus said, “A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
What meaning is conveyed to you by that phrase?
Pg.2
What do we really want to do
16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
What is the point of Jesus' story about a wealthy landowner and why does God call him a fool? Jesus does not fault him for his industriousness, but for his ego-centric selfishness. His life was consumed with his possessions and his only interests were in himself. Here the rich man’s words to himself express his decision to continue on his present course of accumulating more resources without sharing them. His expectation is that his comfortable life, lived without thought of the suffering of others, will continue, only better organized, with a more secure future. His death was the final loss of his soul! In this parable Jesus gives a lesson on using material possessions. He gives a warning to beware of all covetousness. Jesus restates the commandment, do not covet, but he also states that a person's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Posessions have a special connection to the heart. The thing we set our heart on is our highest treasure. The study of this parable will give us an overview of certain aspects of our world today.
Q.1 Jesus’ parable is a description of someone who has an abundance of harvest, more than he can use in a season so what would you do in this case?
Q.2 The man put some thought into it and decided to build a bigger barn and store the abundance for future use. What is it that makes that a bad plan?
Q.3 As a farmer, do we not want to do this type of thing? It is after all what Joseph did when he was put in charge of all Egypt by Pharaoh. Joseph stored all the excess grain of the seven years of plenty, holding it for a certain famine. What was the difference in what Joseph did with the country’s excess grain, than what this farmer did with his extra?
Q.4 What would have been the “right thing to do: for this farmer?
Q.5 When we have excess as a country, what happens? As a city, what happens? Did you hear about the 20,000 dollars in the Millington police headquarters, in safe keeping?
Q.6 That is not what happened in the farmers case, but what is similar about it?
What will it take
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.''
So it is with mankind today, we seek to have more and more, and build bigger and better stuff, we anticipate and hoard, we spend and go into debt. When it comes to the things of this world more of them means less concern for the disposition of our soul. It behooves one to care for the spiritual things one possesses. Ones faith, righteousness, humility, spiritual gifts, and ones salvation over and above ones material possessions.
The things of this world do not make salvation a reality. With things, salvation is as a mirage, something one thinks is there but it is not. Coveting material possessions is the instinct of the natural man, It means we rest our worth in what we possess, not in who we are.
Q.1 Why is it that those who seem to have it all, will always want more?
Q.2 Wealth and possessions seem to give us the feeling of comfort and security. Why is that?
Pg.3
Who are we?
20 But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Every parable has realistic features that draw us in, thinking it is just another innocent little story. The realistic portion of this parable is that a rich man in Jesus’ day would hoard his wealth while the poor around him were malnourished. This points to the social reality all around him, (and in our world today). Every parable has at least one unrealistic feature, something that would not happen in the daily course of life. The strange, unrealistic aspect here is that God speaks to him directly. God informs him of the futility of the priorities he has chosen in life and on the exact timing of his demise. While none of us gets the timing memo, we have the futility information. Does it make a difference in our priorities for living out the future days of our lives?
The parable... shows the pointlessness of greed. Possessions, even an abundance of possessions, cannot give us security; they can only give us an illusion of security. And that illusion can distract us from the true source of our security, God’s care for us. The folly of the rich farmer lay not in his having full barns, but in his believing that his full barns were all he needed.
We are children of God and as such we are to covet the things of God. Kindness and love, humility, and grace, trust and worthiness, righteousness and morality, goodness and charity. Those things which emanate from God, The Bible, Jesus our Savior, and our faith, not those things which emanate from the worlds attractions. Things such as greed, lust, jealousy, covetousness, immorality, envy and hate. The worlds things are unto death, Gods things are unto eternal life. It is a promise of God.
Q.1 What Is there about hoarding that is so destructive in this parable?
Q.2 How is it that covetousness is so destructive in our present world?
Q.3 Why is it that the good life is so destructive for this rich man?
Q.4 The Bible speaks to us about using our talents, and our resources in prudent ways.
And on the face of it, this man has done that, So Why does God call this man a fool?
Closing prayer, "Lord, free us all from covetousness and from attachments to our possessions. May we wholly and honestly desire Your Son Jesus as our priority, our treasure and portion. Help us to make good use of the material blessings you give us that we may use them generously for your glory and for the good of others. Now we offer our prayer for those of our friends and loved ones who need your healing touch.______________ We pray that your tender loving mercies will give healing, comfort and peace to those we have named, and others of our acquaintance who need your healing touch. " Bless us now as we go our separate ways, in Jesus name we pray Amen.
Pg4
Meditation
Understand!
1. Why do you think Jesus refused to judge the dispute between two brothers about their inheritance? What does the parable indicate about how God judges people like these brothers?
2. Jesus said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). According to his parable, in what should our life consist?
3. The Old Testament describes a fool as one who lives as though God does not exist (Psalm 14:1; 53:1). In what ways did the rich man forget about God or act like he did not exist?
4. In concrete terms, what do you think it means to “store up treasures” for ourselves (Luke 12:21)? To be “rich toward God”?
5. According to Jesus’ words in Luke 12:22-34, which immediately follow this parable, we should trust in our heavenly Father to meet our material needs. How does his teaching build on the message of the parable?
Grow!
1. What forms of greed do you recognize in your life? Desire to acquire things for their own sake? Selfish attachment to your possessions? Hoarding? How can you guard against such attitudes and practices?
2. If you find yourself at times basing your security on material goods, income, or achievements, why do you think this is the case? What would help you trust less in worldly things and more in God?
3. In what ways does a preoccupation with satisfying our material needs keep us from serving God and his people? What might help you increase your focus on the values of God’s kingdom and on eternal life?
4. Make a list of the qualities you think are necessary to be a good and prudent steward of God’s gifts. Which of those qualities would you like to grow in?
5. What have you learned about God and what is important to him from this parable? About yourself and what is important to you?
Reflect!
1. Still yourself and quietly meditate a while on the inevitability of your death. In this light, are there any ways that you should change how you relate to status, possessions, and material goods?
2. Reflect on the following passages to deepen your insight into the parable you have just studied:
[Job] said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)
All day long the wicked covet, but the righteous give and do not hold back. (Proverbs 21:26)
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). (Colossians 3:2-5)
There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
Act!
Simplify your life! Are you “storing up” things unnecessarily? Take some time this week to begin to sort through your clothing, household goods, and other possessions. Donate what you don’t need or aren’t making use of to a charitable organization so that others will be able to benefit from these items.
Opening Prayer
Father God, again we gather to study the teachings of Your Son our Lord Jesus. We pray that you will open our hearts and minds to your word, and help us to garner from this study those things that you would have us learn. We pray a blessing for those of our group who cannot be here tonight, we miss them and pray for their well being. Bless us now as we enter into this study. Amen
In doing my research for this study I found a couple of interesting points about the matter of covetousness.
I found that there is an abundance of resources and information on the subject of this parable, and on the matter of hoarding, possessions, greed, false security, and covetousness. I asked myself this question. This is not an overly interesting subject (greed and covetousness) so why is there so much information available? Then the answer came to me almost immediately. It is because we know so much about the subject matter. We are taught it from birth, throughout our growing to maturity, and throughout school and college. Then in the secular world it is a primary focus. Get a good education, a good job which pays well, invest wisely make a lot of money, plan for your retirement, buy a home, a nice car or two or three, then another (retirement home) and then enjoy what you have acquired. Living large and victoriously, buy a motor home, travel in luxury and leisure. Some of the perks of doing so well. Then when the time is right, at the peak of your wealth, retire and you're set for life. Take a couple of cruises a year, and enjoy the good life until you pass. Then leave it to the kids. We are experts at it. there are complete industries built around it, The banking and financial industry, and the retirement and travel industry cannot function unless it's there. There are more than just those two but you get the point. We did not invent it, but we have perfected it. That is why there is so much information available about it. We exemplify it. We are a nation of Rich Fools. (self included) I want it all!
The Parable of The Rich Fool
Scripture: Luke 12:13-21;
13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
What do we really want to hear
13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me."
14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Jesus has been speaking to the crowds when suddenly a man from the crowd asks Jesus to settle a dispute about an inheritance. Jesus refuses the request and instead replies with a question. Who made me a judge over you? Jesus had been preaching and teaching and his followers were deeply involved with learning, and here comes this man with an off the wall question. Has this man been preoccupied with business the whole time Jesus had been speaking?
Then Jesus uses this mans request to make another teaching moment with a parable about covetousness. Jesus did not want to presume to be a judge over this man, nor to rule either way in the matter. Jesus gets directly to the heart of the matter: Covetousness! Jesus warns this person, and all within earshot, that our lives are not to be about gathering wealth. Life is so much more than the “abundance of possessions.”
Q.1 We start this parable with a man wanting a ruling on a civil matter. Why did this man make such a request of Jesus? Vs 13
Q.2 By what matter of reason do you feel that Jesus refused his request? Vs.14
Q.3 How do you suppose this man felt after Jesus spoke this parable?
Q.4 Are there times when sitting in church listening to the preacher, your mind wanders?
Why does that happen?
Q.5 How do you feel about God’s word as a tool to be used to settle civil disputes?
Q.6 Jesus said, “A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
What meaning is conveyed to you by that phrase?
Pg.2
What do we really want to do
16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
What is the point of Jesus' story about a wealthy landowner and why does God call him a fool? Jesus does not fault him for his industriousness, but for his ego-centric selfishness. His life was consumed with his possessions and his only interests were in himself. Here the rich man’s words to himself express his decision to continue on his present course of accumulating more resources without sharing them. His expectation is that his comfortable life, lived without thought of the suffering of others, will continue, only better organized, with a more secure future. His death was the final loss of his soul! In this parable Jesus gives a lesson on using material possessions. He gives a warning to beware of all covetousness. Jesus restates the commandment, do not covet, but he also states that a person's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Posessions have a special connection to the heart. The thing we set our heart on is our highest treasure. The study of this parable will give us an overview of certain aspects of our world today.
Q.1 Jesus’ parable is a description of someone who has an abundance of harvest, more than he can use in a season so what would you do in this case?
Q.2 The man put some thought into it and decided to build a bigger barn and store the abundance for future use. What is it that makes that a bad plan?
Q.3 As a farmer, do we not want to do this type of thing? It is after all what Joseph did when he was put in charge of all Egypt by Pharaoh. Joseph stored all the excess grain of the seven years of plenty, holding it for a certain famine. What was the difference in what Joseph did with the country’s excess grain, than what this farmer did with his extra?
Q.4 What would have been the “right thing to do: for this farmer?
Q.5 When we have excess as a country, what happens? As a city, what happens? Did you hear about the 20,000 dollars in the Millington police headquarters, in safe keeping?
Q.6 That is not what happened in the farmers case, but what is similar about it?
What will it take
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.''
So it is with mankind today, we seek to have more and more, and build bigger and better stuff, we anticipate and hoard, we spend and go into debt. When it comes to the things of this world more of them means less concern for the disposition of our soul. It behooves one to care for the spiritual things one possesses. Ones faith, righteousness, humility, spiritual gifts, and ones salvation over and above ones material possessions.
The things of this world do not make salvation a reality. With things, salvation is as a mirage, something one thinks is there but it is not. Coveting material possessions is the instinct of the natural man, It means we rest our worth in what we possess, not in who we are.
Q.1 Why is it that those who seem to have it all, will always want more?
Q.2 Wealth and possessions seem to give us the feeling of comfort and security. Why is that?
Pg.3
Who are we?
20 But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Every parable has realistic features that draw us in, thinking it is just another innocent little story. The realistic portion of this parable is that a rich man in Jesus’ day would hoard his wealth while the poor around him were malnourished. This points to the social reality all around him, (and in our world today). Every parable has at least one unrealistic feature, something that would not happen in the daily course of life. The strange, unrealistic aspect here is that God speaks to him directly. God informs him of the futility of the priorities he has chosen in life and on the exact timing of his demise. While none of us gets the timing memo, we have the futility information. Does it make a difference in our priorities for living out the future days of our lives?
The parable... shows the pointlessness of greed. Possessions, even an abundance of possessions, cannot give us security; they can only give us an illusion of security. And that illusion can distract us from the true source of our security, God’s care for us. The folly of the rich farmer lay not in his having full barns, but in his believing that his full barns were all he needed.
We are children of God and as such we are to covet the things of God. Kindness and love, humility, and grace, trust and worthiness, righteousness and morality, goodness and charity. Those things which emanate from God, The Bible, Jesus our Savior, and our faith, not those things which emanate from the worlds attractions. Things such as greed, lust, jealousy, covetousness, immorality, envy and hate. The worlds things are unto death, Gods things are unto eternal life. It is a promise of God.
Q.1 What Is there about hoarding that is so destructive in this parable?
Q.2 How is it that covetousness is so destructive in our present world?
Q.3 Why is it that the good life is so destructive for this rich man?
Q.4 The Bible speaks to us about using our talents, and our resources in prudent ways.
And on the face of it, this man has done that, So Why does God call this man a fool?
Closing prayer, "Lord, free us all from covetousness and from attachments to our possessions. May we wholly and honestly desire Your Son Jesus as our priority, our treasure and portion. Help us to make good use of the material blessings you give us that we may use them generously for your glory and for the good of others. Now we offer our prayer for those of our friends and loved ones who need your healing touch.______________ We pray that your tender loving mercies will give healing, comfort and peace to those we have named, and others of our acquaintance who need your healing touch. " Bless us now as we go our separate ways, in Jesus name we pray Amen.
Pg4
Meditation
Understand!
1. Why do you think Jesus refused to judge the dispute between two brothers about their inheritance? What does the parable indicate about how God judges people like these brothers?
2. Jesus said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). According to his parable, in what should our life consist?
3. The Old Testament describes a fool as one who lives as though God does not exist (Psalm 14:1; 53:1). In what ways did the rich man forget about God or act like he did not exist?
4. In concrete terms, what do you think it means to “store up treasures” for ourselves (Luke 12:21)? To be “rich toward God”?
5. According to Jesus’ words in Luke 12:22-34, which immediately follow this parable, we should trust in our heavenly Father to meet our material needs. How does his teaching build on the message of the parable?
Grow!
1. What forms of greed do you recognize in your life? Desire to acquire things for their own sake? Selfish attachment to your possessions? Hoarding? How can you guard against such attitudes and practices?
2. If you find yourself at times basing your security on material goods, income, or achievements, why do you think this is the case? What would help you trust less in worldly things and more in God?
3. In what ways does a preoccupation with satisfying our material needs keep us from serving God and his people? What might help you increase your focus on the values of God’s kingdom and on eternal life?
4. Make a list of the qualities you think are necessary to be a good and prudent steward of God’s gifts. Which of those qualities would you like to grow in?
5. What have you learned about God and what is important to him from this parable? About yourself and what is important to you?
Reflect!
1. Still yourself and quietly meditate a while on the inevitability of your death. In this light, are there any ways that you should change how you relate to status, possessions, and material goods?
2. Reflect on the following passages to deepen your insight into the parable you have just studied:
[Job] said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)
All day long the wicked covet, but the righteous give and do not hold back. (Proverbs 21:26)
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). (Colossians 3:2-5)
There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
Act!
Simplify your life! Are you “storing up” things unnecessarily? Take some time this week to begin to sort through your clothing, household goods, and other possessions. Donate what you don’t need or aren’t making use of to a charitable organization so that others will be able to benefit from these items.
Monday, August 31, 2015
The Parable of The Seat of Honor
Pg.1
The Parable of the seat of Honor
Opening Prayer
Father God, again we gather to study the teachings of Your Son our Lord Jesus. We pray that you will open our hearts and minds to your word, and help us to garner from this study these things that you would have us learn. We pray a blessing for those of our group who cannot be here tonight, we miss them and pray for their well being. Bless us now as we enter into this study. Amen
The scripture reading
Luk 14:7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 12 He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." 15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
In these verses we see the historical development of the plan of salvation. (1) Prophetic announcement represented by the first invitation. (2) Second The assumption that one is chosen over another, when all are equally called. (3) Then as Christ explains, the extension of the invitation to the hitherto uninvited lesser guests, the Gentiles.
Humility is a grace within the reach of every true Christian. Not everyone has the resources, time or opportunities for working directly for Christ. We don’t all have gifts of speech and knowledge for preaching and teaching. But everyone can demonstrate his commitment to Christ by his humility. What gifts we have surely must include humility.
Q.1 What reason is given as to why Jesus spoke this parable?
Q,2 What does Jesus mean by saying we should not exalt ourselves?
Q.3 How is that done in our world today
Q.4 What in your opinion makes humility different from our other gifts of the Spirit?
How is one tempted?
Luke 14:7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,8"When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.
Pg.2
Jesus has noticed one obvious trait that seems to go along with the self righteous Pharisees who are driven more by their social status and the details of the law than by their grace and humility. They were each one seeking the place of honor. This was simply responding to a need that all of us have for recognition and the feeling of self worth. Those are natural instincts, and are just two of the several Spiritual Gifts that God gives to us
But there are drawbacks to allowing these instincts to direct our lives, our daily routines, our social behavior, even our worship. Jesus considered these guests to be among those who were seeking recognition, more for self gratification and the selfish desire to appear important among their peers. Our world is filled with many who are like that, and Jesus saw that in these Pharisees. This parable tells us that we are to be humble in our place among our peers.
Q.1 Why is humility so important to a Christian? Can we not be self motivators, self made, proud and successful, and still enter our salvation?
Q.2 How is it that we can come to the end of our days, thinking that we can be anything other than who we really are? Are there those who think otherwise?
Q.3 What, if any, of your actions today relate to how you wish to be remembered?
Q.4 What is the thing that drives one to want success, fame and fortune?
Q.5 During Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted by Satan in 3 ways, What were those temptations? Read Matthew 4:3-10
Q.6 And for what purpose did Satan offer these temptations to Jesus?
The proper attitude
10. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
It is quite useless to attempt to be humble with one of our peer group unless in our heart we are really humble with God. So if you are humble, and allow that you speak charitably to all those within your sphere of influence, there is the chance that you will attain a place of greater influence by having a Christian influence with your humility
Sympathy is power, but there is no sympathy where there is self. Self must step back and give way to a more humble and sympathetic view. There are times in our day to day living where we take issue with certain things or events, where our actions prove to be abrasive rather than diffusive, Where discretion would have been better served had we remained silent, and humbled ourselves. Everyone has experienced such times, we should learn from our mistakes and let humility guide our actions, words, and deeds
Q.1 What are the instances in your day to day living that sometimes try your humility?
Q.2 What is there about being humble that does not sit well with some people?
Q.3 Are there times in your life, when you are more humble? when might that be?
Pg.3
Be Charitable
12 He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
Jesus is telling us that we are not to be so exclusive as to overlook some who might be more appreciative of such things, The question is one not at all of social fellowship, but one of graciousness and of the objects to which our charity should be devoted. When you would lavish time and resources, says Christ, let the lavishing be not for your own personal gratification, but for the blessing of others.
But the admonition of the text reaches beyond social gatherings, it applies generally to the habit of laying out freely, profusely, and graciously, in order to comfort, profit, or draw attention to ourselves, and exhorts us instead to confine such laying out to generous and benevolent projects—to the work of giving pleasure, of rendering service, of communicating good, which is the very principle and Spirit of Him who, when He poured out His soul unto death, did it to bring us to God.
Q.1 What should be a Christians approach to social gatherings?
Q.2 What are some of the worthy causes that we can support as a social group?
Q.3 Do you feel that some of our social events compare to what Jesus is telling his host?
Who is entitled?
15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God”.
We do not know how Jesus felt about this man, he did not say about him one way or the other. We can presume him to be a Pharisee, or just another guest, and either way his words are true, and it is to be desired that we are blessed enough to “eat bread in the Kingdom of God”.
If this man was truthful and humble then surely he will be thought to be included in his statement, and would be invited to “eat bread in the Kingdom of God”.
If however this man was presuming that because of his birth or that he was Jewish, or a Pharisee, and deserved to be one who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God. It then could be said of him that he was making a presumption that he was entitled, and felt that he deserved it by his birthright or because of his social status, or his rank as a Pharisee. Jesus answers him with another parable, about wedding guests who were not included.
Q.1 What are some suppositions one might make about being Christian?
Q.2 What are some circumstances where ones worthiness might come into question?
Q.3 What does humility mean to you in reference to this study.
Q.4 What does the word “entitlement” mean to you?
Q.5 Jesus words were spoken to those at the feast for their benefit. What are his words to us from this parable?
Pg.4
Scripture Verses
Matthew 4:3-10 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
Mat 4:6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Meditation
Who wants to be last? Isn't it only natural to desire respect and esteem from others? Jesus' parable of the guests invited to the marriage feast probes our motives for seeking honor and position. Self-promotion is most often achieved at the expense of others! Jesus' parable reinforces the teaching of Proverbs: Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince (Prov. 25:6-7).
What is true humility and why should we make it a characteristic mark of our life and action? True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves truthfully, with sober judgment. It means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1- 4). A humble person makes a realistic assessment of himself without illusion or pretense to be something they are not. One regards oneself neither smaller nor larger than they truly are. True humility frees us to be ourselves and to avoid despair and pride. A humble person does not have to wear a mask or put on a facade in order to look good to others who do not know who they really are. They are not swayed by accidentals, such as fame, reputation, success, or failure.
Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues because it enables us to see and judge correctly. Humility leads to knowledge, honesty, realism, strength, and dedication to give ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Humility frees us to love and serve others selflessly, for their sake, rather than our own. Paul the Apostles, gives us the greatest example and model of humility is the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, ...who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8). The Lord gives grace to those who seek him humbly. Do you want to be a servant as Jesus served?
Closing prayer, "Lord Jesus, you became a servant for our sake to set us free from selfishness, fear, and conceit. Help us to be humble as you are humble and to love freely and graciously all whom you call to serve. Be with those of our friends and loved ones who need your healing touch.______________ We pray that your tender loving mercies will give healing, comfort and peace to those we have named, and others of our acquaintance who need your healing touch. " Bless us now as we go our separate ways, in Jesus name we pray Amen.
The Parable of the seat of Honor
Opening Prayer
Father God, again we gather to study the teachings of Your Son our Lord Jesus. We pray that you will open our hearts and minds to your word, and help us to garner from this study these things that you would have us learn. We pray a blessing for those of our group who cannot be here tonight, we miss them and pray for their well being. Bless us now as we enter into this study. Amen
The scripture reading
Luk 14:7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 12 He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." 15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
In these verses we see the historical development of the plan of salvation. (1) Prophetic announcement represented by the first invitation. (2) Second The assumption that one is chosen over another, when all are equally called. (3) Then as Christ explains, the extension of the invitation to the hitherto uninvited lesser guests, the Gentiles.
Humility is a grace within the reach of every true Christian. Not everyone has the resources, time or opportunities for working directly for Christ. We don’t all have gifts of speech and knowledge for preaching and teaching. But everyone can demonstrate his commitment to Christ by his humility. What gifts we have surely must include humility.
Q.1 What reason is given as to why Jesus spoke this parable?
Q,2 What does Jesus mean by saying we should not exalt ourselves?
Q.3 How is that done in our world today
Q.4 What in your opinion makes humility different from our other gifts of the Spirit?
How is one tempted?
Luke 14:7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,8"When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.
Pg.2
Jesus has noticed one obvious trait that seems to go along with the self righteous Pharisees who are driven more by their social status and the details of the law than by their grace and humility. They were each one seeking the place of honor. This was simply responding to a need that all of us have for recognition and the feeling of self worth. Those are natural instincts, and are just two of the several Spiritual Gifts that God gives to us
But there are drawbacks to allowing these instincts to direct our lives, our daily routines, our social behavior, even our worship. Jesus considered these guests to be among those who were seeking recognition, more for self gratification and the selfish desire to appear important among their peers. Our world is filled with many who are like that, and Jesus saw that in these Pharisees. This parable tells us that we are to be humble in our place among our peers.
Q.1 Why is humility so important to a Christian? Can we not be self motivators, self made, proud and successful, and still enter our salvation?
Q.2 How is it that we can come to the end of our days, thinking that we can be anything other than who we really are? Are there those who think otherwise?
Q.3 What, if any, of your actions today relate to how you wish to be remembered?
Q.4 What is the thing that drives one to want success, fame and fortune?
Q.5 During Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted by Satan in 3 ways, What were those temptations? Read Matthew 4:3-10
Q.6 And for what purpose did Satan offer these temptations to Jesus?
The proper attitude
10. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
It is quite useless to attempt to be humble with one of our peer group unless in our heart we are really humble with God. So if you are humble, and allow that you speak charitably to all those within your sphere of influence, there is the chance that you will attain a place of greater influence by having a Christian influence with your humility
Sympathy is power, but there is no sympathy where there is self. Self must step back and give way to a more humble and sympathetic view. There are times in our day to day living where we take issue with certain things or events, where our actions prove to be abrasive rather than diffusive, Where discretion would have been better served had we remained silent, and humbled ourselves. Everyone has experienced such times, we should learn from our mistakes and let humility guide our actions, words, and deeds
Q.1 What are the instances in your day to day living that sometimes try your humility?
Q.2 What is there about being humble that does not sit well with some people?
Q.3 Are there times in your life, when you are more humble? when might that be?
Pg.3
Be Charitable
12 He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
Jesus is telling us that we are not to be so exclusive as to overlook some who might be more appreciative of such things, The question is one not at all of social fellowship, but one of graciousness and of the objects to which our charity should be devoted. When you would lavish time and resources, says Christ, let the lavishing be not for your own personal gratification, but for the blessing of others.
But the admonition of the text reaches beyond social gatherings, it applies generally to the habit of laying out freely, profusely, and graciously, in order to comfort, profit, or draw attention to ourselves, and exhorts us instead to confine such laying out to generous and benevolent projects—to the work of giving pleasure, of rendering service, of communicating good, which is the very principle and Spirit of Him who, when He poured out His soul unto death, did it to bring us to God.
Q.1 What should be a Christians approach to social gatherings?
Q.2 What are some of the worthy causes that we can support as a social group?
Q.3 Do you feel that some of our social events compare to what Jesus is telling his host?
Who is entitled?
15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God”.
We do not know how Jesus felt about this man, he did not say about him one way or the other. We can presume him to be a Pharisee, or just another guest, and either way his words are true, and it is to be desired that we are blessed enough to “eat bread in the Kingdom of God”.
If this man was truthful and humble then surely he will be thought to be included in his statement, and would be invited to “eat bread in the Kingdom of God”.
If however this man was presuming that because of his birth or that he was Jewish, or a Pharisee, and deserved to be one who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God. It then could be said of him that he was making a presumption that he was entitled, and felt that he deserved it by his birthright or because of his social status, or his rank as a Pharisee. Jesus answers him with another parable, about wedding guests who were not included.
Q.1 What are some suppositions one might make about being Christian?
Q.2 What are some circumstances where ones worthiness might come into question?
Q.3 What does humility mean to you in reference to this study.
Q.4 What does the word “entitlement” mean to you?
Q.5 Jesus words were spoken to those at the feast for their benefit. What are his words to us from this parable?
Pg.4
Scripture Verses
Matthew 4:3-10 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
Mat 4:6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Meditation
Who wants to be last? Isn't it only natural to desire respect and esteem from others? Jesus' parable of the guests invited to the marriage feast probes our motives for seeking honor and position. Self-promotion is most often achieved at the expense of others! Jesus' parable reinforces the teaching of Proverbs: Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince (Prov. 25:6-7).
What is true humility and why should we make it a characteristic mark of our life and action? True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves truthfully, with sober judgment. It means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1- 4). A humble person makes a realistic assessment of himself without illusion or pretense to be something they are not. One regards oneself neither smaller nor larger than they truly are. True humility frees us to be ourselves and to avoid despair and pride. A humble person does not have to wear a mask or put on a facade in order to look good to others who do not know who they really are. They are not swayed by accidentals, such as fame, reputation, success, or failure.
Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues because it enables us to see and judge correctly. Humility leads to knowledge, honesty, realism, strength, and dedication to give ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Humility frees us to love and serve others selflessly, for their sake, rather than our own. Paul the Apostles, gives us the greatest example and model of humility is the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, ...who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8). The Lord gives grace to those who seek him humbly. Do you want to be a servant as Jesus served?
Closing prayer, "Lord Jesus, you became a servant for our sake to set us free from selfishness, fear, and conceit. Help us to be humble as you are humble and to love freely and graciously all whom you call to serve. Be with those of our friends and loved ones who need your healing touch.______________ We pray that your tender loving mercies will give healing, comfort and peace to those we have named, and others of our acquaintance who need your healing touch. " Bless us now as we go our separate ways, in Jesus name we pray Amen.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
The Parable of The Talents, Part Two of Two
The Parable of The Talents, Part two Pg.1
We resume this study with the closing page of last weeks study
Last week we stopped at “How to Express responsibility. So far we have covered only two verses of the parable of the talents. Tonight we will cover the remaining verses . We were told that each of the servants were given a certain amount to invest. We understand that the parable is about doing the prudent thing with our talents, and that is called “making do with what one has been given”. Taking those resources that we have been given and putting them to good use for our Master.
Opening Prayer: God our Father, we ask Your blessing on our study tonight, and ask that we take from it that which You have purposed for our use in growing Your Kingdom. We pray that you will judge us not on the results, of our efforts, but on our willingness to use those talents which you have given to us for that purpose. Be with those of our group who cannot be here tonight. We ask that you share our blessing with them. And we pray that You will make a blessing for those of us and our friends and loved ones who need your healing touch. We pray that You will Join with us now as we study Your Word. In Jesus Name we pray, AMEN.
How to express responsibility
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
Just as children are given certain tasks to perform, and when doing a good job of it they are made to feel capable. As we grow older we learn that making the best of what we have is a pleasant experience. But we also learn that some of us that are not as adept at certain of life’s tasks as are others. We all have been equipped fundamentally the same, but we are physically, mentally, and spiritually, different. None of us are gifted exactly the same.
We are Disciples with a charge to keep. but servants too, who must give an account This verse is telling us that God has given each of us in differing amounts, the ability, time, and resources to do the work that he is expecting us to do. Last week we studied about our gifts, this week we will discover what God expects that we can do with them.
The type and number of talents varies with our ability to manage them. The Master is not unreasonable, and never places more on us than we are able to do. It is by use that the power to use grows. By carefully employing our opportunities, our sphere of service may be greatly widened, so that, at the end of life, we shall be able to do more than at the outset. The time, talent, ability, and resources we were blessed enough to receive are gifts from God and are not for our own edification nor for the use by us for self promotion, but to use in service to God and the growing of His Kingdom.
Q.1 Why did the Master entrust five talents to the first servant?
Q.2 And likewise the servant who had been given only two talents?
Q.3 And the third servant, wouldn’t you have felt slighted by this lack of equal treatment?
Q.4 We have listed 20 talents (Gifts of the Spirit) there are many more, what are yours?
Q.5 What do you think, Does God give us talents that some of us do not recognize?
Pg.2
The accounting
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
Just as sure as we who are born as sinners with no hope of salvation except for Our Lord Jesus Christ, it is a certainty that his return is near to all. Not just to those who profess to be His followers. Know this, a lifetime is but a moment when compared to eternity, so we must always be prepared for His return, for it is the truth that Jesus will return, and His judgment will befall all of mankind.
Our servants in this parable are well aware of this fact, and they immediately make certain plans to care for their gifts. We must understand one fact about these gifts, that applies to each servant equally. Their gifts are temporary, The Master will return, and claim that which was his at the beginning. Everyone is given a gift or gifts as The Master sees fit considering the ability of each one. The Master has made that judgment long before the moment of your first breath.
Our servants in this parable know their Master and they know what will be expected of them. Just as we as children learned to know our parents and what they expected of us. The gifts (talents) we have are God given gifts of the Holy Spirit, and thus are for our use in promoting his Kingdom, and as well, they are for our well being. His Gifts to us are investments that he has given to us to manage. We absolutely do know what to do with them. And just as absolutely we will choose to work with them or not to work with them, that is our free will choice. God has left no directive, and Just as Adam and Eve did in the garden, we make the choice as to what we do with our gift in God’s garden.
Q.1 Having been away for a long time, what does the master expect from his servants?
Q.3 How would one make an evaluation of each servants performance?
Q.4 Read II Corinthians 5:10, On what basis will everyone be judged?
Q.5 Read Luke 12, vs.48 Can we make a comparison in vs. 48 with the verses of our study?
Q.6 Jesus is telling this parable to his Disciples, But what are we to garner from this study?
Q.7 Assess the matter of your own gift(s) Have you managed them well? Could you have done better? Do you have questions?
Pg.3
Complacency will destroy
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
This servant, who had received only one talent, charges his Lord with reaping where he had not sown, and gathering where he had not scattered seed, thus throwing the blame off himself by endeavoring to prove that his own failure is not of any fault of his own, but is a result of unreasonable expectation by the Master. How is that thought justified?
The words, "Here you have what is yours", teach us that the most unfaithful servants are willing to make a compromise with God, even though they have nothing to present to Him but the truths of their own negligence. Thus the unfaithful servant here speaks to his Master as if he were fulfilling an act of justice by returning to his Lord what he had received from him; This failure to develop and use his talent for gain must have been a disappointment for his Master. If this were your employee how would you feel?
Tragically, Christ will return and take away even the little that this person has in talents and abilities. This servant buried his talent and didn’t use that which the master had gifted him. He hid it which means that a God given talent was abused by having been hidden and allowed to fail. Are there instances where we see this in today's world?
This parable is a warning for us Christians as well. The one who professes to be a Christian, yet disables the talents given to them by God is harming the Church universal with their selfish act, and giving away even that which they have, and endangering their own salvation. Read (Matt 10:32-33)
Which are you; a faithful servant or one that hides their talent and their profession of faith in Christ? Have you buried your talents or are you using them? Are you a servant of Christ or a self-seeking servant that is only interested in meeting your own needs? Only you and the Lord know. Read (Matt 10:37-42).
Q.1 How did this servant try to justify his poor performance?
Q.2 What are your feelings about this mans poor performance?
Q.3 What prompted his actions. Selfishness, fear, bad judgment, sloth, or all of these?
Q.4 Poor judgment; How is his poor judgment expressed?
Q.5 Fear; How is his fear expressed?
Q.6 Selfishness; How is his selfishness expressed?
Q.7 Sloth; How is his slothfulness expressed?
Q.8 How is it that he also seems to be blaming his master?
Q.9 Do we too, sometimes want to place the blame for our poor performance on something or someone else?
Pg.4 The Consequence of Inaction
26 But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
These verses are a vivid description of how the master values this servants ability, and results. Although there are others in this parable who have benefited from the Masters gifts, There would not be any increase nor any use made of the talents had not there been an instinctive effort to make good use of them by the ones so gifted. And the Master is well aware of who those servants are and what they are capable of .
The master has given this man one talent because he knows his capability is limited. But he trusted that he would at least have put his talent to some good use. Instead he buried the talent, which rendered it useless. It would have been better should he have at least tried to make use of the talent. Even if it lost value he would have at least made an honest effort. Now the master deems him completely useless and orders him thrown into the outer darkness.
Jesus our Lord and Savior gives to each of us the ability and the desire to serve him. We are given certain Gifts (talents) in differing amounts, and if we reap anything from this study it is that we must make use of what God has given us in order to help to grow his kingdom. If we choose not to serve Him (as do some like the slothful servant) then we give our master just cause to exact His judgment on us.
Q.1 The world offers distractions from our Masters plan. Why are some tempted to fail? Read Genesis 3: 2-6
Q.2 Considering this scripture, what are your distractions?
Q.2 What were this servants distractions?
Q.3 The slothful servant was cast into the outer darkness. What vision comes to mind?
Q.4 The faithful servants joined the joy of their master. What is that vision like?
Q.5 What in your opinion are the take away points to remember about this study?
Closing Prayer "Lord, be the ruler of our hearts and thoughts, be the King of our abode and our relationships, and be the master of our work and service. Lead us in the way that You would have us go, and lead us away from the worlds temptations. Help us to make good use of the gifts, talents, time, and resources You give us for Your glory and your kingdom." Be with our sick and disabled and offer them your healing touch, ___________ restore their strength and give them hope and healing, We ask this in the name of Your Son our Lord Jesus, AMEN
Pg.5
Meditation: What can economics and productivity teach us about the kingdom of heaven? Jesus' story about a businessman who leaves town and entrusts his money with his workers made perfect sense to his audience. Wealthy merchants and businessmen often had to travel abroad and leave the business to others to handle while they were gone. Why did Jesus tell this story? Most importantly it tells us something about how God deals with us, his servants. The parable speaks first of the Master's trust in his servants. While he goes away he leaves them with his money to use as they think best. While there were no strings attached, this was obviously a test to see if the Master's workers would be industrious and reliable in their use of the money entrusted to them. Third, the master rewards those who are industrious and faithful and he punishes those who sit by idly and do nothing with his gifts. The essence of the parable seems to lie in the servants' conception of responsibility. Each servant entrusted with the master's money was faithful up to a certain point. The servant who buried the master's money was irresponsible. One can bury seeds in the ground and expect them to become productive because they are responding to God’s plan for them, natural laws. Coins, however, do not obey natural laws. They obey economic laws and become productive in circulation. The master expected his servants to be productive in the use of his money. What do coins and the law of economics have to do with the kingdom of God? The Lord entrusts the subjects of his kingdom with gifts and graces and he gives his subjects the freedom to use them as they think best. With each gift and talent, God gives the ability, the means (grace and wisdom) for using them in a fitting way. As the parable of the talents shows, God abhors indifference and an attitude that says it's not worth trying. God honors those who use their talents and gifts for doing good. Those who are faithful with even a little are entrusted with more! But those who neglect or squander what God has entrusted to them will lose what they have. There is an important lesson here for us. No one can stand still for long in the Christian life. We either get more or we lose what we have. We either advance towards God or we slip back. Do you earnestly seek to serve God with the gifts, talents, and graces he has given to you?
Pg.6
Scripture readings
2Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Luke 12:48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Matthew 10:32-33 "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 10:37- 42 "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. 40 "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward."
Genesis 3:2-6 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.” 4 "You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
The Parable of The Talents, Part One of Two
Pg.1
The Parable of the Talents
A two part study
This parable of the talents places emphasis on the matter of Jesus’ disciples and the work they must do in his absence. This message is a charge for his disciples of that day, and even now is a charge to us as Disciples of Christ, to see to the use of the (talents) that we have been given. Each of us has a responsibility, some of us more so than others in support of and to help the message of salvation to reach all the world. Should we choose not to respond in kind, there will be consequences.
This parable is a two part study. First we will study our several talents, and examine their possibilities. In the second part of the study we will study how we are expected to use them and the consequences of refusing to do so.
Opening Prayer: God our Father, we ask Your blessing on our study tonight, and ask that we take from it that which You have purposed for our use in growing Your Kingdom. We pray that you will judge us not on the results, of our efforts, but on our willingness to use those talents which you have given to us for that purpose. Be with those of our group who cannot be here tonight. We ask that you share our blessing with them. And we pray that You will make a blessing for those of us and our friends and loved ones who need your healing touch. We pray that You will Join with us now as we study Your Word. In Jesus Name we pray, AMEN
Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30
14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
Pg.2
The parable teaches 4 basic principles of a successful approach to life
First, this parable teaches us that God has given to each of us certain abilities and attributes that differ one from another, so that each may serve Him in ways that are unique to our specific gifts;
Second, the parable teaches that God gives to each of us the ability and resources, to do what He has called us to do, and He asks no more from us than what He has given us the ability to do;
Thirdly, this parable teaches us that success is a product of the proper use of God’s gifts to us, and the effort that we are willing to put forth to manifest them in our lives;
Fourthly, We are led by this parable to come to the knowledge that each of us, as we use our gifts in service to Him, are to understand that we do not serve Him to our own glorification, but it is for His Glory that we strive.
And there is a fifth conditional lesson to be learned from this parable as well. And that is that those who are given even the barest minimum of these certain gifts, but have no desire to please God with their efforts in any way will indeed suffer the consequences.
We read in this parable that the rewards are commensurate with the results of our work. So then are we to understand that Jesus is teaching us that works do matter when assessing one’s faith? Of course the answer is yes, But they must accompany reason and faith.
Jesus was not born of woman as a man for the purpose of anything other than making a way of salvation to all those who are otherwise lost souls, and He did that by doing the work that God sent Him to this earth to do, and when he had accomplished that task, (dying to save lost sinners) he declared that “It is finished” This is a classic statement of truth. God conceived Him, gave him a family, educated Him, fully equipped him, and gave Him the time and the resources which he used in his work. Jesus Christ is the Epitome of good works and faith, not everyone believes that, but we as Christians know it is true. Jesus Christ is our salvation. “Jesus Saves”
Now we as Christians are just not equipped to even scratch the surface on the work of salvation that was accomplished by Jesus. God has not equipped us to do the works that Christ did, but we have been equipped with the time, the resources and the ability to make the effort that God expects us to make in order to spread his message worldwide.
Q.1 How does this parable teach us that success is a product of our own effort?
Q.2 Regarding Quotas, can someone explain how that applies to one’s effort?
Q.3 Can we explain God’s gifts of time and ability, do some have more than others?
Q.4 How is it evident that God expects differing results from different people?
Q.5 If God has given us these attributes, why does God not state the desired result ?
Q.6 We are cautioned not to work for our own glorification in doing God’s work, Why wouldn’t it be helpful if we became famous for doing God’s work?
Q.7 In this parable, there is mention of “talents” is this the same as Gifts of the Spirit? If so What are our gifts?
Q.8 There are consequences for those who misuse, or do not use their gifts, but what of those who feel that they have no gifts?
Pg.3
A distribution according to our ability
14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
Here we are to understand that The Man (God) Who is going to go away for a time, but will return. He knows the certain abilities of each of his servants, (us), and now he turns over his property to us to care for. Each one is given some portion for which they are to be responsible.
God has gifted us with who we are, now it is our gift back to him to make who we are a better more productive and righteous person, using his gifts to us as the basis for our investment, and we are to make of it what our abilities will allow.
As disciples we are to care for God’s world. Just as he expected from Adam and Eve, we too are to be responsible for the share which we have been given. Of all his gifts to us, none are alike, each of us has been given our own special abilities. God knows our abilities, and what we are capable of, and has challenged us accordingly. Each with a different charge,
God, as he did with Adam and Eve, has placed before us, certain responsibilities and it is up to each of us as to if, and how we are to manage those responsibilities. He makes “distinctions” among people in regard to abilities, and in the powers and opportunities of usefulness, requiring them to discharge their duties there, to the best of their ability.
Q.1 Why did The man not give each one the same amount of talents with which to work?
Q.2 How does God know to make distinctions among people?
Q.3 What about those who hear God’s call and do nothing?
Q.4 Can one go through this life and never become aware of these certain responsibilities?
Q.5 Isn’t there something missing here? A list of what to do and how to do it?
Q.6 Or do we just choose what to do, and how we want to do it? Or not?
Q.7 How can we determine our gift(s)?
Q.8 We have listed some of our gifts, now do we know what our gift is?
Pg.4
How to express responsibility
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
One servant invested and doubled the amount that he invested, by trading. Another did the same but with a lesser amount, and a third took the amount given him and buried it. It neither gained in value nor did it lose value.
This verse is telling us that God has given each of us in differing amounts, the ability, time, and resources to do the work that he is expecting us to do. It is illustrating what the possibilities are and what our abilities are capable of accomplishing.
We are Disciples with a charge to keep. but servants too, who must give an account of our stewardship. The number of talents varies with our ability to manage them. The Master is not unreasonable, and never places more on us than we are able to do. It is by use that the power to use grows. By carefully employing our opportunities, our sphere of service may be greatly widened, so that, at the end of life, we shall be able to do more than at the outset. The time, talent, ability, and resources we were blessed enough to receive are gifts from God and are not for our own edification nor for the use by us for self promotion, but to use in service to God for His use and His alone.
Q.1 How would you rate the ability of the first servant who had been given five talents?
Q.2 And likewise the servant who had been given two talents?
Q.3 And then the third servant, what was his problem?
Q.4 Now then which servant would you choose to do your investing?
Q.5 Have you by now determined what your skill is?
Closing Prayer: Dear God, be with us now as we go our separate ways. We pray that You will help us in our efforts to apply the teachings of Jesus to our daily living. Help us to be faithful stewards of your word, and give us the desire and the will to do the work of growing Your Kingdom as we go about our daily living. We ask that You offer Your healing touch to those of our friends and loved ones who are suffering, and in poor health ____________Give them Your peace and comfort to help them through their trials. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.
We will resume next week with the second part of our study of the parable of the talents.
A compilation of The Gifts of The Spirit taken from Biblical passages
For use with the parable of the talents
There are three biblical lists of the “gifts of the Spirit,” also known as spiritual gifts. The three main passages describing the spiritual gifts are Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28. The spiritual gifts identified in Romans 12 are prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy. The list in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 includes the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. The list in 1 Corinthians 12:28 includes healings, helps, guidance, diversities of tongues. And from James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1) Prophecy – to interpret the purposes of God, preachers are our prophets, they have been called by God and educated to lead guide and direct their congregations, under God’s direction, that is a gift.
2) Serving – Also referred to as “ministering,” the word “deacon,” means service of any kind, the broad application of practical help to those in need.
3) Teaching – This gift involves the analysis and proclamation of the Word of God, to clearly instruct and communicate knowledge, specifically the doctrines of the faith.
4) Encouraging – Also called “exhortation,” to call upon others to heed and follow God’s truth, which may involve correction or building others up by strengthening weak faith or comforting in trials.
5) Giving – Those who joyfully share what they have, whether it is financial, material, or the giving of personal time and attention.
6) Leadership – One with the gift of leadership rules with wisdom and grace and exhibits the fruit of the Spirit in his life as he leads by example.
7) Mercy – The gift of mercy is obvious in those who are compassionate toward others who are in distress, showing sympathy and sensitivity coupled with a desire and the resources to lessen their suffering.
8) Wisdom – The word of wisdom represents one who can understand and speak forth biblical truth in such a way as to skillfully apply it to life situations with discernment.
9) Knowledge – knowledge allows us to see the circumstances of our life the way that God sees them. Through this gift we can determine God's purpose for our lives and live accordingly.
10) Helps –Those who aid and assist others in the church with compassion and grace. To help those in spiritual need with understanding and compassion. and to speak scriptural truth.
11) Faith – Bestowed on all who come to Christ, (Galatians 5:22-23). The gift of faith is a strong and unshakeable confidence in God, His Word, His promises, and the power of prayer to effect miracles.
12) Healing – Although, even today, God miraculously heals. The medical feild is also a spiritual gift to man through which God also works, using his Healing power working through mans gifted abilities.
13) Miraculous powers – Events that could only be attributed to the power of God, and through which God still works today, Prayer is the gift, Miraculous effects are the result
14) Discernment of spirits – Satan, purveying deceptive and erroneous doctrine.is still loose in our world, but the gift of discerning spirits is given to the Church to protect it from Satan's wiles
15) Speaking in tongues – The gift of tongues, given to the early Church to enable the gospel to be spread throughout the world, is still practiced by some in the Church today. And from 1 Corinthians. 14:27-28 - If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
16) Interpretation of tongues – Interpretation of tongues is the only one of the nine gifts of the Spirit that is dependent upon another gift. It will not happen unless the gift of tongues has been spoken.
17) Governance- The Gift of Governance in this instance refers broadly to the mechanisms, processes and relations by which the Church, (God’s people) are ruled over and taught.
18) Evangelism- The gift of evangelism is worldwide and is one of the best gifts God has given mankind. We are to make that our Goal as it is what Jesus has issued as our charge.
!9) Hospitality- Practiced worldwide and most Christians the world over have this gift in some form or another. However the Church ( God’s People) are to be the mother of hospitality
20) Missionary – This also is a gift Most Christians will practice at sometime in their life either at home or abroad, and it is a gift that each can easily understand and put into practice.
The Parable of the Talents
A two part study
This parable of the talents places emphasis on the matter of Jesus’ disciples and the work they must do in his absence. This message is a charge for his disciples of that day, and even now is a charge to us as Disciples of Christ, to see to the use of the (talents) that we have been given. Each of us has a responsibility, some of us more so than others in support of and to help the message of salvation to reach all the world. Should we choose not to respond in kind, there will be consequences.
This parable is a two part study. First we will study our several talents, and examine their possibilities. In the second part of the study we will study how we are expected to use them and the consequences of refusing to do so.
Opening Prayer: God our Father, we ask Your blessing on our study tonight, and ask that we take from it that which You have purposed for our use in growing Your Kingdom. We pray that you will judge us not on the results, of our efforts, but on our willingness to use those talents which you have given to us for that purpose. Be with those of our group who cannot be here tonight. We ask that you share our blessing with them. And we pray that You will make a blessing for those of us and our friends and loved ones who need your healing touch. We pray that You will Join with us now as we study Your Word. In Jesus Name we pray, AMEN
Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30
14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
Pg.2
The parable teaches 4 basic principles of a successful approach to life
First, this parable teaches us that God has given to each of us certain abilities and attributes that differ one from another, so that each may serve Him in ways that are unique to our specific gifts;
Second, the parable teaches that God gives to each of us the ability and resources, to do what He has called us to do, and He asks no more from us than what He has given us the ability to do;
Thirdly, this parable teaches us that success is a product of the proper use of God’s gifts to us, and the effort that we are willing to put forth to manifest them in our lives;
Fourthly, We are led by this parable to come to the knowledge that each of us, as we use our gifts in service to Him, are to understand that we do not serve Him to our own glorification, but it is for His Glory that we strive.
And there is a fifth conditional lesson to be learned from this parable as well. And that is that those who are given even the barest minimum of these certain gifts, but have no desire to please God with their efforts in any way will indeed suffer the consequences.
We read in this parable that the rewards are commensurate with the results of our work. So then are we to understand that Jesus is teaching us that works do matter when assessing one’s faith? Of course the answer is yes, But they must accompany reason and faith.
Jesus was not born of woman as a man for the purpose of anything other than making a way of salvation to all those who are otherwise lost souls, and He did that by doing the work that God sent Him to this earth to do, and when he had accomplished that task, (dying to save lost sinners) he declared that “It is finished” This is a classic statement of truth. God conceived Him, gave him a family, educated Him, fully equipped him, and gave Him the time and the resources which he used in his work. Jesus Christ is the Epitome of good works and faith, not everyone believes that, but we as Christians know it is true. Jesus Christ is our salvation. “Jesus Saves”
Now we as Christians are just not equipped to even scratch the surface on the work of salvation that was accomplished by Jesus. God has not equipped us to do the works that Christ did, but we have been equipped with the time, the resources and the ability to make the effort that God expects us to make in order to spread his message worldwide.
Q.1 How does this parable teach us that success is a product of our own effort?
Q.2 Regarding Quotas, can someone explain how that applies to one’s effort?
Q.3 Can we explain God’s gifts of time and ability, do some have more than others?
Q.4 How is it evident that God expects differing results from different people?
Q.5 If God has given us these attributes, why does God not state the desired result ?
Q.6 We are cautioned not to work for our own glorification in doing God’s work, Why wouldn’t it be helpful if we became famous for doing God’s work?
Q.7 In this parable, there is mention of “talents” is this the same as Gifts of the Spirit? If so What are our gifts?
Q.8 There are consequences for those who misuse, or do not use their gifts, but what of those who feel that they have no gifts?
Pg.3
A distribution according to our ability
14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
Here we are to understand that The Man (God) Who is going to go away for a time, but will return. He knows the certain abilities of each of his servants, (us), and now he turns over his property to us to care for. Each one is given some portion for which they are to be responsible.
God has gifted us with who we are, now it is our gift back to him to make who we are a better more productive and righteous person, using his gifts to us as the basis for our investment, and we are to make of it what our abilities will allow.
As disciples we are to care for God’s world. Just as he expected from Adam and Eve, we too are to be responsible for the share which we have been given. Of all his gifts to us, none are alike, each of us has been given our own special abilities. God knows our abilities, and what we are capable of, and has challenged us accordingly. Each with a different charge,
God, as he did with Adam and Eve, has placed before us, certain responsibilities and it is up to each of us as to if, and how we are to manage those responsibilities. He makes “distinctions” among people in regard to abilities, and in the powers and opportunities of usefulness, requiring them to discharge their duties there, to the best of their ability.
Q.1 Why did The man not give each one the same amount of talents with which to work?
Q.2 How does God know to make distinctions among people?
Q.3 What about those who hear God’s call and do nothing?
Q.4 Can one go through this life and never become aware of these certain responsibilities?
Q.5 Isn’t there something missing here? A list of what to do and how to do it?
Q.6 Or do we just choose what to do, and how we want to do it? Or not?
Q.7 How can we determine our gift(s)?
Q.8 We have listed some of our gifts, now do we know what our gift is?
Pg.4
How to express responsibility
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
One servant invested and doubled the amount that he invested, by trading. Another did the same but with a lesser amount, and a third took the amount given him and buried it. It neither gained in value nor did it lose value.
This verse is telling us that God has given each of us in differing amounts, the ability, time, and resources to do the work that he is expecting us to do. It is illustrating what the possibilities are and what our abilities are capable of accomplishing.
We are Disciples with a charge to keep. but servants too, who must give an account of our stewardship. The number of talents varies with our ability to manage them. The Master is not unreasonable, and never places more on us than we are able to do. It is by use that the power to use grows. By carefully employing our opportunities, our sphere of service may be greatly widened, so that, at the end of life, we shall be able to do more than at the outset. The time, talent, ability, and resources we were blessed enough to receive are gifts from God and are not for our own edification nor for the use by us for self promotion, but to use in service to God for His use and His alone.
Q.1 How would you rate the ability of the first servant who had been given five talents?
Q.2 And likewise the servant who had been given two talents?
Q.3 And then the third servant, what was his problem?
Q.4 Now then which servant would you choose to do your investing?
Q.5 Have you by now determined what your skill is?
Closing Prayer: Dear God, be with us now as we go our separate ways. We pray that You will help us in our efforts to apply the teachings of Jesus to our daily living. Help us to be faithful stewards of your word, and give us the desire and the will to do the work of growing Your Kingdom as we go about our daily living. We ask that You offer Your healing touch to those of our friends and loved ones who are suffering, and in poor health ____________Give them Your peace and comfort to help them through their trials. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.
We will resume next week with the second part of our study of the parable of the talents.
A compilation of The Gifts of The Spirit taken from Biblical passages
For use with the parable of the talents
There are three biblical lists of the “gifts of the Spirit,” also known as spiritual gifts. The three main passages describing the spiritual gifts are Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28. The spiritual gifts identified in Romans 12 are prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy. The list in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 includes the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. The list in 1 Corinthians 12:28 includes healings, helps, guidance, diversities of tongues. And from James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1) Prophecy – to interpret the purposes of God, preachers are our prophets, they have been called by God and educated to lead guide and direct their congregations, under God’s direction, that is a gift.
2) Serving – Also referred to as “ministering,” the word “deacon,” means service of any kind, the broad application of practical help to those in need.
3) Teaching – This gift involves the analysis and proclamation of the Word of God, to clearly instruct and communicate knowledge, specifically the doctrines of the faith.
4) Encouraging – Also called “exhortation,” to call upon others to heed and follow God’s truth, which may involve correction or building others up by strengthening weak faith or comforting in trials.
5) Giving – Those who joyfully share what they have, whether it is financial, material, or the giving of personal time and attention.
6) Leadership – One with the gift of leadership rules with wisdom and grace and exhibits the fruit of the Spirit in his life as he leads by example.
7) Mercy – The gift of mercy is obvious in those who are compassionate toward others who are in distress, showing sympathy and sensitivity coupled with a desire and the resources to lessen their suffering.
8) Wisdom – The word of wisdom represents one who can understand and speak forth biblical truth in such a way as to skillfully apply it to life situations with discernment.
9) Knowledge – knowledge allows us to see the circumstances of our life the way that God sees them. Through this gift we can determine God's purpose for our lives and live accordingly.
10) Helps –Those who aid and assist others in the church with compassion and grace. To help those in spiritual need with understanding and compassion. and to speak scriptural truth.
11) Faith – Bestowed on all who come to Christ, (Galatians 5:22-23). The gift of faith is a strong and unshakeable confidence in God, His Word, His promises, and the power of prayer to effect miracles.
12) Healing – Although, even today, God miraculously heals. The medical feild is also a spiritual gift to man through which God also works, using his Healing power working through mans gifted abilities.
13) Miraculous powers – Events that could only be attributed to the power of God, and through which God still works today, Prayer is the gift, Miraculous effects are the result
14) Discernment of spirits – Satan, purveying deceptive and erroneous doctrine.is still loose in our world, but the gift of discerning spirits is given to the Church to protect it from Satan's wiles
15) Speaking in tongues – The gift of tongues, given to the early Church to enable the gospel to be spread throughout the world, is still practiced by some in the Church today. And from 1 Corinthians. 14:27-28 - If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
16) Interpretation of tongues – Interpretation of tongues is the only one of the nine gifts of the Spirit that is dependent upon another gift. It will not happen unless the gift of tongues has been spoken.
17) Governance- The Gift of Governance in this instance refers broadly to the mechanisms, processes and relations by which the Church, (God’s people) are ruled over and taught.
18) Evangelism- The gift of evangelism is worldwide and is one of the best gifts God has given mankind. We are to make that our Goal as it is what Jesus has issued as our charge.
!9) Hospitality- Practiced worldwide and most Christians the world over have this gift in some form or another. However the Church ( God’s People) are to be the mother of hospitality
20) Missionary – This also is a gift Most Christians will practice at sometime in their life either at home or abroad, and it is a gift that each can easily understand and put into practice.
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