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Give me more!!

In this day and age – more is better, more is power, more equals bigger, bigger paycheck, bigger home, car, bigger muscles, bigger everything.

There is nothing wrong with that, the bible encourages us to work hard and through our hard work, we get to enjoy life – The bible says, “if anyone who will not work, neither shall he eat”

God is in the business of giving. All though out history He has given his children more and more. He gave His only begotten son, he provided food and everything that we have.

And no matter how much we are continuing to resist Him and do our own thing, His grace compels Him to continue to give.

If you don’t think He is still giving even in the middle of your disobedience, take a deep breath- There is a gift of life.

As If that is not enough, He encourages us to ask for more – John 14:14 – Yes ask anything in my name and I will do it!

Luke 11:13 “If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.

He is not limiting it to the tangible things- He is willing to give you and I much more by giving us the Holy Spirit.

We all agree that more is better.

However, there is a saying that goes like this “too much of something is poisonous” Really. I can always use one more electronic in my life. Riight?

This saying I believe it applies to a heart condition, too much of something may bring pride if we don’t check out hearts.

If it of God, it can never be too much. It will always be enough for the day/season. Hence we pray – Give us this day our daily bread.

This evening, I want us to examine the kind of more we want and if we get it, what is required of us.

Luke 12:42-48 – And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

There is a master, he goes to return later, He leaves a servant in charge of the home, the people and everything in it. He trusts that he will take good care of it.

When he returns – one of these two things is going to have happened

1. The servant will have done everything that his master hoped he will – the took care of the house, he feed the other servants and the animals, kept the home clean- he will get a reward. He will be put in charge of all the Masters stuff. – He will get more!
2. The servant took upon himself to do his own will and not the masters will. The master is not returning for a while. He even went to the extent of beating the other servant. From the sound of it, he started to serve himself and required others to serve him as well. Well, master returns and unannounced and unexpected, he is cut and banished- those two things don’t sound good

When one has been given much, much will be required of him- and when one is entrusted with much, even more is required.

Given vs Entrusted

These are both great position. Someone is getting a gift, that means that are loved and appreciated.

However, there is a significant difference between the two:

Give- Transfer possession

Entrust – Put (something) into someone’s care or protection

Given – My kids story with the remote-control cars

• Big deal since I didn’t have to buy dolls this time round- after 7yrs it exciting. When they ask, you rush to Walmart before they change their mind and you spend the best $19.99 to make it happen

No matter how excited I was, this is a gift. They can use it anyway they want. Ofcoz they must respect it to some extent because the way they treat it will determine how I gift them next time.

In this case, they bear the full responsibility of the toy. Where to put it, when to clean it. The decision they make are independent – the life of that toy depend fully on them.

In another instance, if my girls came to me and asked me If I could buy them a drone. My heart would still be super excited about it – “It’s the whole no dolls situation”

However, a good drone cost a couple of hundred dollars and if I happen to buy it for them. This gift would come with a different set of rules.

This gift is different:

• It cost more
• It is breakable
• It requires more attention to operate it unlike the remote-control car

I would call them and sit them down, explain to them the expectation of this toy. The do’s and the don’ts. I would make sure they knew that they were responsible for the drone wellbeing, however at any time:

• Before they take it out to fly, I want to know
• There will be regular check up
• That there is more responsibility hence there is more trust
• There will be constant communication on the state of the gift, in other word, no matter the state of the gift, I will have a continuous relationship with the one that has the gift.

What do I have?

When you look at your life, have you been gifted or entrusted?

The things that you have – do you look at them as a gift or as something that has been entrusted to you?

In this world, it easy to say, “She is a gifted singer” – yes, she is but the question is- how do they look at it? –

Is it a gift and they do whatever they can make their lives as comfortable and glamourous as possible or do they take it as something that they have been entrusted with to grow the kingdom of God.

If we take what has been given to you as gift, then its for your own gratification.

But if you take what has been given to you as something that you have been entrusted with, you have a responsibility to keep it safe, to see it develop and grow to the maximum of its intended purpose.

It is your duty to make it better to fit the greater purpose and not to serve you.

James 1:17 says Every good gift and every perfect gift is from the Lord

How you receive it depends totally on you.

• Your spouse
• Your kids
• Your family
• Your job
• Your possessions

What happens when the master returns suddenly and unannounced?

Read the book of kings – One king after another detail their action during their succession. The ones that knew that they had been entrusted with leadership, did everything that was pleasing to God. They cut idol poles and destroyed the things that were not pleasing to God. They left the place better than they found it. They advanced God kingdom.

The ones that took it as a gift, ended up falling because it was all for their own gratification.

God is looking for people He can entrust with His church, His Children, His treasures. What does He find?  If God came around Auburn tonight looking for someone to entrust with His gift – what would your heart look like?

Are you in a servant mode? You are already serving God with everything you have and are excited to receive more so that you can do much more for God?

Or are you in a receivership mode – Let me get as much as I can for just me. You think that at some point you will serve God when have this and that. Nope (look at the people who win the lotto or get a job, that new gift will not change your heart)

Will He pass you over, whom can I send “Here I am send me Lord “that’s a heart that is submissive to God’s will. A heart that God can entrust with His possessions.

Am I available Lord, am I available to be used by you or am I busy working extra hard to store up the gifts.

Luke 12:16-21 Then he ( Jesus) told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Think about it for Minute – This man did what a responsible person does.

• He worked hard, He saved for retirement
• I bet you his neighbors respected him. He probably had the best clothes, the best camels, everything that a successful person has.

In our day and age, it’s a man/woman who has a job, works hard, takes care of themselves, has a 401k and investments, and they are ready to retire, not to every bother anyone…

Yet, don’t miss this – God calls him a fool – Twice!!

God is not pleased with what we as humans look as successful, He is looking for a heart that can be entrusted with his blessings.

God is in the fruit business- Pastor Matt!

God has blessed us in so many ways. He has given us the ability to be rip rewards, but we have to make sure that our efforts are geared towards growing Gods kingdom with that we have been given. What we have been entrusted with.

Samson was the most powerful man in the whole world. He was given a gift – and took it as a gift that he could use for his own desires- if only he could have realized that he was entrusted with this amazing- strength to accomplish Gods purpose

Look at King David – From a young age, he took what taking care of the sheep seriously – He chased lions and bears. God trusted him with gifts and he used them to advance God’s kingdom

Both man given extra -ordinary gifts –

God has put lots of skills and gifts in your life…but you continue to use it for you own gain.

Nothing like a self-made person – these are gifts from God!!!

Some of us are David and are on the path to hear, well done good and faithful servant – Woo unto the Solomon’s- depart from me, I never knew you!

I want to be a David!!

Some of you were saved from the path of death so that you can serve a bigger purpose.

Before Christ came into your life, you were only responsible for yourself and your self only. You failed miserably.  God had mercy on you and saved you and gave you a life worth living, now much more is required of you. You will give account of every action you have done …

In the 1960’s, an executive at IBM made a decision that ended up losing the company $10 million (Today value $82,119,727.89) The CEO of IBM, Tom Watson, summoned the offending executive to his office at corporate headquarters. The journalist Paul B. Carroll described what happened next:

As the executive cowered, Watson asked, “Do you know why I’ve asked you here?”

The man replied, “I assume I’m here, so you can fire me.”

Watson looked surprised.

“Fire you?” he asked. “Of course not. I just spent $10 million educating you

God has invested so much in you. Even when you have chosen to make decision that have been contrary to his wishes.

He is invested His Own Son to save you. His Son’s blood.

He hasn’t discarded you/fired you. He has chosen to use that experience you have to grow you and then use you to be the light on the hill.

Look at what God has done for me.

What do you think happened to this employee, I bet you he did everything that was asked of him

I bet you he told people about how great and forgiving his boss was. This is his testimony we are reading 60 years later.

What has God done for you and what are people going to say a week from today, a month, one year, 5yrs, 20yrs –60 years?

To whom Much is given much is required, to whom much is entrusted, much more is required.

The master/ our God is coming back. What are you going to tell your father?

Luke 12:35-40 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.[a] But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

A time is coming when the master is going to come back unannounced. There will be a knock on the door and when you open it one of these two things is going to happen

1. You will be excited to see your master and know that your reward for all you labor is here
2. You will be in panic mode because you realized that you did not do what the master commanded you and that you were going to be cast out.

The Master will put on an apron and serve you.

He will have access to every part of the home. There is no hiding. You can just sit Him down and serve him.

He will look at every storage place, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom- There is no hiding. Everything will be exposed.

Paul is speaking and saying to the church.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

To whom much is entrusted- Much more is required!