Following Jesus… in Luke’s gospel Handling money well Investing for eternity

Post Easter… Looking at the empty cross. Fundamental thoughts on life and death challenged.

Jesus turning the world the right way up. Re-evaluation on how life works and what is important.

What is our treasure? What is of supreme worth? For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:21 In Matt 13 Jesus expands on this. Pearl of great price Treasure in a field A life worth giving everything for.

The interesting thing is, it is possible to lose your head and keep it at the same time! You lose your head in your joy in knowing God and don’t care if people think you’re crazy. Yet you are probably at your sanest when you come to the place where you abandon all else but your desire for God. Once you have truly experienced the anointing of the Spirit, your money, reputation, love for the world, fear of what people will say and so on all pale into insignificance. RT Kendall

The world tends to see treasure as wealth & success. Jesus wants to undo the unhealthy grip these things can have on our lives. He wants to teach us to invest for eternity.

What will be said at your funeral? Those life-making decisions are made now. Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Matthew 25: “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags

of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.

29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Do you have sympathy for the last guy? Jesus sets us up – and then subverts our expectations.

Nothing we have is ours. v14 entrusted his wealth to them. It’s all from God. We are stewards not owners. Ps 24:1 The earth is the L ORD ’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. How will we invest what’s been entrusted to us?

Investing in eternity is practical v 16 he went at once and put his money to work How did I invest what God gave me this week?

There is a cumulative value in investing small & consistent amounts of time, energy & money in one thing over a long time. Lots of small yeses over a long time make a big yes. v19 Like watering a garden… There are rarely immediate consequences if we do this badly. But long term neglect sets in.

Neglect has a cumulative effect. This is never what we aim for… Small things invested wisely grow and multiply. Fight against neglect. Fight against denial. Both bring spiritual and emotional loss. v30

Don’t let the bland interfere with the important. Most things that threaten our treasure aren’t evil. Just not worth investing in. Take a check: Often what we think is our treasure isn’t. We drift. Test – check your diary and your bank statement.

Some things we can’t get back – especially time. No guilt. Jesus is making all things new. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Cor 5:17 We will never regret investing in our marriages, children, life with Jesus. Or being generous with our money.

Wise investment brings us close to Jesus Share your master’s happiness v21 Knowledge of knowing we please him. Well done! v21 Checking our motives draws us close to him.

Kingdom investment multiplies This is the nature of the kingdom. v16; 17 God blesses what is invested for eternity.

We can be sacrificial with confidence. v24-5 Unlike the fearful man who dug a hole and hid.

Multiplication isn’t just numerical It’s also in influence and significance. Jesus tests us in this. v21 you have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.

When we are tempted to shut down or sign off Jesus invites us to restart.

From last week… Jesus is looking for backbone people. Hidden investors.

Jesus is looking for people to unlock treasure in others. What has God given you the key for, that no one else has?

Following Jesus… in Luke’s gospel Next week: Handling money well Growing in generosity