The Rich Get Richer
Theme: God gives more to those who are faithful with little.
Texts: Mark 4:21-25 and Matthew 25:14-30
Here’s a thought: Hudson Taylor observed, “A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in little things is a great thing.”
Syman Deori writes in “The Journey of Warren Buffett: From Humble Beginnings to Legendary Investor” at https://medium.com/@symandeori/the-journey-of-warren-buffett-from-humble-beginnings-to-legendary-investor-d76fe270adb5:
Warren Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is one of the most successful and respected investors of all time. Born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, Buffett’s journey from modest beginnings to becoming one of the wealthiest people on the planet is a remarkable tale of determination, intelligence, and a passion for investing.
Buffett’s affinity for business and investing manifested early in his life. As a child, he exhibited entrepreneurial traits, selling various items from chewing gum to magazines door-to-door. His first investment was made at the age of 11 when he purchased three shares of Cities Service Preferred at $38 per share. Little did he know that this small investment would ignite his interest in the world of stocks and securities.
In 1962, Warren Buffett started acquiring shares of a struggling textile company called Berkshire Hathaway. Although the company’s core business declined, Buffett recognized its significant value lay in its stock portfolio. Over time, he shifted the company’s focus to insurance and diversified its holdings, turning it into a conglomerate. Today, Berkshire Hathaway stands as a diversified investment company with holdings in various sectors, from insurance and utilities to consumer goods and technology.
Buffett’s investment success lies in his adherence to the principles of value investing. He looks for undervalued companies with strong fundamentals and long-term growth potential. His patient and disciplined approach to investing, coupled with his ability to identify businesses with sustainable competitive advantages, has enabled him to amass significant wealth over the years.
Jesus summarizes the way of the kingdom in Mark 4:21-25:
21 He [Jesus] said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” NIV
Jesus elaborates on the ways of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 25:14-30:
14 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.” 21 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!” 22 The man with the two talents also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.” 23 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!” 24 Then the man who had received the one talent came. “Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” 26 His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” NIV
Did you know that God is neither a Communist nor a Socialist? I am not sure He is a Capitalist either, but in God’s economy:
The Rich Get Richer
Which came first: the chicken or the egg? The Creation Account recorded in The Book of Genesis is clear that the chicken came first, but after God created the chicken, chicks came from eggs. The Lord is big into small beginnings. This principle is woven into His creation and His dealings with people.
It was almost 1,500 years Before Christ and the nation of Israel had been led out of Egypt by Moses. The Lord was preparing His people for the Promised Land with this explanation in Exodus 23:27-31:
27 I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. 28 I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. 31 I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the River. I will hand over to you the people who live in the land and you will drive them out before you. NIV
Someone has observed, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” At first, it would seem wiser to spread around the workload (which I try to do as a leader), but I have noticed there are reasons why busy people are so busy and why most people have time to waste. Through high school, college, and seminary, I saw that the students with the highest marks were the busiest with work at home, part-time jobs, athletics, or other campus activities.
If I support a charity that I feel is using its funds wisely, I will be inclined to give more. If I am trying to help someone grow, and he or she is teachable and responding by making necessary adjustments, I will invest more time and energy into them.
Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) spent 54 years as a missionary in China. He observed, “A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in little things is a great thing.”
Use your gifts faithfully, and they shall be enlarged; practice what you know, and you shall attain to a higher level.
Jesus concluded in Matthew 11:19, “Wisdom is proved right by her actions.” Unfortunately, many North American Christians equate spiritual maturity with knowing loads of information. Did you know it was the religious people who knew the Scriptures backward and forward who gave Jesus the most grief? It is good to know lots, but unless we apply what we know, it will not help us. Our heads can get big, and our hearts lifted with pride if we know much more than we live. On the other hand, if we live what we know to be true, the Lord will continue to grow and expand on what He entrusts to us.
Jesus encouraged His followers to be bold in the face of opposition in Matthew 10:26-27:
26 So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. NIV
Jesus promised to guide His followers and whisper His words into our ears. The hearts of those who resist Him and His followers will be revealed someday. Our task is to share His message faithfully regardless of how others respond.
We are made in God's image. We know instinctively that when a person can be trusted with our secrets, thoughts, feelings, loved ones, money, possessions, etc., we are inclined to trust them with more.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 9:7-9:
7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. 9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. NIV
Do you want the Lord to trust you with more? Be wise, generous and faithful with your:
· Money – Live below your means, take generous donations off the top, and set up an automated monthly withdrawal into an investment portfolio.
· Time – Weed out the “time wasters” and use a to-do list and daily calendar.
· Talents – Try new things early in life, and then in your latter years, focus on areas where you are most effective.
· Health – Get adequate rest (but not too much), eat right, exercise regularly and have some fun.
· Relationships: Give priority time to the Lord, your family, your closest friends, and those you are discipling or mentoring.
In God’s economy:
The Rich Get Richer
The Poor Get Poorer
Jesus had just shared The Parable of the Sower, in which He describes the different soil types and their fruitfulness or responsiveness to seed. He was not simply providing a lesson in agriculture but described the condition of people’s hearts and how they respond to the seed of God’s Word. This deeper meaning went over His listeners’ heads, so the Twelve asked Jesus about the parable's meaning when they had time alone with Him.
Jesus replies in Mark 4:11-12:
11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’“ NIV
One of the wealthiest men who ever lived wrote Proverbs 13:11:
Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. NIV
What happens to a car when you let it sit for a long time? These answers come from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_happens_to_a_car_when_you_let_it_sit._I_do_not_not_want_to_know_what_to_do_to_prevent_damage_but_what_will_occur_if_it_just_sits:
Nothing if you take it for a ride every blue moon. If it just sits the motor and transmission could eventually seize, the gas could go bad, the brakes could rust out and the gaskets could rot. After one year the car will probably be fine, but after two years it might have troubles, probably after three years and if it sits for four to six years prepare to take it to the junk yard.
The battery will discharge in three to six months. Tires will eventually go flat, and dry-rot. Rodents can get in the car and destroy wiring and the upholstery. Gasoline in the tank will start to go bad in three months and will be completely unusable in 2 years. Carburetor or fuel injectors may clog. Brakes may seize. Engine may eventually seize depending on how long it sits, and where it was parked. Lots of bad things can and will happen to a car that is left unattended.
Use it or lose it! Years ago, we travelled to Norway with my father-in-law. Per was energized as he spoke his original language with his brothers, other family members, friends, and Norwegians on the street. Can you speak more than one language? If you do not practice the other one(s), you will eventually be reduced to speaking the language you use daily.
We can come to our meetings and hear the Bible being taught. We can read many good books about the Bible and listen to preachers on the radio, television, internet and podcasts for hours every week. We can even read the Bible for hours daily, but we will lose these spiritual insights if we do not use or apply what we absorb.
The Lord can speak to us directly through circumstances or the godly counsel of others. This insight and wisdom will eventually evaporate if we are proud and unteachable.
Those who are faithful with even a little are entrusted with more! But those who neglect or squander what God has entrusted to them will lose what they have. There is an important lesson here for us. No one can stand still for long in life. We either get more, or we lose what we have. We either advance towards God, or we slip back. Do you earnestly seek to serve God with the gifts, time, talents and resources He has given you?
In light of eternity:
· It is not just what you know but who you know that counts.
· It is not just what you know but what you do with what you know that counts.
In God’s economy:
The Rich Get Richer
The Poor Get Poorer
God gives more to those who are faithful with little.
