Porch Notes 11/22/2011

Speaker: Jonathan Pokluda (JP)

JP is in a community group with all engineers. Every year they do something called the "engineering challenge". They are given a set of materials and they have to build something. Those who wish they had more materials never win. Those who are successful "get after it" with what they have.

Many people complain about what God hasn't given them and chase after the things and assets of others. When this happens you miss what you have, you miss the reason you were created.

14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'

23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Matthew 25:14-30

A talent is equal to many pounds of precious metals. It is very valuable. God has entrusted us with something very valuable. The modern usage of the word talent is taken from this passage. Talent = Something God has entrusted you with.

What you are is not an accident.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,"

12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:11-16

You are the only you. You are unique.

What we have to steward

1. Personality

2. Gifting/Talents

3. Experience

4. Story

5. Relationships

6. Resources

7. Passions

What can you "run a 5 minute mile" in? What do you do really well?

What experiences have you had?

What is your story? What is your testimony?

What people have been put in your path?

What resources do you have? What do you do with your time?

-Everything is God's. Why would you waste any resources, even those that have been entrusted to others?

What do you care about?

-A group of 1500 were split into those who wanted to pursue "money now" (83%) vs those who wanted to pursue their passions (17%). After 20 years there were 100 millionaires. Only one was from the group who pursued "money now".

-You were created to fill gaps. If there is an area where you see something lacking, you should take care of it and be part of the solution.

If you dislike what you don't have you may miss what you have.

"Know yourself, love yourself, like yourself." -Stuart Smalley

Keep asking yourself, what does God want to do through me?

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Many things we ask God for things that will make us more worldly, we ask for things that we are told we shouldn't want.

Most of the people in the audience can have a home in the suburbs, high income, etc. If you set your sights on that goal it's not hard to come by. However, the desire for that is really lame.

The servant in the parable was punished because he didn't do anything with what he was given.

Is God satisfied with your stewardship of the gifts he's given you?

Sometimes the things you don't have are an asset.

To whom much is given much is expected. Because we live in America we all have been given much.