Responsibility for Temporal Talents 2011 LLC Summer Services

Responsibility for Temporal Talents 2011 LLC Summer Services July 1 - 4

We will learn that. . . • The purpose of life is to serve God and neighbor • God gave talents so we could fulfill our responsibility • We should accept our talents in humbleness and faith • Talents vary in type and amount, but our responsibility is simply to be faithful over the talents we own • We should not be arrogant, lazy, or envious, nor should we glorify or belittle the gifts of others or our own • We should freely give our talents for the work of the Kingdom

What is the purpose of life?

Duty of Man “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12: 13).

Purpose is Serving “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself ” Matt. 22: 37 -39).

God Gives Gifts “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (Jam. 1: 17).

God Gives Gifts “See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting stones, to set them, and in carving timber, to work in all manner of workmanship” (Ex. 31: 2 -3).

Be Humble “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (Jam. 4: 6). “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matt. 23: 12).

Healthy Self-Esteem “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Ps. 139: 13 -14). ll.

Gifts Are Different “But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that” (1 Cor. 7: 7).

Don’t Be Envious

Don’t Glorify People “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Sam. 16: 7).

Don’t Be Arrogant “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Rom 12: 3).

Don’t Belittle “Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. ” (Matt. 25: 24).

Don’t Be Lazy “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thess. 3: 10). “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute”(Prov. 12: 24).

Develop Your Talent “And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm” (Dan. 1: 20).

Responsibility to Serve “As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet. 4: 10).

Freely Give “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9: 7).

Serve Unto God “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col. 3: 22 -23).

Discussion Questions 1. Are there any talents we should not develop and use? If so, explain. 2. What are the consequences of focusing too much on temporal talents? 3. What is a proper attitude regarding accomplishments? 4. What personal experiences or psalms would you like to share? 5. What questions do you have?

Our responsibility is to take care of the gifts God gives us to serve God and neighbor as we journey to heaven!