Starting from today, you’ll be lucky to read some inspiring wealth nuggets from one of my business associates, pastors, and friends for close to a decade now, Balogun Isreal, as he’s teaching on how you can increase your capacity. It will be a week-long training series that I’m sure you’re going to take a lot of things home from.
Kindly take your time to learn from this series titled; “Increase Your Capacity Series”. If you have questions or comment to make, please use the box at the extreme end of the page.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY SERIES: Part 1
READING: Matt. 24: 14-30
“For the kingdom of God is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Matt 25: 14 – 15.
The word “for” is calling our attention to something. It is simply saying you have to pause and take note. Here, Jesus has been speaking on something a bit different but used the word “for” to link the former and the latter parable together. No matter our momentum in the course of life there is always a candid need for us to pause at intervals and examine our actions, inactions, thoughts and words before we continue.
Secondly, Jesus used parables to convey His missions to people. Mark 4:11 says unto us those parables are mysteries, and we must know them. Mysteries are the orders that characterized this kingdom and failure to be a master of them makes you to be among the people “without”.
This kingdom is ruled by mysteries not magics. Jesus said we must be master of these mysteries before we can rule and dominate. We must do everything possible to be custodians of heavenly secrets. We must sacrifice everything to possess this virtue. You can’t live a victorious christian life at the level of parables alone you must know how to decode mysteries. Decoding and encoding parables is termed mystery.
2Tim 2: 5 “And if a man also strive for masteries, ……” the word masteries here is from two words; master and mysteries. It simply put Master of Mysteries (MSc. of Mystery). This is the major reason why some men are sort after. People can come from all walks of life to locate them while some wont see any one for counselling in months.
Friend, God is saying you have to build your capacity for mysteries. Do everything possible to be custodian of heavenly secrets. What the king thought of on his bed was in the palm of Elisha. Jesus always know the thoughts of the Pharisees. Peter revealed the intent of Ananias and his wife and the bible concluded that fear came on all the people. It is time to allow Holy spirit to use us. What we are sharing is so important to the extent that devil counterfeits it.
What about in your office? Are you a sort after person. If you are not around will your absence be felt? Are you just a mere minister whose presence is inconsequential?
1. Father make me a custodian of heavenly mysteries.
2. Father, I refuse to be a mere christian.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 2: (MASTER OF MYSTERY)
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Matt 25: 14 – 15.
I got something very interesting and intriguing in the bible. There was a problem in Samaria that was very severe. It was severe to the extent that people were eating dungs of animals. Animals dungs are heavily inflated. People were dying and situation became so worst that mothers could offered their children to be meat. The situation was so tensed that mothers forgot the pain of nine months, the pain of delivery and the pain of nursing a child to a pain of boiling such child as daily meal. 2Kings 6: 24-33
Why should the king be annoyed with Elisha to the point of killing the anointed prophet? The question that cross the mind is, what was the evil done by Elisha. Was the prophet the cause of the problems? Why should the king vowed to behead Elisha for the national mayhem?
2 Kings 6:31 “Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.”
The king was not happy with Elisha because He believed that Elisha was supposed to be the solution to the national problems. The king believed that Elisha should have access to the mystery that is ravaging the entire nation.
He knew him to be the master of mystery, but why was he silent now.
“…….. and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?” 2Kings 6:33
Friend, the solution to the national problems is with us, if we can sort for God. Deut. 29:29, Ps. 25:14. If you can only build your capacity to the point of decoding mysteries, the national issues will be solved in your bedroom.
1Cor 12:7 says the gifts are for us to profit the kingdom. When Elisha moved, God moved and backed him up.
2 Kings 7:1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
7:2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.”
Truly Elisha has solution to the problem at hand but never realised he could do something. He was waiting for the God to tell him what to do. So many of us are waiting for God when God is expecting us to take a bold step.
1. Father, make me a power bank of your secrets.
2. Father, make me a tran-generational solution to my world.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 3: 100% ROI (Return Over Investment)
READING: Matt 25:14-30
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Matt 25: 14 – 15.
Jesus shared thirty seven parables during His ministry twenty seven out of them are on finance. The issue of finance characterized majorly the larger part of the scripture whether old or new testament. This parable is one of the fundamentals teaching of Christ on finance that is all encompassing. It takes care of every aspect and also liken us to how heaven thinks.
There are lessons to learn here:
Their master shared the treasures according to individual capacity. He knows them very well and can attest their capacities individually. From the creation human capacities had never been equal but that does not present the master has being partial or wicked. He would have been partial if he had given five talents to the one who has capacity for one or wicked if he had given one talent to the one qualified for five. He had only eight and gave them out at the ratio 5:2:1.
Again, it does not mean one is superior to the other. The grace might be different but that does not account for superiority. Everyone will give account base on what he did with what he received. To him that receives much, much shall be required. There is no room for envy. You should be able to perform excellently with what you have. A hundred percent returns is the standard expected from everyone. Here lies the kingdom principle.
Now he that has two should return 100%, he that had one must return 100%. It’s of no heavenly value that you have 10 talents and return 60% whereas with just four you can return hundred percent. Those talents you did not put to use or active use must be accounted for too. No excuse is permitted at all, that’s why the master took his time to study individual capacity before handling his precious goods into their care.
Friend, is heaven proud over the talent you were given? Are you using it to glorify the giver (the master) or punish Him? Have you not commercialize what you were given freely? Some brethren were trained by mission only for them to return when they have become experts and begin to charge the same mission that trained them. Sometimes threaten to leave for greener pastures if the mission can’t shift “ground”. Well remember you must return 100%. What hundred percent are you returning? If the master return now, how do you account for all those idle talents? What will you say? REMEMBER NO EXCUSE.
1. Father help me not to fail you.
2. Father, give me the grace to use all the talents given to me for your glory.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 4: THE PLATFORM
READING: 2 Sam 9: 1-13, Gal 6:7,9-10
“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two,and to another one; every man according to his several ability… Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two”. (Matthew 25 vs 15,16,17).
The master was a kind hearted man who provided a platform for his servants to actualize their abilities and potentials. He became a shoulder for them to stand and harness their talents.
Friend, be a platform for encouraging others to succeed. A platform where others can stand to actualise their in-born potentials and abilities. Be the epitome of joy to others. Be the reason for someone’s living. Pastor, I need help too? Yes I know, but you are the helper that someone has been praying to have. Be the instrument for lifting others dreams and aspirations even when they return your kind gestures with evil.
Just as the master of those servants, God is saying, you too can provide the opportunity for others to be distinguished in life. Where you are today whether spiritually or secularly someone provided the platform, so it is your turn to do same for men. If you refuse to stand God will raise another person better than you who will carry out His assignment in the lives of His people.
Zig Ziglar always say, “You can have everything in life that you want if you just give enough other people what they want.”
Some people were provided ladder for to climb up but quite unfortunate they got up and became self – centered, removed the ladder and destroyed it. What a pathetic life! Remember if you press someone down you too must go down and likewise you can’t lift someone up without been up. God is human oriented, He doesn’t play with His children affairs.
Why do you want to die working for someone else when you have capacity to create avenue for others to work. If your boss did not made himself as a useful platform will you be there? Be a platform that makes God happy.
1. Father help me to be the platform for the lifting of others in my generation.
2. Father, please make me a source of inspiration/joy to others.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 5: TRADE YOUR TALENTS
READING: Gen 30: 29-42
“Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.” Matt. 25 :16-17
Trading is a principle of life. Trading is an act of bartering items in an exchange for another. The keyword here is exchange. On daily basis there are several trades (exchanges) going on in the world both during the day and in the night; spiritually and physically.
Quite unfortunately, some are trading their destinies with sleep. Some are trading their lives with unprofitable adventures. Every night glories are been traded off, destinies are been exchanged, lives been substituted because of the carelessness of men.
These two young men knew that there is no way they can multiply their given-talents except they trade with it. They knew that, they needed to exchange what they have to obtain what they need. So they went after tangible results and they got it. Some are expert players in the marketplace of life while some are spectators. How about you?
Friend, life is a marketplace. You’ve got to use what you have to get what you need or want. God doesn’t make provisions for everything. He stops at raw materials to allow us to use our talents to turn them to desired finished products. God leaves us at the primary level expecting us to move to the secondary levels by ourselves. To expect God to do all things is witchcraft; He has his parts and likewise you.
Are you trading with what you have? Are you multiplying the talents in you? Are you an excellent trader in the marketplace of life?. You’ve got a choice.
When that widow approached Elisha in 2Kings 4, the man of God simply asked her, what she has that can be traded with. If she has nothing then she has no place in the market but thank God there is no one God had never input something (talent) into. No one is happenstance. No one is creature of pity. This widow had little oil to trade with and then multiplication came.
Remember, if you refuse to exchange what you have to benefit others then you are UNPROFITABLE servant.
1. Father, open my eyes to understand how to trade my talents to the glory of your name.
2. I refuse to be an unprofitable person. I shall be relevant in my generation.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 6: NO RISK NO SUCCESS
READING: 1 Kings 19: 19 – 21.
“And I WAS AFRAID, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine”. (Matthew 25 vs 25).
One major issue that crippled the productivity of the servant with one talent is fear of failure (risk). He does not want to take any risk. He lost what he had to his neighbour because he could not dare to take a step of risk. He had forgotten that life itself is a risk.
Friend, has lack of gut to take risk not cripple your initiative? Has it not paralysed your mindset? Is it not the reason you remained where you are till now? Are you not regretting that you would have taken those steps then?
Hear me, no one succeed in life without some measure of risk. No one climb the ladder to the top without considering the risk involved, in fact each rung is potentially risky. Remember you don’t create mark by running on another man’s track. You have to create your own track before you can make a mark. Elisha took a great risk that paid off beyond expectations.
Archbishop Benson Idahosa once asked, “what is faith? He said, ‘faith is a spiritual risk and it is risky for you not to take a risk.'” The man refused to take risk and he ended up loosing everything. The other two were risk takers who immediately put their hands to work. Though the bible was silent about how they traded and made gain but all of us know that trading to make profits is not a day job. In spite of the risk involved they were able to make profits.
Many people had lost glorious future to lack of taken steps appropriate to their desired destination. In the school of thought we were told that over 2000 ideas pass through human minds daily and each of these ideas is capable of a guaranteed future if harnessed. But fear of unknown is the bane that maim inventions. Risk takers are world celebrities. REMEMBER THOSE WHO CAN’T TAKE RISK WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE RISK TAKERS.
1. Father destroy the spirit of fear in me.
2. Lord, don’t let me miss your plan for my life.
3. Every step I need to take father give me the boldness to take it.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 7: POSITIVE MINDSET
READING: Gen 26: 1-22
“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” Matthew 25: 24 – 25
Another issue that stares us at the face when critically examine the lives of these three servants is the issue of the mindset. Their thoughts pattern differs; they have different attitude towards life. While two are optimistic, the other one was pessimistic.
No one succeed beyond his thought level. Prov 23: 7 says as a man thinks so is he.
“A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.”- Gandhi.
The different between the rich and the poor is not majorly the amount of cash in a rich’s man account or the number of assets he possesses but their mindset. Both of them are living in different mental planet. Both of them are operating on two different mental frequencies. The rich man makes money to work for him while the poor man work for every dime he earns. The wealthy uses money to buy time while the poor uses time in exchange of money. The poor sees every wealthy man as a ritualist or someone who reaps where he did not sow/straw.
From today’s memory scripture we discovered that the first two servants saw their talents as opportunity to exhibit their innate abilities, their dormant potentials while the other man saw his as bait to trap him down.
In his book, “Think like a billionaire become a billionaire, Scot Anderson laid much emphasises on mindset as a distinctive FACTOR that distinguishes the wealthy from the poor. He noted that just as prosperity is a product of thought so also poverty. He wrote, “poor people look for ways to spend money. Billionaires look for ways to invest money. INVESTMENT, he said poor people invest just little. Billionaires realise investing is the key to abundance; JOBS- Poor people think a better job will make them wealthy. Billionaires know that job will never make them wealthy; investing will. RISK- Poor people stay away from risks because they might fail. Billionaires know if they don’t take risks, they’ve already failed etc.”‘
God is interested in your mindset so also devil. Your mindset must be in uniform with God’s plan and purpose for your life. Remember you can not excel beyond your mindset level. This young man failed because he carried a wrong mindset.
Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo wrote in his book, ‘Wealth Transfer’ that the first thing that must be changed in a man is his mindset. If you don’t see prosperity, success, breakthrough from your mind you can’t have it in your hand.
Phil 2: 5 admonishes us to have the same mindset with Jesus- our perfect example.
My Father, purge my mindset of every mediocrity. I change my thought pattern to conform to that of Jesus Christ.”
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 8: WHY PUNISHING YOURSELF?
READING: John 12: 2-8
“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” Matthew 25: 24 – 25
From the memory verse we could deduced that this wicked servant has thought it within himself to punish his ‘hard master’ by burying his talent. He thought it is cheating for his monkey to be working only for his master’s baboon to appear suddenly and begin to eat.
He thought he would teach his master a great lesson of his life that he (master) will meet his talent intact. He thought he can not be a foolish man like his colleagues who were trading under the sun for someone who was enjoying himself on vacation.
Friend, is that not your attitude in your office, work place even in the church? You refused to put in your best because your boss/pastor will take the glory. All your action is to frustrate him. You thought nobody recognises you nor will anyone usher you with appreciation, so you decided to become a saboteur.
Hear me, you are not punishing anyone else but yourself. This is the reason why some people after retiring become tired and useless; most especially government workers.
The young man told his master rudely to pick his talent where he kept it for him. Since he refused to increase the worth of his master he himself went down.
Remember whatever you do, you are building yourself and your future. If you can’t excel doing another man’s job you will surely fail at yours. Are you consistently inconsistent? Are you a perpetual late comer? Can heaven testify that you are putting out your best? Are you just an eye-service officer? Repent now before your attitude destroys your destiny.
God is saying as long as you want to keep others down you too can not grow up. Your actions will surely have a definite expression in your life. Most people pray that God should destroy their enemies which in actual is themselves.
1. Lord help me to reshape my attitude, don’t let me destroy myself by my attitude.
2. Help me father, not to spoil my heaven with my deeds on earth.
3. I refuse to punish myself any longer.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 10: FRUITLESS EFFORTS
READING: Luke 5:2 – 5
“But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.” Matt. 25:18
This young man with one talent was not a dummy at least he could reason on what to do with his talent. His mind was working but adversely. He thought, it is proficient to do something with his talent; but what he did with it matters a lot to his destiny and his boss.
Friend, your gift, talent or potential is not only for you but for as many people around you. If other investors had buried their talents like him, we would still be in Agrarian age. While the other two were thinking positively and put their thoughts to fruitful action, he was thinking negatively. He had forgotten that life runs on principle (Gal. 6:7).
Actually the man was busy but busy doing the wrong thing. He was busy using all his strength digging the pit that has no relevant to his destiny. He was having momentum without motion. He was busy wasting efforts, resources and strength. He was sweating profusely in a wrong endeavour. He was sweating planting cooked seeds. I prophesy to your destiny, you will no longer have fruitless efforts.
Friend, there is great difference between good thing and right thing. To him, he was doing the good thing but in actual sense he was not doing the right thing. He was not using the talent for what it meant for, yet he was busy working. Until we can juxtapose between the GOOD and the RIGHT, we might continue to make mistakes and not pleasing God. If you keep doing the good thing at the expense of the right thing, God will not be pleased with you. Are you pleasing the master or you are just doing your own. Most Christians are busy expending fruitless efforts by doing what God does not command.
1. Father, I refused to labour in vain
2. Father, help me never to expend my energy on the good thing at the expense of the right thing.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 11: PROCESS OF TIME
READING: Genesis 1
“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.” Matthew 25:19
As Almighty as our God is, He recognizes the potency and value of time. One major attribute of time is it always point towards God. It also differentiate season. God places value on time (Gen 1:4-8).
The master returned after a long time to put the account straight. He understood that these young men needed time to multiply the talents given to them. He knew that season and sowing conditions must be adhered to and put right before multiplication can surface.
He knew that, for any business to survive it must pass through the process of time. In the school of thought, we were made to understand that 70% of businesses die within three years and only 10% survive at the end of the fifth year. Most people don’t take this into consideration before concluding that their businesses are bewitched.
Most people want accidental success. They want microwave breakthrough. This young man was afraid to fail. He was not interested in investing time into harnessing his talents. He needed a get rich quick syndrome. He wanted to plant his corn today and have a bumper harvest tomorrow.
Friend, whatever that will have future must recognize time factor. The different between HERE (where you are now) and THERE (your ultimate destination) is T which stands for TIME. Lasting breakthrough needs time to develop and hatch.
There is different between bramble tree and bamboo. If the two are planted at the same time, the former will have a speedy growth and within five years it would have become a big tree whereas bamboo is just starting to shoot up. The former has shallow root while the later took time to grow its root before growing the stem. Harsh weather will prove their stuffs to you.
Friend, microwave success can’t last. Get Rich Quick Syndrome is the bane of our world today. It is the source of social vices. Remember, time management is a key to glorious destiny.
1. Father, help me never to be faster than my destiny.
2. Oh Lord, give me the grace to maximize my time and season
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 12: EXCUSITIES
READING: 1 Kings 20: 39-40
“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” Matthew 25:25
Welcome to another brand new week. We shall continue on our series. Thank God for numerous comments and testimonies so far. Hallelujah!
“Excusite” is a cancerous disease many people are suffering from. Both male and female are victims of this vulnerable disease, whether this age or ages past. Unfortunately, the young man with one talent is a victim. This disease has more victims that all other ailments.
Excusites is a disease of excuse. Many people have several reasons for their failures. They have reasons for their woes and predicaments. They have reasons why others are/should be better than them. This quite unfortunate and misfortune. Excuses maim invention, paralyze positive thinking, contaminate innovation and corrode advancement.
Just as this young man was proud of his excuse, so are many today. Excuse is the success story of the failures, and the testimony of ‘No Future Ambition’. It is the glory of the mediocre. Run away from it. Whether in life and ministry, excusites had killed more destinies than Ebola. It is the great weapon of the devil for stealing, killing, and destroying destinies. May you not be found in its web. No glorious future for an excuse giver.
Lord Dennin said, “that it has never been done does not mean it cannot be done.” That’s someone who knows how to destroy excuses. Give yourself reason why you must succeed notwithstanding your present predicament. I have met several people with this disease and most of them are experts in praying against the enemies instead of facing realities. They shift blame on everyone around them. Someone must be liable to their plight, well there is need for paradigm shift in their mindset. My parents refuse to help me, my uncle is a miser, my friends are bad, the government is corrupt …… excuses here and there.
Friend, while some pride on their excuses by making mountains of them some turn theirs to stairs to climb to their desired levels such people like Nick Vijucic, Fanny Crosby, Helen Keller etc. REMEMBER SUCCESS AND PROGRESS IS A FORBIDDEN FRUIT FOR A MAN/WOMAN WITH EXCUSE. If Nick Vijucic could without hands and limbs make it, friend you are inexcusable.
1. Oh Lord, help me to be a person with positive thinking.
2. I command every spirit of excuses in my life to die now in Jesus name.
PROOF
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 13: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
READING: 1Sam 22: 1-2 & 2Sam 23: 8-24.
“Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.” Matt. 25: 16-17
Yesterday we learnt the danger of excuse. We observed that excuse is an anti-change and there are only two people that can’t change – the fool and the dead. The fool won’t and the dead can’t. May you not be found among them.
While one was pessimistic and full of excuses, the other went ahead and developed themselves for the great task ahead. Their determination to succeed was backed up with personal developmental actions.
Friend, life is operating on principles. Someone said, ‘if you live your life on principles, 99% of what you want to achieve is done already.’ GIGO – garbage in garbage out (Gal 6:7). Whatever you put in is what you get at the other end. If you put in success action surely you will succeed but if you put in failure, you harvest failure at the end of the tunnel.
To have succeeded in their trade to the tune of 100% they must have built their trade capacity. They must have jettisoned reasons negating success in spite of their background. They must have disdained friends or family members despising them. They must have set a goal and then pursue without looking back.
Friend, to succeed in life, business, school or ministry you must determine to build yourself up. You must go extra miles. You must be ahead of your colleagues and associates. You must forget about pleasures at the outset and endure pain for gain. You need to utilize your night effectively (Ps 19: 1-2). You have to read, carry out research, develop your own USP – Unique Selling Points.
Prayerfully locate men and women in your area of specialization, duplicate and build on their success principles. There is no field that no one had never tread and succeeded. Get their biographies, their books and CDs. Read anything readable that is relevant to your success. Isaac Newton said, “the reason why I see farther than others is because I stand on the shoulder of those that had gone ahead.” You can contact their impartation through their materials. Quite unfortunate, some pastors don’t read.
Secondly, if need be go back to school. I heard of a guy whose company was retrenching staff and he was been promoted. He felt lonely and decided to resign yet the company refused his resignation. A lady met him and ask why is his own different and he demanded to see her CV, there and there he discovered that she had never added any value to herself since she has been working. He told her that he update his own CV nearly every six months with relevant professional courses thereby becomes a value-added personality. This lady put the advice into practice, today she is a sort after.
I have a friend who is a demand anywhere. He changes job as he likes, why? Company keep calling him on daily basis.
When last have you update yourself?
Thirdly, you need a mentor. No man is an island. You need someone who could help you through in your pursuit. Prayerfully, locate a mentor and your journey in life will be smooth.
1. Father, help me never to deceive myself.
2. Father, by your mercy locate me to my mentor whom you have prepared for my life.
3. Daddy, give me the grace to forgo the present pleasure in other to build myself for the glorious future.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 14: STEWARDSHIP
READING: 1Cor 4: 2
“And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.”
Matthew 25: 20, 22
After a while the master of these three men returned to demand for accountability. He came back to request for their stewardship. Even though, he did not give them instruction on what to do with what he gave them, despite that he was eager to receive their individual accountability.
Note that he did not even ask them what or how they used what he gave them, his target aim is the result emanated from what he gave them. Results really matter to him, so also to everyone of us.
Friend, a day is actually coming when we will all give accounts of whatever we have done in this flesh. No one is without a talent and whatsoever talent you have you will surely give account when the judge will come. Surely the judge will come at a time when no one can predict. Just like a thief in the night, so will the day of stewardship arrive.
What will you say if today is your own day of reckoning? Remember, your shadow is your life police. It will tender proofs against you.
Friend, you are just a caretaker of both your life and everything you own. You will give account one day. There will be no excuse that will be tenable. Quite unfortunately, the young guy with one talent knew there will be a day of reckoning; a day for stewardship and accountability. He knew he will have to show the records of everything in his possession. So rather than utilizing what he has well, he kept rehearsing how to attack his ‘hard’ master.
1. Father, don’t let me be found wanton on the day of my stewardship.
2. Father, please let me be found faithful on that day. Help me never to disappoint you.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 15: DIVINE APPRECIATION AND COMPENSATION
READING: Luke 5: 1-9, 2Kings 4: 8-37
Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
When the lord of these servants returned he demanded for accountability from each of them as we studied yesterday, but not only that he appreciated and rewarded those that did well, at the same time condemned and reprimanded he that did badly.
The word of God is two edges sword; as it defends so also it is for offense. This master was pleased with the first two but descended his annoyance on the other one. The bible says Jesus Christ is the lamb of God and at the same time the Lion of the tribes of Judah. The former is meek and compassionate while the latter is fierce and never compromised.
A day is coming for rewarding the honourable stewards and then also chastising the slothful men. What will be your portion on that day? For every effort there is a reward or reprimand. Your present activities will determine which one will be yours on that day. Think about it.
There is a principle called “Appreciation and Compensation” this is a dynamic principle which works everywhere. Everyone has his/her ego and when that ego is respected by others there will be osmosis relationship. Everyone want to feel important and once that is observed by others there will be mutual coexistence. The boss of these men recognized the effects of this principle both on short and long run, so he employed it.
Jesus used this principle severally during His ministry. He did it to Peter, young lad with five loaves and two fishes.
‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant’ is a statement of appreciation. A statement that boost morale. A big plus statement of commendation. The two young men would be happy hearing such statement from their ‘hard’ master. Such would instantly hike their self-esteem. Oh! what a marvelous way of appreciating people.
“thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” This is a statement of compensation. Their faithfulness was immediately rewarded. They were compensated beyond their imagination and expectation. Their efforts and discipline were not in vain but rewarded. Their sleepless night was paid off. Peter had a net- breaking compensation. Shunnamite woman had heart desire as compensation from the God of Elisha.
Above all, you will discover that their master did not even collect those talents from them (we shall discussed that later.)
1. Father, don’t let me loose my heavenly rewards to earthly gratification.
2. Please daddy, give me the grace not to be carried away by the euphoria and activities of this world and then forget my heavenly home.
3. Father, please help me to make it to heaven come what may
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 16: PROMOTION COMETH
READING: Gen. 41: 38-46
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matt. 25: 21, 23.
Faithfulness pays. It is the door to glorious position. It is the staircase to enviable promotion. Faithfulness exalts (Prov 14:34). It is a sure gateway to undeniable height in life. The master of these guys recognized that they have been faithful firstly to themselves and secondly to him. Here lies the deceit of the devil, the unfaithful always think they are doing it to someone else unknowingly to them that they are the first partaker of their unfaithfulness.
They never expect any promotion but they were promoted beyond their expectations. Their faithfulness earned them an enviable promotion. They were not only appreciated and compensated (as seen in our study yesterday), they were also promoted simultaneously.
Friend, at the outset faithfulness might be frustrating. It might not be appreciated at the beginning but later people will recognized it and appreciate its effects.
Promotion is our birthright. God expects us to experience daily promotion in all our life endeavours – spiritually, financially, mentally, physically, maritally etc. If you are not experiencing promotion always, check yourself. Repent where necessary and turn to God the original source of enduring promotion. Ps 75:6
This season you shall experience unprecedented promotion on daily basis. Every promotion that has eluded you in time past, there shall be double promotion in the name of Jesus.
1. Father, destroy every act of unfaithfulness in my life.
2. Father, every power limiting my promotion destroy it today in Jesus name.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 17: SLOTHFULNESS IS AN ABERRATION
READING: Prov 10:4; 20:4
“His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:…..” Matt. 25:26
Laziness is not kingdom practice. God hates slothfulness and never condone it. He has never approved it and will never approve it. In fact, He forbade it (2 Thess 3: 10,13). God is a hard worker (Gen 2: 1-2) Even Jesus confirmed it (Jn 5:17)
The master of this young man referred to him as a slothful person. It means he is a lazy man. A lazy man does not have future in the kingdom of God. After creating Adam God commanded him to work (Gen 2:15) even before He gave him wife.
Jesus was a serious worker (Jn 4:34; 5:17,36; 9:4). Our covenant fathers worked hard. Abraham was a hard worker, Isaac was a tired less worker Gen 26: 12- 20), Jacob was a creative worker (Gen 30)
If Jesus was a hard worker, who do you resemble with your laziness? Who is your godly pattern in slothfulness?
In this kingdom, a lazy man has destined himself for servant hood (Prov 12:24). A slothful is a ‘finished life’ (Prov 12:27; 19:15). His way will always be hard and full of excuses (Pro 15: 19; 26:13) He is a dearest brother to a prodigal (Pro 18:9). A lazy man is a frustrated personality (Prov 21:25; 26:15). Just like this young man with one talent, the life of a slothful will be destroyed while his eyes is widely opened (Eccl 10:18). That’s pathetic!
So many children of God are too lazy. Too lazy to pray, too lazy to observe vigils and too lazy to fast. They want good life yet living indolent life, always looking for someone to shift blames on. Some people are fond of sleep, they can sleep on water (Pro 6:6-12; 19:15; 26:14). Fear is another reason for laziness. The fear of unknown. 90% of what they are afraid neither exist nor will ever happened.
Another factor for laziness is lack of courage to take risk. Many parents are the bane behind their children slothfulness.
As this young man in our study did not get any commendation but pure condemnation from his master so also all slothful will be condemned. The state of our nation today is as a result of our slothfulness to kneel down in fervent prayers. Where are the John Knox of Scotland, where are the Idahosas, the David Bernard? Where are the American fathers, would be here and gay will have its way?
1. Father, remove the spirit of laziness in my life.
2. Father, please destroy the power of laziness over my destiny.
3. Father, I need your power to be the true ambassador for you.
4. Father, give us old time religion and attitude.
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 18: WICKEDNESS IS BASELESS
READING: Prov 11: 21, Ps 11: 2-6
“But his master answered him, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap where I have not sowed and gather [grain] where I have not winnowed?” Matthew 25: 26 (Amp)
One other factor that starred at face and worth delving deep into is the profound statement of the master. He called this unprofitable servant a wicked. Why wicked? What is his (the master) thought for calling him such name? I think to really understand the boss we need to define what is wickedness and who is wicked.
A wicked is a person who knows the right thing to do but refused to do it. Anyone who boycotts doing good is a wicked. Anyone who refuses to use his gifts and talents is a wicked. Anyone who is saved but refuses to rise for the salvation of others. Anyone who abuses what was entrusted into his care or uses what he has to suffer other people is a confirmed wicked. Anyone who does not consider or regard others, anyone who has sealed his mind from being a blessing to others and anyone who specializes in the downfall of others is a typical wicked man. Are you not a wicked man?
God wants every wicked to repent before it is too late. For this unprofitable wicked servant it was too late for him. May it not be too late for you. Repent now and do the right.
Friend, there is no reason for you to be wicked. Wickedness is absolutely baseless, notwithstanding what might have transpired.
Search through your heart does the progress of others give you joy or sorrow. The young man did not want his boss to make profit or be great. He did not want him to ‘reap where he did not sow’. Most wicked always forget that they are wicked first to themselves before to others.
1. Father, remove every trace of wickedness from my life.
2. In the name of Jesus, everyone who has constituted himself to be a wicked against my life, fall down and collapse.
3. Whosoever that has vowed that as long as they are alive I will not prosper, Lord punish him/her now
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY 19: UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF INVESTMENT
READING: Eccl 11:1-6
“Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury”.(Matthew 25 vs 27).
Albert Einstein said, “the eight wonders of the world is in the compounding power of money.”
“We go to schools to learn to work hard for money. I write books and create products that teach people how to have money work hard for them.” – Robert Kiyosaki.
From the memory verse today the Master told the unprofitable servant that he should have deposited his money with organisation where it would have accrued interest. Remember that this servant had earlier accused his master of reaping where he did not sow, this implies that his master has been receiving such interest.
In other word, the reply of his master was a great lesson on ‘financial education’. Money is an instrument which should always be used to generate more money. Money is meant to multiply not otherwise.
Some spend money, some waste it while some invest theirs. Those who spend theirs end up as spendthrift, those who waste theirs end their journey as bankrupt and those who invest theirs become investors (world leaders). What do you do with yours?
Friend, the real measure of your wealth is how much you would worth if you lost all your money. That’s the truth!
God is saying you can’t afford to use the entire ten fingers to eat. You must learn how to invest for future. God invested His only begotten son and today has many children. (Jn 3:16). If God could do it you can do it too. You can never be financially independent without engaging the instrument of investment.
His master made him to understand that he must grow to a point where his money will be working for him. Friend, you cant afford to be working for every dime you own. You have to grow to a point where your money does the working. This is the secret of Billionaires. Ps 126 vs 5-6.
It all start with mindset not necessarily big money. It is preferable to start small and grow up.
Guide yourself with adequate information, read books on investment, go for seminars/ workshops/ symposium. You can read: Acres of Diamond, Cashflow quadrant, Think and Grow rich, Warren Buffet on Investment, Parable of Dollars, The Richest Man in Babylon, Investing by Kiyosaki and Why We Want You to be Rich etc.
REMEMBER YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE.
1. Oh Lord, empower my mind to an idea that will turn my life around.
To be continued
