Next – Week 1
Faithful With What’s In Your Hands
Big Idea:Your NEXT begins with faithfulness to what God has already placed in your hands.
THREE COMMITMENTS THAT SHAPE A FAITHFUL LIFE
COMMITMENT # 1: VALUE WHAT GOD HAS PUT IN YOUR HANDS
(vv. 14–15)
“Again, The Kingdom Of Heaven Can Be Illustrated By The Story Of A Man Going On A Long Trip. He Called Together His Servants And Entrusted His Money To Them While He Was Gone. 15 He Gave Five Bags Of Silver[A] To One, Two Bags Of Silver To Another, And One Bag Of Silver To The Last—Dividing It In Proportion To Their Abilities. He Then Left On His Trip.
COMMITMENT# 2: CHOOSE MOVEMENT OVER MAINTENANCE
(vv. 16–18)
16 “The Servant Who Received The Five Bags Of Silver Began To Invest The Money And Earned Five More. 17 The Servant With Two Bags Of Silver Also Went To Work And Earned Two More. 18 But The Servant Who Received The One Bag Of Silver Dug A Hole In The Ground And Hid The Master’s Money.
COMMITMENT #3: LIVE FOR THE MASTER’S APPROVAL, NOT YOUR OWN COMFORT
(vv. 19–23)
19 “After A Long Time Their Master Returned From His Trip And Called Them To Give An Account Of How They Had Used His Money.20 The Servant To Whom He Had Entrusted The Five Bags Of Silver Came Forward With Five More And Said, ‘master, You Gave Me Five Bags Of Silver To Invest, And I Have Earned Five More.’
21 “The Master Was Full Of Praise. ‘well Done, My Good And Faithful Servant. You Have Been Faithful In Handling This Small Amount, So Now I Will Give You Many More Responsibilities. Let’s Celebrate Together![B]’
22 “The Servant Who Had Received The Two Bags Of Silver Came Forward And Said, ‘master, You Gave Me Two Bags Of Silver To Invest, And I Have Earned Two More.’
23 “The Master Said, ‘well Done, My Good And Faithful Servant. You Have Been Faithful In Handling This Small Amount, So Now I Will Give You Many More Responsibilities. Let’s Celebrate Together!’
WHY DO WE BURY WHAT GOD GIVES US?
(vv. 24–25)
24 “Then The Servant With The One Bag Of Silver Came And Said, ‘master, I Knew You Were A Harsh Man, Harvesting Crops You Didn’t Plant And Gathering Crops You Didn’t Cultivate. 25 I Was Afraid I Would Lose Your Money, So I Hid It In The Earth. Look, Here Is Your Money Back.’
26 “But The Master Replied, ‘you Wicked And Lazy Servant! If You Knew I Harvested Crops I Didn’t Plant And Gathered Crops I Didn’t Cultivate, 27 Why Didn’t You Deposit My Money In The Bank? At Least I Could Have Gotten Some Interest On It.’
1. Fear “I was afraid…”
2. Misunderstanding of who God is
3. Comparison
4. Desire for control
5. Not recognizing the value
APPLICATION – WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?
- Family
- Finances
- Influence
- Spiritual gifts
- Calling
- Leadership
- Ministry opportunity
- Story or testimony
- Creativity
- A burden or God-sized idea
NEXT STEPS
- COMMIT TO RECOGNIZING WHAT GOD HAS PUT IN MY HANDS
- COMMIT TO MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT I HAVE
- COMMIT TO TRUSTING GOD WITH WHAT FEELS THE MOST HEAVY