Have you ever wondered why some people are given differing amounts of something, whether that be money, influence or talents, and others are given less? Maybe you don’t think of it in such an overt way, but if you’ve ever compared yourself to someone, and wondered why they have something you don’t, then I want to propose to you that it may have something to do with stewardship.
Today I want to encourage you with some really practical insight that I believe will help you get unstuck from a place of constant comparison, and maybe move you into a place of thriving and abundance! My prayer is that as you read this revelation (which was such an eye-opener to me when I first got it), that you’ll be filled with hope and a feeling of empowerment over your own life.
MAYBE THERE’S MORE TO THE SUNDAY SCHOOL STORY
We’ve all heard the parable of the talents and how important it is to not bury what you have been given in the ground… but have you ever heard the parable of the minas? We’re going to take a look at the two today, but here’s a little heads up: each story is about stewardship and reward, but the outcome is really different! One group was rewarded with more stuff, while the other was rewarded with massive influence. Why? Check out this video for more:
In a nutshell:
• Luke 19:11-13, 15-19 says, “While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten [minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’…When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’…”
• In the parable of the talents (see Matthew 25), different amounts were given to each servant, according to their ability. However, in the parable of the minas, everyone got one mina to start with. (Everyone got the same amount).
• The people who had the talents were given 12 times the amount of money (at least) that they started out with, as a reward for their stewardship. In other words, they were given power over stuff.
• In the parable of the minas, they were rewarded for their stewardship with power over cities.
• So why do we see that some stewardship reaps power over stuff, while other reaps power of cities (and therefore the influence to make a huge difference in the world)?
• Let’s contrast the two parables and see what we can learn:
- The guys who had the talents were rewarded with a lot more money, but ended with a lot less authority than the parable of the minas… (because they were only given power over stuff).
- Both groups are rewarded… (at least, I’m speaking of the people who actually did something with what was given to them, instead of partnering with fear… but that’s a whole other story). There’s a difference in the reward, and it has everything to do with where they’re going.
- In the parable of the talents, they said, “Master, I have made you more.” And the master said, “That’s good, I’ll put you over stuff.”
- In the parable of the minas, they said, “Master, your mina has made more minas.” And they were given influence over cities.
- One person worked for money, the other person made money work for them.
- If you’re wise enough to have money work for you, you can be given authority over cities, because you can create wealth… and wealth isn’t riches ; wealth is an ecosystem!
WHAT ARE YOU CREATING?
So my question for you today is this: what has God given to you that you could be doing more with? Not out of a place of striving, but out of a place of growth, stewarding, and creating ecosystems. I want you take inventory of your “assets” today (again, these aren’t always related to money, but sometimes they are), and ask God for revelation on how to create an ecosystem
that feeds, supports, and builds itself up around the resources you have.
I’d love to hear some of the wisdom and strategy you hear from God in the comments! Or, I’d love to hear one gift in your life that you are going to partner with God on to create multiplication. Remember, wealth is much bigger than riches, and it’s something you can experience in every area of your life!
If you’re interested in learning more about creating abundance in every area of your life, I encourage you to order my newest book, “Poverty, Riches and Wealth”
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