the real lesson behind the parable of the talents 2
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TheRealLessonintheParableoftheTalents(Part2)
Inpart1ofthisteaching,Ifocusedonthesecondpartoftheparabletherewardsreceivedbythetwoservantswhodoubledwhattheyhadbeen
entrustedwith.Mygoalwastoimpressonyouthatweareallonprobationduringthislife,thatGod,bythefruitofourlabor,isselectingthosewhowouldreignwithHimaskingsandpriests.Inthisinstallmentoftheteaching,IwishtoshowyouwhattheLordshighesttestis.
Justastherearemanylevelsinthenationalschoolsystem:highschooldiploma,universitydegree,mastersdegree,andPhD,GodalsohasdifferentlevelsoftestsforHispeople.ThisissobecauseHehascreatedusdifferent,withvaryingabilitiesandtalents.
BeforeIbegintodoso,Iwouldliketotellyoualittlemoreaboutmyselfsothat
youunderstandwhereIamcomingfrom,thatwhatIamabouttosharewithyouisnotpurelytheoreticalbutreliable.
WhenmyfamilyandIwerecommissionedin1995byoursendingchurchtogotoKazakstanasmissionaries,Godgaveawordofprophecytotwoseparateindividuals.Thewordsweresimilartoeachother,tellingmethatGodsimplywantedmetoknowthatitwasfromHim.ThewordshadtodowiththeBiblecharacterJoshua,thatIwouldhavethespiritofJoshua.
Overthenextfewmonths,IreadthebookofJoshuamanytimes.Afterreadingit,IwenttoGodandsaid,Whatareyoutryingtoshowmethroughthisbook?AllI
seearebattlesandmorebattles.Areyoutellingmethatmylifewouldbefullofbattles?TherewasnoresponsefromGod.
In1997,IwasreadingabookbyCindyJacobs.InthebooksherelatedhowtheLordhadgroomedherfortheministryshewasthen(andnow)having.OneoftheversesofScripturethattheLordusedforthisprocesswasJoshua1:1.Itsays:
AfterthedeathofMosestheservantoftheLORD,theLORDsaidtoJoshuathesonofNun,Moses'assistant,
WhowasMoses?HewastheservantoftheLord.AndwhowasJoshua?HewasMosesassistant.
TheLordusedthisversetospeaktometoo.HetoldmenottothinkofmyselfasaservantofGod;atleastnotnow,buttobeaservanttoaman.ThatmanturnedouttobemyDistrictPastorunderwhomIwasworkingthen.IhumbledmyselfanddidwhateverIwastoldanddidnotdowhateverIwasnottold.ThiswentonforthreeyearsandIreturnedtothefield.
ForanotherthreeyearsinKazakstan,Iwasaservanttoanotherman.ThistimeitwastheseniorpastorofthechurchIwasassignedtoworkwith,afellowmissionary.
Attheendofthesixyears(2003),theLordsaidtome,Youhavedonewell.Enough!Itistimetomoveontoversetwo.
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Bythat,GodwasreferringtoJoshua1:2,whichsays:
Mosesmyservantisdead.Nowthereforearise,gooverthisJordan,youandallthispeople,intothelandthatIamgivingtothem,tothepeopleofIsrael.
ItbecamecleartomethenwhatGodspurposeformeis.ItistohelpGodspeople,Christians,findandenterthePromisedLandandpossesstheirinheritance.ThismarkedthebeginningofmyjourneyindiscoveringwhatthePromisedLandrepresentsandwhattheinheritanceis.Thisjourneyhastakenaboutsevenyears.WhatIhavelearneddidnotcomefrombooksbutdirectlyfromGodthroughrevelations.Sounderstandablyitmightsoundnewandstrangetoyou.IwouldliketoencourageyoutotakewhatyouwillhearandbringittotheLord,askingHimtoeitherconfirmitorotherwise.YoudonthavetobelieveeverythingIsay.
TurningnowtotheParableoftheTalents,Iwouldliketohighlighttoyouthefact
thatthemastergaveveryexplicitinstructionstohisservantstodobusinesstillIcome(Luke19:13YLT).ThehighesttestthatGodhasforHisservantsisthetestofBUSINESS.Itisinbusiness,notemployment,thatapersonsability,orlackofit,tomanageandadministertheresourcesavailabletohimisclearlyseen.ThesamecriterionisappliedtothosewhowishtorunfortheofficeofPresidentofSingapore.Heorshemusthavemanagedacertainlargesumofmoneywellbeforehecanbeconsideredtobecomeacustodianofthenationswealth.InthisPresidentialElection(2011),oneoftheapplicantswasdeclaredineligibleforthesimplyreasonthathewasonlyaCFO(ChiefFinancialOfficer)andnotaCEO(ChiefExecutiveOfficer).IfanationhassuchhighstandardsforitsPresident,wouldGodexpectanythingless?
Traditionally,Christianshaveappliedthelessonofthisparabletoonlytheareaofpersonalfinanceandchurchfinance.Thisistheresultofawronginterpretationoftheparable.Theservantswerenotgiventhetalentssothattheycouldmanagethemastershouseholdtheywerealreadydoingthat.Thetalentsweregiveninadditiontowhattheyneededtomanagethehousehold;itwasgivensothattheycoulddobusinessandmakeaprofitwithit.Theservantswerealsonotexpectedtoliveonthetalentsgiven.Agoodmasterwouldhavemorethanadequatelyprovidedforhisservantsintermsoffood,accommodation,andclothing.Weknowthisbecausewhentheyoungerson(fromtheParableoftheProdigalSon)hadcometohimself,hesaid,Howmanyofmyfather'shired
servantshavemorethanenoughbread,butIperishherewithhunger!(Luke15:17).
Wealsolearnedthatthevalueofatalentisapproximatelyonemilliondollars.Whichhouseholdhasabudgetthatsize?Somechurchestoday,however,dohavebudgetsinexcessofamilliondollars.ButIbelievethatpastorswillbejudgedbyadifferently.Whiletheywillnotbejudgedbyhowprofitable(indollarsandcents)theirchurchhasbeen,buttheywillbejudgedbyhowfaithfultheyhavebeeninprovidingGodshouseholdwithfoodatthepropertime(Matt24:45-46).
BusinessisGodshighesttestforhispeople.IalsoseethisintheExodusstory.
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TheExodusstory
Enslavement
TheExodusstorycanbedividedintofourphases.ThefirstisthetimethattheIsraeliteswereenslavedinEgypt.Thesecondiswhentheywereinthewilderness.ThethirdandfourthphasescoversthetimewhentheywereinthePromisedLand.
Wewilltakeacloserlookateachphase.
ThechildrenofIsraelcametoEgyptduringafamine.Joseph,oneofIsraelssons,hadbecomethePrimeMinisterofEgypt.CapitalizingonhisfavorwiththePharaoh,JosephmanagedtosecurethelandofGoshen,thebestlandinEgypt,forhisfatherandbrothersandtheirfamilies.Theywerenotreallywelcomefromthestart,justtoleratedforeveryshepherdisanabominationtotheEgyptians(Gen46:34).
AfterthedeathofJoseph,therecameaPharaohwhodidnotknowJosephandwhofeltthreatenedbytherapidrateofincreaseoftheHebrewpopulation.HedidmanythingstotrytostemthetideofHebrewdominationintheland,lastofwhichwastooppressthemwithhardlabor.Butthemoretheywereoppressed,themoretheymultipliedandthemoretheyspreadabroad(Ex1:12).ThismadetheEgyptianshatetheHebrewsevenmore.Asaresult,theEgyptiansmadetheHebrewsworkasslaves(verses13and14).
ThisphaseoftheExodusstorysymbolizesENSLAVEMENT.AndjustasthedevilenslavedtheancientIsraelites(throughtheEgyptians)throughemployment,thewaythedevilhasenslavedmanyofusisthroughemployment.Employmenttomanyisariteofpassageofsorts.Itisamarkofmanhoodoradulthood,whenonebecomesmoreindependentespeciallyfinancially.Mostpeopleenterintothisphaseoflifewithexcitementandanticipation.Theirdreamsarenowontheirwaytobeingfulfilled.Butovertime,manybecomedisappointedanddisillusioned.Insteadoffeelingfree,theyfeeltrapped.Thefunhasbeensuckedoutofworksuchthatithasbecomenecessarybecauseofthebillsthatneedpayingandthedebtsthatneedre-paying.Hardlyanyonewouldleaveajobwithoutanotheronewaiting.Hencetheyareenslaved.
Itisinterestingthatinmostcountries,thetermusedtodescribethepoolofpeoplewhofinishschoolandwhoareseekingjobsisthelabormarket.Iusedtosay,andstilldo,thatwhilefisharebeingsoldinthefishmarket,slavesaresoldinthelabormarket.Likeitornot,wewhojointhelabormarketareseenasslaves.Thedictionarydefinesaslaveasalegalpropertyofanother.
Aslaveoccupiesacertainplaceinsociety,astatusdefinedbyrightsandliabilities,bytheprivilegesandpowersotherscouldexerciseoverhim(ThePoliticsofPropertybyLauraBrace).
ThiswasexactlywhathappenedtotheancientIsraeliteswhentheyagreedtoworkfortheEgyptiansinbuildingthetwostore-cities,PithomandRamses.Butovertime,theEgyptianschangedtheworkingconditionsandbegantomake
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themservewithrigor:andtheymadetheirlivesbitterwithhardservice,inmortarandinbrick,andinallmannerofserviceinthefield,alltheirservice,whereintheymadethemservewithrigor(Ex1:13-14ASV).
ItwasalsoexactlywhathappenedtoJacobwhenheacceptedLabansofferof
workingforawage(Gen29:15-20).Bydoingso,JacobenteredintoanemploymentcontractwithLaban,andLabanbecamehisemployerandnotjusthisrelative.AndoveraperiodoftwentyyearsLabanchangedJacobswagestentimes(Gen31:7,41).
Asslaves,theIsraeliteswerenotfreeeventoworshipandservetheirGod.WhentheIsraelitesaskedforaweeksleave(threedaystotravelintothewilderness,onedaytoworshipGod,andthreedaystoreturntotheirhomes)toworshipYahwehinthewilderness,theirrequestwasdenied.Doesthissoundfamiliar?Asamatteroffact,Pharaohaccusedthemofbeinglazyand,inturn,gavethemmorework(Ex5:17-19).
Deliverance
Fromenslavement,theancientIsraelitesexperiencedDELIVERANCE.TheywerefreedbythemightyhandofGod.Butfreedom,asyoumightalreadyknow,canbeeasilyabused.Christmadeusfreenotsothatwecandowhateverwewish,buttodowhatisright.WhatisrightandwrongaredefinedforusinHisLaw.Forthisreason,GodbroughttheancientIsraelitesintothewildernessand,morespecificallytoMountSinaisothatHecouldgivethemHisLaw.AndaftergivingtheLaw,Godmadethemremaininthewildernessforayear.AllthisHedidsothattheywouldbemadereadytoenterandpossesstheinheritance,thelandofCanaan.
ItmightbeofinteresttoyouthattherootoftheHebrewwordforwildernessmeansorder,whiletherootoftheHebrewwordforcitymeanschaos.ThisthrowslighttothepurposeofGodfortheIsraelitesinthewilderness.ItwassothattheycouldlearnGodsorderforlivingbeforetheyenteredtheLand.
ButbecausethefirstgenerationofIsraelitesthatleftEgyptwerefullofunbeliefandrebellion,theyweredisqualifiedfromenteringandpossessingthePromisedLand.Instead,Godcausedthemtowanderinthewildernessforfortyyearsuntileveryoneofthemabovetheageoftwentyhaddied.ThegenerationthatroseuptotaketheirplacewereallowedtoentertopossesstheLand.
ThisshouldserveasalessonforusthatourpossessionoftheinheritancehingesonourfaithinandobediencetoGod.Itisnotautomatic,andweshouldnotpresumeittobeso.ItispossiblethatyouwillnotpossesstheinheritanceGodhaspreparedforyoubythetimeyoudie.
Possession
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ThesecondgenerationofIsraelitesthatgrewupinthewildernessenteredandpossessedtheinheritance,whichisthelandofCanaan.Whatisaninheritance?
Aninheritancebasicallyhasthesecharacteristics:
1.Itissomethingthatispassedonfromonegenerationtoanother.
2.Hence,itisnotownedbyanyonegeneration,butonlypossessed.
3.Eachgenerationhastheresponsibilityofaddingvaluetotheinheritance.
InthecaseoftheancientIsraelites,thelandwastheirinheritance.Theywereallowedtopossessitbutnotownit.ThelandisMine,saystheLord(Lev25:23).Assuch,theywerenotallowedtosellit.AndeachgenerationisresponsibletotakecareofthelandbykeepingthecommandmentsoftheLordsothatthenextgenerationwillhaveagoodinheritancetopossess.OneofthemostsignificantcommandmentsofGodtheIsraelitesweretoobeyregardingthelandwasthe
commandmenttogivethelandresteverysevenyears.Eventhis,theydidnotdo.Asaresult,thelandwastakenawayfromthemforseventyyears.
Thinkaboutthis:whatisityouhavetodaythatcanbeaninheritanceforyourchildren?Canthejobyoureholdingbeaninheritance?Canitbepassedon?
Onlyabusinessthatyouhavestartedandowncanbepassedontoyourchildrenasaninheritance.Andwhileyouarerunningit,youaretoadd-valuetoit.
Blessing
IftheIsraelitesweretokeepallofGodscommandments,theycouldbeassuredofGodsblessing.ListentowhatGodsaid:
AndifyoufaithfullyobeythevoiceoftheLORDyourGod,beingcarefultodoallhiscommandmentsthatIcommandyoutoday,theLORDyourGodwillsetyouhighaboveallthenationsoftheearth.Andalltheseblessingsshallcomeuponyouandovertakeyou,ifyouobeythevoiceoftheLORDyourGod.Blessedshallyoubeinthecity,andblessedshallyoubeinthefield.Blessedshallbethefruitofyourwombandthefruitofyourgroundandthefruitofyourcattle,theincreaseofyourherdsandtheyoungofyourflock.Blessed
shallbeyourbasketandyourkneadingbowl.Blessedshallyoubewhenyoucomein,andblessedshallyoubewhenyougoout.TheLORDwillcauseyourenemieswhoriseagainstyoutobedefeatedbeforeyou.Theyshallcomeoutagainstyouonewayandfleebeforeyousevenways.TheLORDwillcommandtheblessingonyouinyourbarnsandinallthatyouundertake.AndhewillblessyouinthelandthattheLORDyourGodisgivingyou.TheLORDwillestablishyouasapeopleholytohimself,ashehassworntoyou,ifyoukeepthecommandmentsoftheLORDyourGodandwalkinhisways.AndallthepeoplesoftheearthshallseethatyouarecalledbythenameoftheLORD,andtheyshallbeafraidofyou.AndtheLORDwillmakeyouaboundinprosperity,
inthefruitofyourwombandinthefruitofyourlivestockandinthefruitofyourground,withinthelandthattheLORDsworetoyourfatherstogiveyou.
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TheLORDwillopentoyouhisgoodtreasury,theheavens,togivetheraintoyourlandinitsseasonandtoblessalltheworkofyourhands.Andyoushalllendtomanynations,butyoushallnotborrow.AndtheLORDwillmakeyoutheheadandnotthetail,andyoushallonlygoupandnotdown,ifyouobeythecommandmentsoftheLORDyourGod,whichIcommandyoutoday,being
carefultodothem,andifyoudonotturnasidefromanyofthewordsthatIcommandyoutoday,totherighthandortotheleft,togoafterothergodstoservethem.(Deut28:1-14ESV)
Whentheyareblessed,theyinturnwillbecomeablessingtoallthenationsoftheearth.ThatwasGodsintentionfortheIsraelitesfromthestart,anditisHisintentionforyoutoo.
E.S.B.I
AftertheLordhadrevealedtomewhatIhavejustsharedwithyou,HealsobroughttomyattentionsomethingthatwaspopularizedbyRobertKiyosaki.PleasenotethatIamnotusingaworldlyteaching,likethatofKiyosaki,tosubstantiatetheScriptures.ButIamusingwhathesaystoillustratewhatGodisshowingusinHisWord.
InRobertKiyosakisCashflowQuadrant,apersonhasthepotentialofgoingfrombeinganEmployeetoSelf-employedtoBusinessOwnerandtoInvestor.(Seediagrambelow.)
ThiscorrespondstothefourphasesthatarefoundintheExodusstory.
WhilethefocusofKiyosakismodelismoney,itisnotGodsfocus.Godsfocusisourdestinyandtheblessingofthenations.ButhowcanGodspeoplefulfilltheirGod-givendestinyiftheyarestillenslaved?
Havingsaidthat,youwillexperienceachangeinyourcashflowasyougothroughthefourphases.Inthefirstphase,youwillexperienceLACK.Nomatter
howmuchyouearn(unlessyouareamillionaire)youalwayscoulddowithmoremoney.Fewcanbecontentwithwhattheyhave.Withtherateofinflation
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nowreadytodiscussthetermsofemploymentwithme.Andonthe12thofMay,IstartedworkhereinBMC.
Conclusion
ManyChristianshavenotenteredthePromisedlandandpossessedtheirinheritance,andmanymightneverdosobecauseofalackoffaith.WheneverIsharethiswithChristians,themostcommonreactionIgetisthis:ButIamnotcutoutforbusiness.Ifullyunderstandthiskindofresponse.Ithastodowiththewaywehavebeenbroughtupandthewayoursocietyhasconditionedourthinking.WeareseenbyourGovernmentasnothingmorethanaworkforce,andtheyhavenotfailedtoconstantlyremindusaboutit.OnlyinrecenttimeshastheGovernmentchangedtheirtuneslightly.Nowtheyareencouraging
entrepreneurship.ItisnotacoincidencethatthischangeindirectionbytheGovernmentcameataboutthesametimeaswhenIreceivedthisrevelationthatbusinessisourinheritance.
WhenIsaybusiness,Imeanboththefor-profitandnot-for-profittypesofbusiness.ThespecificbusinessGodhasinmindforyouwilldependonthegiftsandtalentsHehasendowedyouwith.Forme,sinceteachingismyability,mybusinessisateachingministry.
InJanuaryof2007,withacapitalofS$300IcreatedawebsitewhichIdesignedmyself.ItwasforateachingministrythatIwasstarting.Iwantedtodothis
becauseIfeltthatmygiftofteachingwasnotfullyutilized.TherewassomuchIwantedtosharewiththeBodyofChristatlargebutnoopportunitytodoso.So,insteadofdoingnothing,Idecidedtostartaweb-basedteachingministry.Ihaddoubtsastowhetherornotanyonewouldlogintoittolisten.Afterall,Iwasanobody.Withintwoyear,thewebsiteIcreatedwasreceivingbetween80to100thousandhitsamonth.WhenIcamebacktoSingaporein2008,IcontinuedthisministryonthewebandalsoconductedBiblestudieswithanyonewhowantedtoknowtheWordofGodbetter.Today,Istillhavetwogroupsmeetingweekly.
Godhasawonderfulplanforyourlife.AndthatwaswhatHewastryingtoconveytotheIsraelitesthroughMoses.
ReadExodus6:2-9
Hesaid,IwillbringyououtfromundertheburdensoftheEgyptians,Iwillrescueyoufromtheirbondage;Iwillredeemyouwithanoutstretchedarmandwithgreatjudgments;IwilltakeyouasMypeople,andIwillbeyourGod;IwillbringyouintothelandwhichIsworetogivetoAbraham,IsaacandJacob;AndIwillgiveittoyouasaheritage.ButthechildrenofIsraeldidnotheedMosesbecauseofanguishofspiritandcruelbondage.Inotherwords,theircircumstanceshadmadethemloseheartandlosefaith.
GoingbacktotheParableoftheTalents(notthatwehaveeverdepartedfromit),thetalentsrepresentfinancialresourcethattheLordwillgivetoHisservants.Thisresourcewillbethecapitalyouneedtostartthebusiness.Itmightbesmall
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atfirst.Butifyouarefaithfulinthelittlethings,youwillbeentrustedwithgreaterthings.
Whateveryoudo,justdonotbewickedandlazylikethethirdservant.Wecanunderstandwhythemastercalledthisservantlazybecausehedidnothing
withthetalententrustedtohim.Butwhatwarrantedthemastercallinghimwicked?
Itwasbecausetheservantwasfearful.Outoffear,hehidthetalentintheground.Anythingthatisnotoffaith,Paulsays,isSIN(Rom14:23).Thisservantwaswickedbecausehelackedfaith,whichwassin.Iurgeyounottobefearfulordoubtful,buttomoveinfaithandobediencetoallthatGodhadshownyouthroughHisWord.