Opening Prayer: God you are Faithful, we praise you for this. As we study your word today we ask that your Holy Spirit would enrich our learning so that we might be people that You call Friends. Amen!
INTRODUCTION: I don't know about you, but as I studied Faithfulness I was astonished at how many other traits are related to Faithfulness - or perhaps better stated are facets of Faithfulness. I wrote several of them down (and there are probably others): Trustworthy, Steadfast, Loyal, Honest, Responsible, Brave, Devoted - we will be looking at these in our Group Exercise. As I read through these traits they reminded me of a program Jeff had been a part of that was called "Heart of a Warrior" - with it's focus being on helping men to become well rounded Mature men of Faith.
PRINCIPLE: The Spiritual Fruit of Faithfulness is evidence of Spiritual Maturity
Only as we choose to seek God, to draw close to Him, to live lives that bring Him Glory, are we truly growing in maturity and faithfulness. This is that day-to-day living out of our faith, the walk that goes along with the talk.
I. God the Perfect Papa
I love my Dad, he's with the Lord now, and when my son was little my Dad got the nickname "Papa" - he was my sons only real father figure throughout his life, so the name seemed appropriate. Soon just about everyone who was close to my Dad (even my Mom) called him Papa. One characteristic that marked my Dad's life was Tenderness, but he wasn't perfect - and I have a story about how he failed to show tenderness.
When I was very young, a preschooler, my parents wanted my brother & I to learn to swim. Living in Southern California near the Ocean, and where there are an abundance of pools, this is an important thing for children to learn. My brother took to the water quite naturally, but I didn't. Apparently no amount of coaxing could get me into the pool - not even jumping to a waiting parent while wearing a life vest. My Dad got frustrated, so he picked me up and threw me into the pool with the life vest on, and decided to let me cry myself out... major failure, after a while they gave up & fished me out of the pool. I required private lessons, smaller steps, and a much more deliberate approach - and I eventually learned to swim like a fish (I love to swim).
My Dad was a great example of Tenderness, and Patience, but his tenderness & patience had limitations - he wasn't perfect (though he was awesome). God's Tenderness & Patience are perfect, God knows exactly who we are & what we need to grow & develop into the people He wants us to be. God will never leave us, He is always by our side, rooting for us & cheering us on - encouraging us in our walk. God might have to chastise us in order to correct wrong thinking & behavior, but he never stops loving us. God makes promises to us & always keeps them. Doesn't that sound like the Perfect Papa? Romans 8:15: "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'"
He is the Perfect Papa / Abba, and we are His children. We will always be His children, but we should seek to be His friends. As a child of God we are safe in His arms, a protected member of His family. If we remain as children, requiring constant spoon-feeding (1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Hebrews 5:11-14), we aren't of much use for His purposes. If instead we grow in Faithfulness we will receive rewards from Him both for today & in eternity (Hebrews 11:6; Revelation 11:18). Additionally, when we grow in Faithfulness we live lives that please God (Colossians 1:9-10).
PRINCIPLE: Faithfulness develops our Intimacy with God
Our book spoke about the difference between being a Child of God and a Friend of God. We become a Child of God when we come to faith - by virtue of Salvation we are His children. Becoming a Friend of God is much more, it involves growth & intimacy with God & being trustworthy servants of God. As we continue to walk in our faith God continues to work in our hearts & minds, to draw us closer & closer. God does the work to build up our Faith, we respond by exhibiting Faithfulness. This doesn't happen overnight, it is one deliberate step at a time - choosing to trust in God.
II. The Importance of our Faithfulness with "Talents"
I put "Talents" in quotes because in the original parable a "Talent" was actually a form of currency. I think that the parable teaches us not just about how to handle currency, but how to handle any gift that God entrusts us with. So a "Talent" as used in the parable could stand for spiritual gifts, material blessings, natural talent (intellect / ability), or developed talent (skill).
In the parable of the talents we are told how displeasing the lazy servant was, this is the servant that hid away the talent given to him - he buried it in the ground. At first we could think, at least he was protecting what he'd been given - and don't we do the same thing? We need to take a higher view, the "Talents" God has given us are for His purposes, if we don't use them for His purposes they are a waste of His good gifts. Even when our "Talents" are a learned skill they represent an investment of time, and time is also precious and not to be wasted, so these should also be used for God's purposes. Ephesians 5:15-16: "Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil."
PRINCIPLE: Gifts from God are precious treasures not to be wasted.
What do you enjoy doing? Can you find a way to apply this ability to Kingdom work? What do you have? Can it be used to bless God's people? What is God calling you to do with the "Talents" He has given you? What "Talent" is God asking you to use to bless others this day?
It is easy to hold tightly to the things that we have, but this is not God's way. God would have us hold loosely the treasures He has given, God would have us be generous instead; we must remember that God is more than capable of taking care of us should we willingly give away that which we are tempted to hold on to. Scriptures which speak to this: 1 Timothy 6:17-19; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11.
III. The Importance of our Faithfulness with People
When I sat down to work on this section I stopped to pray, and I asked God to reveal to me what He would have you know. After praying & thinking the following thoughts came to mind: We look on our "Talents" as treasures, things we are tempted to hold onto but that God wants us to hold loosely. What would God have us treasure instead? People! People are precious to God, they are treasures to Him, and He wants as many of them as possible to come to Him. We should willingly invest our "Talents" for the greater treasure God desires!
PRINCIPLE: People are precious treasures to God
God made people, He made people and desires to be in relationship with people. As we were made in some aspects "like Him" we are made to be in relationship - relationship with Him and relationship with others. Perhaps that's why fellowship among believers is encouraged (Hebrews 10:24-25) as it helps us all to grow more in God & His ways. But it's not just fellowship among believers, we need to be in relationships with non-believers, this in order to draw them to God (Romans 11:13-14; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23). We must be able to relate to people where they are, within our culture, yet not be soiled by our culture.
What is Faithfulness toward people? It is being people of our word, keeping our promises. It is being loyal & trustworthy toward them, so that they know we can be depended upon. It is being honest, so that they know we will tell the truth when it matters most. It is being responsible, if we've said we'll do something we do it. Why do these things? So that people know who to turn to, who to trust, when trouble arises.
Why specifically does our Faithfulness toward people matter? It is one way that we preach about our loving God without having to utter a word of scripture. If we're living in a Faithful manner people are going to notice, it's not going to look like the way the rest of the world lives. Even more, our Faithfulness is a reflection on the character of God - when we fail in Faithfulness toward people we in essence tarnish the reputation of God (ouch!).
CONCLUSION: A few words of wisdom to end with, and I pray that this is not just my own thinking but reflects God's ways. I have a tendency to overcommit, this is not a good thing, in fact I end up not doing things as well when I fall into this trap. So though I encourage you to look at your "Talents" and find their purpose in God's Kingdom I also want to temper that with wisdom from God's Word.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 speaks about the need to keep things in balance & how there is a time & season for everything: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil---this is the gift of God."
Closing Prayer: Oh Lord, how wonderful is your Faithfulness, help us Lord to be Faithful - to grow in intimate relationship with you. Help us to know how you would have us use our "Talents" for your Kingdom, and help us by our Faithfulness to draw others to (closer to) You. Amen!
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