HOW TO INVEST YOUR LIFE

Essentials for Living – Message 4
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Eph. 2:10 (NIV) 

SEVEN PRINCIPLES FOR INVESTING YOUR LIFE
Matt. 25:14-30 

1. OWNERSHIP:
Everything I have really belong to God.
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.”
(vs. 14) 

2. ALLOCATION:
God has given me some unique talent.
“To one he gave ve talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent,
each according to his ability.”
(vs. 15)
“We have di erent gifts, according to the grace given us”
Rom. 12:6 (NIV) 

3. ACCOUNTABILITY:
God expects me to use my talent.

“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Romans 14:12 NKJV

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts.”
(vs. 19) 

One day God will ask ME: 

What did you do with what you were given? 

4. UTILIZATION:
It is wrong for me to buries what God gave me. 
• 1st man doubled his talents. (vs. 16)
• 2nd man doubled his talents (vs. 17)
• 3rd man buries his talents. (vs. 18)
The master’s reaction: (vs. 26-27) “you wicked, lazy servant” 

Insight 
- You can't please God by playing a safe

   You can't please God without faith

- God rather you try to serve him, try to attempt and fail but not do nothing at all.

5. MOTIVATION: 
Fear keeps me from using my talent.
“I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.”
(vs 25) 

3 kinds of fear keep you developing your talent: 

1. Self-doubt 

Fear of failure.

Fail and feel embarrassed 

Fail is an education, if you not failing, you not trying and not growing.

Failure is a parent, partner and professional 

2. Self-consciousness 

Behind that fear is what would other people think. 

You can't please everybody. 

Everytime we done anything great, will have critics

Just do what God want you to do. Your goal of life is do what God want you to do.

3. Self-pity 

While I fail in the past and I'm afraid will fail again, so I will never want to try.

Allow your past to keep you from being use by God

Do the thing you fear the most! 

Move against your fear, use your talent.

6. APPLICATION:
If I don’t use it, I lose it.
“Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents.”
(vs 28) 

The way to invest my talents is through: 

Principle of use it or lose it

If you didn't use it, you lose it. 

If you do use it, you have more of it. 

7. COMPENSATION:
If I use my talent wisely, I will be rewarded.
“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!”
(vs. 23)

3 rewards when you use your talent to serve:

1. Affirmation 

2. Promotion (in eternity)

3. Celebration (share your master happiness)

Start serve God with your talent unselfishly. 

When are you going to “Move into Ministry”?