The third key that opens the door to the Lord’s prosperity is SAVING or CONSERVING resources. The first is Work Hard. The second is Invest.
Saving or conserving resources is taught in the Bible. When Jesus Christ fed the 5,000 men, not counting women and children, with two fish and five loaves, it was indeed miraculous.
“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus ordered. So all of them – the men alone numbered five thousand – sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. ‘Now gather the leftovers,’ Jesus told his disciples, so that nothing is wasted.’ There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat!” John 6:10-13
I. SAVING IS GOOD STEWARDSHIP.
We don’t own anything. Everything that we have in this world is entrusted to our care. We are only managers, not owners.
II. SAVING IS PREPARING FOR THE DAYS AHEAD.
The Lord teaches us through an illustration from creation. In Proverbs 6:6-8, it says, “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.”
III. SAVING IS DELAYING GRATIFICATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVESTING.
IV. SAVING IS SETTING ASIDE A PART OF YOUR INCOME.
When the money comes, set aside a portion of it. Don’t spend it all. A certain portion of our income or allowance has to be set aside, no matter how small, or how big. In the Parable of the Talent we learned that, if the Lord finds us faithful with little things, then the Lord will give us big things. But if we are not faithful with little things how will He entrust us with bigger things?
Pero hindi dahil gusto niyong mag-ipon e palibre naman kayo ng palibre sa iba. Gusto niyong makapag-ipon pero hindi niyo naman pinaiipon yong iba. Mag-ipon tayo pero huwag naman yong sobrang kuripot na halos hindi ka na kakain. Kapag ganun, yang ipon mo kulang pa pambayad sa hospital. Let us always be balance!
V. SAVING IS NEEDED BECAUSE RESOURCES CAN BE EASILY CONSUMED.
Many Filipinos go abroad with the pretext ‘para makapag-save for the future.’ Years later, wala pa ring savings. Why? King Solomon has the answer in Ecclesiastes 5:11, “The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it.”
Isn’t that true? King Solomon hit the nail on the head. Habang dumadami ang kabuhayan, dumadami ang kumakain. Dumadami ang gumagastos. Noong wala ka pang pera, wala pang lumalapit o dumadalaw sayo. Noong nag-abroad na si tatay o si kuya o si ate, aba, dumating na ang mga tiyo, ang mga tiya, ang mga relathieves na sangkatutak. The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. And they help spend your money willingly and joyfully, to their hearts’ content.
Hindi komo lumaki and inyong income ay lalakihan n’yo rin ang gastos. Kapag sinabayan ninyo ng gastos ang income, goodbye savings. Hindi komo may pera e lagi na lang naka-gown. At may mga taong sobrang hilig sa mga alahas, na tuwing nagkakapera e alahas ang inuuna. Nagkakaroon tuloy ng spinal disorder sa bigat ng mga kuwintas. Hindi kailangang komo lumalaki ang income, nag-iisip kang lakihan ang gastos. Learn to save and invest.
We have to set limit to our expenses before the money comes. Kasi kapag nandiyan na ang pera, nakakalito. Gusto mo ng bilhin lahat. Kaya pag naggo-grocery kayo, dapat meron kayong listahan. Or else lalagpas kayo sa inyong budget. Kailangan may plano.
VI. SAVING RESOURCES SPREADS OUT THE PROVISIONS.
The small provision that we have can be stretched if we know how to save. Pero kung ang concept natin e ‘tiis pa sa wala, tiis pa sa meron’, ang mangyayari, ‘ubos-ubos biyaya.’ Bukas wala na naman. Tutunganga na lang. Pero kung marunong tayong mag-save, tumatagal ang provision.
VII. SAVING GIVES US SECURITY.
When you approach people because of a pressing need, it is not possible to deal with them from a position of strength. The truth is you are forced to deal with them from a position of weakness. Nakakita na ba kayo ng mangungutang na sumisigaw? Wala. Puro yan nagmamakaawa na parang mga maamong tupa.
In Proverbs 31:25, referring to the wise woman, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days ahead.” Can you laugh at the days ahead?
Mahirap magkaroon ng dignity yung nangungutang. Mahirap magkaroon ng dignity yung bitbit mo mga appliances mo para ibenta o isangla. Pag wala kasi tayong pera, ang hirap magkaroon ng dignity.
Mahalaga na ang mga anak ng Diyos who are supposed to be clothed with power and dignity, ay marunong sa kabuhayan, marunong mag-invest, at marunong mag-save. When we have savings and investments, we can laugh at the days ahead. Field trip dumating ka na handing-handa ako sayo. Midterm exam am ready to pay. Final exams? Ha! Ha! Ha! Been waiting for you for a long time. Napakasarap ng feeling na hindi tayo masyado nag-aalala.
Remember, our resources are limited. They have to be saved. Even our time here on earth is limited. The time you wasted yesterday is forever gone. Make use of your time wisely.
The Lord provides through investments and through saving. But resources are limited so they have to be saved. They have to be allocated and apportioned correctly. Let us ask ourselves: What are our wasteful ways? How do you waste food or water? How do you waste supplies – including school supplies? How do you waste money? Do you buy things you don’t need? How do you waste time? Time is gold, time is money, time is wealth.
Remember what the Lord said, “Let nothing be wasted.” Those who are faithful with little things will receive great things.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
THE JOURNEY TOWARDS PROSPERITY (Part 5)
May kasabihan ang mga Tagalog, “Ubos-ubos biyaya, bukas, nakatunganga.” I’ve heard of a family who were very poor. And then, one day, the family became an instant millionaire. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin alam ng mga tao kung saan galing ang kanilang pera. Nung nagkapera, gasta nang gasta, party ng party, namimigay na ng pera, kung anu-ano ang binibili. Nagbago na rin ang ugali. Hindi na namamansin. Kaya after a month or so, wala na naman silang pera.
The third key that opens the door to the Lord’s prosperity is SAVING or CONSERVING resources. The first is Work Hard. The second is Invest.
Saving or conserving resources is taught in the Bible. When Jesus Christ fed the 5,000 men, not counting women and children, with two fish and five loaves, it was indeed miraculous.
“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus ordered. So all of them – the men alone numbered five thousand – sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. ‘Now gather the leftovers,’ Jesus told his disciples, so that nothing is wasted.’ There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat!” John 6:10-13
Jesus said, “Gather the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” Ayaw ni Lord na may naaaksaya. In one sentence, Jesus teaches us the value of saving and conserving resources.
Saving is…..
I. SAVING IS GOOD STEWARDSHIP.
We don’t own anything. Everything that we have in this world is entrusted to our care. We are only managers, not owners. This is the message of Paul in 1 Timothy 6:7, “We didn’t bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die.”
Though Jesus Christ could command supplies whenever He pleased, yet He commanded His disciples to gather all the leftovers. He exemplified saving and conserving resources. Hindi komo meron pa tayong pera o pamalenke bukas e magsasayang tayo ngayon. Hindi tayo dapat maging pabaya. Leftovers must be conserved and used. Leftovers may be food, or other supplies, or they may be anything. Nothing should be wasted.
Often times, we waste a lot of food. Katulad ng mga fastfoods na may American standard. After a few minutes, yang mga manok, kapag hindi nabili, itatapon na lang. Kailangan magluto sila ulit ng iba, para fresh na naman and to maintain their name. This is wasteful use of resources. Our security today does not guarantee that it will still be here tomorrow. Kapag tayo’y nagsasaing dapat walang natatapon. Many of us grew up in the farm and I believe you are familiar with the rice cycle – land preparation muna tapos itinanim ang binhi, inalagaan, weeding, spraying with herbicide, insecticide and fungicide, fertilizing, watering, ipinagpray sa panahon ng bagyo, ginawan ng paraan panahon ng el nino – 3 to 4 months of waiting before harvest. Kapag naharvest na, dadaan sa thresher. Pinatutuyo, ibinibilad sa kalsada, sa basketball court, sa trapal. When it rains, takbuhan sa pagsisilong ang mga nagbibilad, pagtila ng ulan, bilad na naman. Kapag nabilad na pupunta sa rice mill. Tapos, itatransport isasakay sa mga bangka, sa barko, sa jeep, sa truck hanggang makarating sa mga tindahan. Kayo naman naghirap magtrabaho para makabili ng bigas. Pagkatapos ngayon, itong naghuhugas ng bigas, hahayaan lang na mahulog doon sa lababo? O kaya nakaligtas sa pagkahulog sa lababo. Naisaing. Sinukat-sukat, ginastahan pa ng gas o LPG o uling o kahoy para lutuin, at nung naihain na, what happened? Natira. Hindi nakain, dumikit-dikit doon sa gilid ng kaldero. Isinama doon sa huhugasan. Siguro sabi tuloy nung bigas, “Napakahaba naman ng kasaysayan ko para maging ganito lang ang aking wakas.”
Hindi tayo dapat maging wasteful. Nothing should be wasted. These words came from the mouth of our Lord. Do not prepare more than you need. Do not get more than what you can eat. Gabundok ang taas ng pagkain sa plato tapos hindi naman pala kakainin. Iiwan lang sa plato. A Chinese lady commented, “Bakit ang mga Pilipino kapag pinakakain, laging may tira?” There are many stories to this question. Yung iba, superstitious belief, itinitira siguro sa namatay na lolo niya yung kapiraso. Yung iba naman ayaw masabi na patay-gutom. Kunwari busog. Yung iba kuha lang ng kuha, tapos hindi naman kayang kainin.
Let nothing be wasted. Hindi lamang sa pagkain, kahit sa mga supplies, sa tubig, sa kuryente, sa kahit na anong bagay. Let nothing be wasted. That is good stewardship. Wisely use whatever can be kept for another day. Eat all the food on your plate. Drink all the liquid in your glass, otherwise, don’t put it there.
II. SAVING IS PREPARING FOR THE DAYS AHEAD.
The Lord teaches us through an illustration from creation. In Proverbs 6:6-8, it says, “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.”
Tingnan daw natin yung mga langgam. Wala nga naman silang kumander, walang gobyerno, wala silang mga batas, but they know how to work and save. While there is time, they collect and collect food. They don’t eat all of it; they save some of it in preparation for the winter. During winter they can’t go out of their anthill. Marunong silang mag-impok. Kaya when winter comes they have no worries because they have enough food to eat. They are like the woman in Proverbs 31, “she can laugh at the days to come,” kasi marami siyang savings. The ant collects what it needs – at the right time.
Mas mabuti pa ang kalagayan ng mga langgam kaysa tao. Because they know how to save at the right time. We usually say, “E ano naman ang isisave ko, e kulang na kulang pa nga!” We have to change that cycle. We must learn to save. Can we laugh at the days to come? Kung wala tayong savings, mahirap. Puro tayo worries. At malakas magpatanda yang walang pera. Para kang pinakain sa buwaya!
III. SAVING IS DELAYING GRATIFICATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVESTING.
One day, a man got lost walking in the desert. The next day, he was still lost. After two days under the scorching sun, he was very thirsty. All of a sudden, he saw a little wooden shed. He ran to it, thinking of only one thing—Water!
When he arrived there, he saw an old, rusty water pump sticking from the ground. He gripped the handle and began pumping like a mad man. But nothing came out.
Disappointed, he stepped back to study how to make it work.
Looking around, he saw a jug covered with dust.
When he grabbed it, he saw a piece of paper stuck on it. The message read, “Open this jug and you’ll find water. Don’t drink it. Pour it instead on the pump. And you’ll have all the water you want.”
He popped the cork. True enough, the jug was filled with water. Lovely, thirst-quenching, water.
Now imagine you’re that thirsty man.
For two whole days, you haven’t drunk water. Your mouth is so dry, your tongue is sticking to the roof of your mouth. You’re literally dying of thirst. And you’re now holding a jug full of water. But the message says that you should throw it away!
For a moment, your heart is torn.
What if the message was a joke? A cruel prank? What if you poured the water on that rusty pump and nothing happened?
But the man in our story chose to take the risk.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and poured the water.
He held the handle and pumped like crazy.
A few seconds later, torrents of water gushed out. Indeed, he had more water than he could ever need!
He drank to his heart content. He also found water containers to bring with him in his journey and filled them up to the brim.
But before leaving the place, he filled the jug with water.
And underneath the sign attached to it, he scribbled, “I tried it. Believe me, it works.”
You Have A Choice: Drink Now Or Drink Forever
This is a great picture of why people are poor.
The money that you hold now, no matter how small, is like that jug of water. And you always have a choice: You can drink now or you can drink forever. You can have money now or have money forever.
How? By saving and investing.
A lot of people don’t save and invest.
They spend whatever they have.
I’ve met people who earn P10T a month or 50T a month—and they spend everything. That’s why their money pump remains dry. And they’ll remain poor forever. It really doesn’t matter how much people earn. What matters is how much they save and invest.
“The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get” Proverbs 21:20.
This is usually our formula when it comes to spending and saving:
INCOME – EXPENSES = SAVINGS
The sad thing is we spend everything, no savings. According to Francis Kong, a business expert, we have to change the formula. Our formula should be:
INCOME – SAVINGS = EXPENSES
Saving and investing are crazy decisions.
It’s as crazy as pouring that last jug of water into the pump.
Friend, you have money now.
It may be small but you have it.
Will you simply consume your little money?
Or will you pour it into the money pump or invest it—so that it produces more money for you? It’s your choice!
If we want to be prosperous, learn to save. Learn to invest.
The third key that opens the door to the Lord’s prosperity is SAVING or CONSERVING resources. The first is Work Hard. The second is Invest.
Saving or conserving resources is taught in the Bible. When Jesus Christ fed the 5,000 men, not counting women and children, with two fish and five loaves, it was indeed miraculous.
“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus ordered. So all of them – the men alone numbered five thousand – sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. ‘Now gather the leftovers,’ Jesus told his disciples, so that nothing is wasted.’ There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat!” John 6:10-13
Jesus said, “Gather the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” Ayaw ni Lord na may naaaksaya. In one sentence, Jesus teaches us the value of saving and conserving resources.
Saving is…..
I. SAVING IS GOOD STEWARDSHIP.
We don’t own anything. Everything that we have in this world is entrusted to our care. We are only managers, not owners. This is the message of Paul in 1 Timothy 6:7, “We didn’t bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die.”
Though Jesus Christ could command supplies whenever He pleased, yet He commanded His disciples to gather all the leftovers. He exemplified saving and conserving resources. Hindi komo meron pa tayong pera o pamalenke bukas e magsasayang tayo ngayon. Hindi tayo dapat maging pabaya. Leftovers must be conserved and used. Leftovers may be food, or other supplies, or they may be anything. Nothing should be wasted.
Often times, we waste a lot of food. Katulad ng mga fastfoods na may American standard. After a few minutes, yang mga manok, kapag hindi nabili, itatapon na lang. Kailangan magluto sila ulit ng iba, para fresh na naman and to maintain their name. This is wasteful use of resources. Our security today does not guarantee that it will still be here tomorrow. Kapag tayo’y nagsasaing dapat walang natatapon. Many of us grew up in the farm and I believe you are familiar with the rice cycle – land preparation muna tapos itinanim ang binhi, inalagaan, weeding, spraying with herbicide, insecticide and fungicide, fertilizing, watering, ipinagpray sa panahon ng bagyo, ginawan ng paraan panahon ng el nino – 3 to 4 months of waiting before harvest. Kapag naharvest na, dadaan sa thresher. Pinatutuyo, ibinibilad sa kalsada, sa basketball court, sa trapal. When it rains, takbuhan sa pagsisilong ang mga nagbibilad, pagtila ng ulan, bilad na naman. Kapag nabilad na pupunta sa rice mill. Tapos, itatransport isasakay sa mga bangka, sa barko, sa jeep, sa truck hanggang makarating sa mga tindahan. Kayo naman naghirap magtrabaho para makabili ng bigas. Pagkatapos ngayon, itong naghuhugas ng bigas, hahayaan lang na mahulog doon sa lababo? O kaya nakaligtas sa pagkahulog sa lababo. Naisaing. Sinukat-sukat, ginastahan pa ng gas o LPG o uling o kahoy para lutuin, at nung naihain na, what happened? Natira. Hindi nakain, dumikit-dikit doon sa gilid ng kaldero. Isinama doon sa huhugasan. Siguro sabi tuloy nung bigas, “Napakahaba naman ng kasaysayan ko para maging ganito lang ang aking wakas.”
Hindi tayo dapat maging wasteful. Nothing should be wasted. These words came from the mouth of our Lord. Do not prepare more than you need. Do not get more than what you can eat. Gabundok ang taas ng pagkain sa plato tapos hindi naman pala kakainin. Iiwan lang sa plato. A Chinese lady commented, “Bakit ang mga Pilipino kapag pinakakain, laging may tira?” There are many stories to this question. Yung iba, superstitious belief, itinitira siguro sa namatay na lolo niya yung kapiraso. Yung iba naman ayaw masabi na patay-gutom. Kunwari busog. Yung iba kuha lang ng kuha, tapos hindi naman kayang kainin.
Let nothing be wasted. Hindi lamang sa pagkain, kahit sa mga supplies, sa tubig, sa kuryente, sa kahit na anong bagay. Let nothing be wasted. That is good stewardship. Wisely use whatever can be kept for another day. Eat all the food on your plate. Drink all the liquid in your glass, otherwise, don’t put it there.
II. SAVING IS PREPARING FOR THE DAYS AHEAD.
The Lord teaches us through an illustration from creation. In Proverbs 6:6-8, it says, “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.”
Tingnan daw natin yung mga langgam. Wala nga naman silang kumander, walang gobyerno, wala silang mga batas, but they know how to work and save. While there is time, they collect and collect food. They don’t eat all of it; they save some of it in preparation for the winter. During winter they can’t go out of their anthill. Marunong silang mag-impok. Kaya when winter comes they have no worries because they have enough food to eat. They are like the woman in Proverbs 31, “she can laugh at the days to come,” kasi marami siyang savings. The ant collects what it needs – at the right time.
Mas mabuti pa ang kalagayan ng mga langgam kaysa tao. Because they know how to save at the right time. We usually say, “E ano naman ang isisave ko, e kulang na kulang pa nga!” We have to change that cycle. We must learn to save. Can we laugh at the days to come? Kung wala tayong savings, mahirap. Puro tayo worries. At malakas magpatanda yang walang pera. Para kang pinakain sa buwaya!
III. SAVING IS DELAYING GRATIFICATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVESTING.
One day, a man got lost walking in the desert. The next day, he was still lost. After two days under the scorching sun, he was very thirsty. All of a sudden, he saw a little wooden shed. He ran to it, thinking of only one thing—Water!
When he arrived there, he saw an old, rusty water pump sticking from the ground. He gripped the handle and began pumping like a mad man. But nothing came out.
Disappointed, he stepped back to study how to make it work.
Looking around, he saw a jug covered with dust.
When he grabbed it, he saw a piece of paper stuck on it. The message read, “Open this jug and you’ll find water. Don’t drink it. Pour it instead on the pump. And you’ll have all the water you want.”
He popped the cork. True enough, the jug was filled with water. Lovely, thirst-quenching, water.
Now imagine you’re that thirsty man.
For two whole days, you haven’t drunk water. Your mouth is so dry, your tongue is sticking to the roof of your mouth. You’re literally dying of thirst. And you’re now holding a jug full of water. But the message says that you should throw it away!
For a moment, your heart is torn.
What if the message was a joke? A cruel prank? What if you poured the water on that rusty pump and nothing happened?
But the man in our story chose to take the risk.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and poured the water.
He held the handle and pumped like crazy.
A few seconds later, torrents of water gushed out. Indeed, he had more water than he could ever need!
He drank to his heart content. He also found water containers to bring with him in his journey and filled them up to the brim.
But before leaving the place, he filled the jug with water.
And underneath the sign attached to it, he scribbled, “I tried it. Believe me, it works.”
You Have A Choice: Drink Now Or Drink Forever
This is a great picture of why people are poor.
The money that you hold now, no matter how small, is like that jug of water. And you always have a choice: You can drink now or you can drink forever. You can have money now or have money forever.
How? By saving and investing.
A lot of people don’t save and invest.
They spend whatever they have.
I’ve met people who earn P10T a month or 50T a month—and they spend everything. That’s why their money pump remains dry. And they’ll remain poor forever. It really doesn’t matter how much people earn. What matters is how much they save and invest.
“The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get” Proverbs 21:20.
This is usually our formula when it comes to spending and saving:
INCOME – EXPENSES = SAVINGS
The sad thing is we spend everything, no savings. According to Francis Kong, a business expert, we have to change the formula. Our formula should be:
INCOME – SAVINGS = EXPENSES
Saving and investing are crazy decisions.
It’s as crazy as pouring that last jug of water into the pump.
Friend, you have money now.
It may be small but you have it.
Will you simply consume your little money?
Or will you pour it into the money pump or invest it—so that it produces more money for you? It’s your choice!
If we want to be prosperous, learn to save. Learn to invest.
THE JOURNEY TOWARDS PROSPERITY (Part 4)
Everyone wants to be prosperous. Basically, that is every man’s dream. But God has established certain rules or steps that we have to follow for us to be prosperous. The first step is WORK HARD o magtrabaho ng puspusan. The second step is INVESTING o pamumuhunan – putting our blessings, properties, possessions in a place where they earn profit or they increase their value. To invest is to increase.
Let’s read Matthew 25:14-30:
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip. He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone. He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last – dividing it in proportion to their abilities – and then left on his trip. The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money. But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money for safekeeping.
After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, ‘Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, ‘Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.’
But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
A bag of gold or talent is equivalent to $1000.00. The first servant was given 5 bags of gold or $5000.00, the second $2000.00, the third $1000.00. With the present exchange rate $1 = Php45, the first received Php225,000, the second Php90,000, and the third Php45,000.
What will you do if somebody gives you Php225,000?
The Lord gives capital to each one of us. We are all servants of God and we owe Him everything. He has given each of us capital to invest – it may be material like money or riches; it may be land or other possessions; it may be friends or connections na maaaring maging paraan para bumukas ang pinto ng kasaganaan. There is also the literal meaning of talent – ability, knowledge and imagination.
What is God’s basis in giving us capital or talent to invest?
I. WE ARE GIVEN ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITY TO RECEIVE AND INCREASE.
“He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last – dividing it in proportion to their abilities…” Matthew 25:15.
What does God expect from those who received talents?
II. WE ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
In Matthew 25:16-17, we read, “The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money.”
What do we get after working hard and increasing what we have been given?
III. WE WILL BE REWARDED, ACCORDING TO OUR FAITHFULNESS, WITH MORE INCREASE.
In the parable, the master is God and we are His servants. The master called his servants immediately after arriving to account how they had used his money.
“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, ‘Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, ‘Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” Matthew25:19-23.
The two servants were probably very excited to give a report to their master. Kayo ba pag dumating ang Diyos, masaya. Will we be able to say, “Lord, ito yung tubo sa ibinigay Ninyo sa aking talent na magturo, talent kumanta, talent magsulat, talent mag-invite; yung ibinigay Ninyo sa aking pera, bahay, kotse, eto po ang tubo – mga kaluluwa na nadala ko sa Inyo dahil sa paggamit ko ng aking resources o talents.”
There will be a day of accounting. Everything that we received will be accounted for. God is the best accountant.
“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies” 2 Corinthians 5:10.
“So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time” Galatians 6:9.
1. The two servants are commended by their master.
“Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Masabihan ka lang ng ganyan, wow, feels like heaven.
2. The two servants are rewarded by their master.
“You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”
Notice that the two servants received the same commendation and reward, even though they had received different amounts of money. The reward was based on faithfulness, not on the size of their responsibilities. The smallest task in God’s work may receive a great reward if we are faithful in performing it.
The dictionary defines faithful as – firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty, dependable, reliable, trustworthy, and loyal.
If we are faithful with little things, we will be rewarded with greater things. Kaya laging konti iyan, at magkukulang pa, kasi hindi tayo faithful sa konti. Binigyan ka ng P5000, pinagkait mo sa Kanya yung tithes mo kasi sayang din yung 500, pa’no ka bibigyan ng P50,000, ng five million, ng 500 million?
Ganun din naman sa mga trabaho. Kaliit-liit na trabahong ibinigay, ang liit-liit na posisyon, ka simple-simpleng assignment, hindi pa galingan. How will God entrust us with bigger responsibilities? Kaya kung tayo’y mahirap, kung tayo’y maliit, don’t blame God. Ask yourself, “Am I faithful with the little things that God has given me?”
Again, faithful means - firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty, dependable, reliable, trustworthy, and loyal.
“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance” Matthew 25:29a.
What about the lazy? How will they be treated? If we are lazy….
IV. WE WILL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED FOR OUR WICKEDNESS AND EVEN THE LITTLE WE HAVE WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
“Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.’
But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” Matthew 25:24-30.
1. He is very confident of his excuse or defense.
‘Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.’
2. He is called ‘wicked and lazy’ servant.
‘You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest.’
3. He is deprived of his talent.
‘Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away.’
4. He is sentenced to be cast into outer darkness.
‘Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Mga tamad, mag-ingat! Panahon na para magbago. Kung hindi tayo marunong mamuhunan, ito ang mangyayari sa atin. Hindi kinukunsinti ng Diyos ang mga tamad. Marami namang mga tamad, hindi naman talaga naitatapon. Pero ang kalagayan nila, ganu’n na rin. Nasa kadiliman, nagngangalit ang ngipin dahil hindi nila mabili ang gusto nilang bilhin. Wala silang ginawa kundi mainggit na lang sa meron.
Kapag hindi ninyo iningatan ang bigay ng Diyos, yang kapirasong iyan, mawawala pa. Our time, abilities, and money aren’t ours – we are caretakers, not owners. When we ignore, squander, or abuse what we are given, we are rebellious and deserve to be punished.
The Lord gives according to man’s ability. Instead of complaining why you receive little, search yourself. Hindi pwedeng tayo ay tamad. Let’s learn to invest. Make money, make wealth. We have to change our mentality from spending mentality to investing mentality. We need to be business-minded. Hindi nakakahiya ang mag negosyo. Take risks and be determined. When you fail, don’t give up. Try again.
Invest, my friends. The Lord expects productivity and profitability from the talents, time, and treasure He gave us. Those that make much will be given more, those that make nothing will be punished with even more terrible nothingness. So let’s be prosperous. Let’s do much with much, let’s do much with little. Do not just consume. Invest properly and invest well.
Let’s read Matthew 25:14-30:
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip. He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone. He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last – dividing it in proportion to their abilities – and then left on his trip. The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money. But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money for safekeeping.
After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, ‘Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, ‘Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.’
But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
A bag of gold or talent is equivalent to $1000.00. The first servant was given 5 bags of gold or $5000.00, the second $2000.00, the third $1000.00. With the present exchange rate $1 = Php45, the first received Php225,000, the second Php90,000, and the third Php45,000.
What will you do if somebody gives you Php225,000?
The Lord gives capital to each one of us. We are all servants of God and we owe Him everything. He has given each of us capital to invest – it may be material like money or riches; it may be land or other possessions; it may be friends or connections na maaaring maging paraan para bumukas ang pinto ng kasaganaan. There is also the literal meaning of talent – ability, knowledge and imagination.
What is God’s basis in giving us capital or talent to invest?
I. WE ARE GIVEN ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITY TO RECEIVE AND INCREASE.
“He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last – dividing it in proportion to their abilities…” Matthew 25:15.
What does God expect from those who received talents?
II. WE ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
In Matthew 25:16-17, we read, “The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money.”
What do we get after working hard and increasing what we have been given?
III. WE WILL BE REWARDED, ACCORDING TO OUR FAITHFULNESS, WITH MORE INCREASE.
In the parable, the master is God and we are His servants. The master called his servants immediately after arriving to account how they had used his money.
“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, ‘Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, ‘Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” Matthew25:19-23.
The two servants were probably very excited to give a report to their master. Kayo ba pag dumating ang Diyos, masaya. Will we be able to say, “Lord, ito yung tubo sa ibinigay Ninyo sa aking talent na magturo, talent kumanta, talent magsulat, talent mag-invite; yung ibinigay Ninyo sa aking pera, bahay, kotse, eto po ang tubo – mga kaluluwa na nadala ko sa Inyo dahil sa paggamit ko ng aking resources o talents.”
There will be a day of accounting. Everything that we received will be accounted for. God is the best accountant.
“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies” 2 Corinthians 5:10.
“So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time” Galatians 6:9.
1. The two servants are commended by their master.
“Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Masabihan ka lang ng ganyan, wow, feels like heaven.
2. The two servants are rewarded by their master.
“You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”
Notice that the two servants received the same commendation and reward, even though they had received different amounts of money. The reward was based on faithfulness, not on the size of their responsibilities. The smallest task in God’s work may receive a great reward if we are faithful in performing it.
The dictionary defines faithful as – firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty, dependable, reliable, trustworthy, and loyal.
If we are faithful with little things, we will be rewarded with greater things. Kaya laging konti iyan, at magkukulang pa, kasi hindi tayo faithful sa konti. Binigyan ka ng P5000, pinagkait mo sa Kanya yung tithes mo kasi sayang din yung 500, pa’no ka bibigyan ng P50,000, ng five million, ng 500 million?
Ganun din naman sa mga trabaho. Kaliit-liit na trabahong ibinigay, ang liit-liit na posisyon, ka simple-simpleng assignment, hindi pa galingan. How will God entrust us with bigger responsibilities? Kaya kung tayo’y mahirap, kung tayo’y maliit, don’t blame God. Ask yourself, “Am I faithful with the little things that God has given me?”
Again, faithful means - firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty, dependable, reliable, trustworthy, and loyal.
“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance” Matthew 25:29a.
What about the lazy? How will they be treated? If we are lazy….
IV. WE WILL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED FOR OUR WICKEDNESS AND EVEN THE LITTLE WE HAVE WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
“Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.’
But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” Matthew 25:24-30.
1. He is very confident of his excuse or defense.
‘Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.’
2. He is called ‘wicked and lazy’ servant.
‘You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest.’
3. He is deprived of his talent.
‘Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away.’
4. He is sentenced to be cast into outer darkness.
‘Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Mga tamad, mag-ingat! Panahon na para magbago. Kung hindi tayo marunong mamuhunan, ito ang mangyayari sa atin. Hindi kinukunsinti ng Diyos ang mga tamad. Marami namang mga tamad, hindi naman talaga naitatapon. Pero ang kalagayan nila, ganu’n na rin. Nasa kadiliman, nagngangalit ang ngipin dahil hindi nila mabili ang gusto nilang bilhin. Wala silang ginawa kundi mainggit na lang sa meron.
Kapag hindi ninyo iningatan ang bigay ng Diyos, yang kapirasong iyan, mawawala pa. Our time, abilities, and money aren’t ours – we are caretakers, not owners. When we ignore, squander, or abuse what we are given, we are rebellious and deserve to be punished.
The Lord gives according to man’s ability. Instead of complaining why you receive little, search yourself. Hindi pwedeng tayo ay tamad. Let’s learn to invest. Make money, make wealth. We have to change our mentality from spending mentality to investing mentality. We need to be business-minded. Hindi nakakahiya ang mag negosyo. Take risks and be determined. When you fail, don’t give up. Try again.
Invest, my friends. The Lord expects productivity and profitability from the talents, time, and treasure He gave us. Those that make much will be given more, those that make nothing will be punished with even more terrible nothingness. So let’s be prosperous. Let’s do much with much, let’s do much with little. Do not just consume. Invest properly and invest well.
THE JOURNEY TO PROSPERITY (Part 3)
All other things being equal, walang magulang na gustong makita ang kanilang mga anak na naghihirap. Pangarap ng bawat magulang na guminhawa ang buhay ng kanilang mga anak at hindi nila danasin ang mga hirap na kanilang pinagdaanan. If that is true with our earthly parents, how much more with our Heavenly Father. God does not want us to be poor. God created this planet and all its resources just so we could live in it and enjoy it and live to the fullest. Such a beautiful truth but does not reflect reality. Only those who have the most toys and money are seem to be living to the fullest. But reality cannot or does not change the truth that God wants His children to be prosperous much more than earthly parents.
God has established certain rules or steps that we have to follow for us to be prosperous. The first step is WORK HARD o magtrabaho ng puspusan. The second step is INVESTING o pamumuhunan – putting our blessings, properties, possessions in a place where they earn profit or they increase their value. To invest is to increase. Is this biblical? Let’s read Matthew 25:14-30:
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip. He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone. He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last – dividing it in proportion to their abilities – and then left on his trip. The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money. But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money for safekeeping.
After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, ‘Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, ‘Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.’
But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
STEP #2: INVEST
A bag of gold or talent is equivalent to $1000.00. The first servant was given 5 bags of gold or $5000.00, the second $2000.00, the third $1000.00. With the present exchange rate $1 = Php45, the first received Php225,000, the second Php90,000, and the third Php45,000.
What will you do if somebody gives you Php225,000? Ask also your friends. Kahit man lang sa guni-guni ay mag-enjoy ka!
A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. The Lord gives capital to each one of us. We are all servants of God and we owe Him everything. He has given each of us capital to invest – it may be material like money or riches; it may be land or other possessions; it may be friends or connections na maaaring maging paraan para bumukas ang pinto ng kasaganaan. There is also the literal meaning of talent – ability, knowledge and imagination.
What is God’s basis in giving us capital or talent to invest?
I. WE ARE GIVEN ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITY TO RECEIVE AND INCREASE.
“He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last – dividing it in proportion to their abilities…” Matthew 25:15.
God gives us according to our ability to receive and ability to increase what we received. It has nothing to do with God’s stinginess. God is not stingy. He is a gracious God. The only limitation is our own ability to receive and increase. Do not accuse God of being unfair. “Bakit yung isa lima ang ibinigay samantalang yung isa isa lang? Napaka-unfair naman.” You have to consider first what is your ability. What’s the point of giving you five talents if you can’t even handle one? Ipagkakatiwala mo ba ang iyong kayamanan sa isang taong walang ginawa kondi ang magwaldas? Kaya wala tayong karapatang mainggit sa mga taong talented at nagiging mas talented pa o mayaman na, mas yumayaman pa. Ask yourself, “Napagyaman ko ba ang ibinigay sa akin? Napalago ko ba ito?” If the answer is no, then, we don’t have the right to demand for more. What will you do with Php225,000? Your answer to that question speaks strongly whether you are headed for prosperity or not.
1. HANDLING MONEY – THE FILIPINO WAY!
We, Filipinos, are more into spending than investing. Game show hosts would usually ask their contestants, “What will you do if you win 1 million pesos?” The most common answer: “A, bibili ako ng bahay at lupa. Wala pa kasi kaming bahay.” O hindi kaya, “Ipapaayos ko po yung bahay namin.” Atat na atat tayo diyan sa bahay at lupa. Kapag ang isang member ng family ay nag-abroad, malalaman mo na kumikita na siya doon kasi yung mga kaanak niyang naiwan magpapaayos na ng bahay o bibili ng bahay at lupa. Yung master’s bedroom, naka-aircon na, may terrace na, naka-tiles na ang sala, ang dog house may escalator na, etc.
Pagkatapos ng maraming taon na pagpapakahirap sa labas ng bansa, uuwi na ang Pinoy sa kanyang magandang bahay na kanyang naipundar.
Basically, that is the Filipino dream – to own a house. Well, it’s good to have a beautiful house. But if the flow of money is not sustained, mamaya nakasanla na rin yung bahay at lupa.
King Solomon in all his wisdom said: “Develop your business first before building your house” Proverbs 24:27.
2. THE BUSINESS MENTALITY OF THE FILIPINO-CHINESE
In the Philippines, those who have one syllable names control the economy – Sy, Ty, Tan, Ng, Yu, Uy. Two generations ago, these Chinese migrants were very poor. They came to the Philippines in search of a greener pasture. Back in China life was miserable – talagang sobrang hirap. Masuwerte na sila kapag may makakain na daga, kamote, at kung anu-ano. Pero ngayon sila ang may hawak sa mga malalaking negosyo sa Pilipinas. Kahit saang bayan ka magpunta, sila ang may hawak ng mga negosyo.
What happened? How have they become so rich? Simple. They know how to increase their money. Kahit iyan ay may pera, hindi agad yan bibili ng bahay at lupa. Ang gagawin nila, magrerent ng isang maliit na tindahan, magnenegosyo, titira sa isang gilid o sulok, at magtitiis. They live simply but they have lots of money. They know how to invest.
Students, we have to change our mentality - from spending mentality to investing mentality. Learn how to do business. Kahit gaano kaliit ang capital pwedeng lumago. Pwede kayong magbenta ng load, o hindi kaya magdala kaya ng mga produkto mula sa lugar ninyo katulad ng mga prutas na pwedeng ibenta pagbalik ninyo dito, o mag register sa direct selling, o hindi kaya magbenta kayo ng yema, ng pulboron, at kung anu-ano. If you know how to do business, hindi ka mawawalan ng pera. Do not just dream of getting a good job. Dream of giving jobs to people. Learn to invest.
What does God expect from those who received talents?
II. WE ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
In Matthew 25:16-17, we read, “The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money.”
Notice the word IMMEDIATELY. Right after receiving the money, they invested it. That is what God expects. And what did God say to the one who did not invest what he received?
“Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest” Matthew 25:27.
But what if you were born poor? What can you invest when you have nothing to invest, when what you have is not even enough for your daily existence? It’s not your fault if you were born poor. But if you die poor that already is your responsibility. We cannot choose our parents and the circumstances we were born with but we certainly can choose how we live. Mahirap maging mahirap lalo na yung ipinanganak na mahirap at namatay na mahirap. Kailan pa tayo makakaahon sa hirap kung ganyan?
Those who were born rich and those who were born poor are both given 24 hours a day. How you make use of it will determine the difference. The Lord expects our talents to be invested. And the Lord expects that they earn profits. The Lord expects profit from the capital that He gives us. Katulad nung binigyan ng limang talents at dalawang talents, pagkatanggap, nagtrabaho sila agad, nagsumikap. Hindi nila sinabing, “Saka na, next time, magpahinga muna tayo.”
How do we waste God’s resources and opportunities? We read this line in the parable: “But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money for safekeeping” Matthew 25:18.
Iisa na nga lang ang ibinigay, wala pang nangyari. If you want something done immediately, give it to someone who is busy.
We should be busy. Yung isa na isa na nga lang ang ibinigay sa kanya, inilubog pa sa lupa. There are people who are like that – wala na ngang papel sa buhay, bigyan niyo ng konting trabaho, hindi pa aasikasuhin. Paano kayo bibigyan ng mas malaking papel? When there’s a lot to be done rise to the occasion. Sleep less, work more. When there is more to do, you just have to work more. Because, to who much is given, much is required. And remember: To those who deliver more, more will be given.
God has established certain rules or steps that we have to follow for us to be prosperous. The first step is WORK HARD o magtrabaho ng puspusan. The second step is INVESTING o pamumuhunan – putting our blessings, properties, possessions in a place where they earn profit or they increase their value. To invest is to increase. Is this biblical? Let’s read Matthew 25:14-30:
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip. He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone. He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last – dividing it in proportion to their abilities – and then left on his trip. The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money. But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money for safekeeping.
After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, ‘Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, ‘Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.’
But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
STEP #2: INVEST
A bag of gold or talent is equivalent to $1000.00. The first servant was given 5 bags of gold or $5000.00, the second $2000.00, the third $1000.00. With the present exchange rate $1 = Php45, the first received Php225,000, the second Php90,000, and the third Php45,000.
What will you do if somebody gives you Php225,000? Ask also your friends. Kahit man lang sa guni-guni ay mag-enjoy ka!
A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. The Lord gives capital to each one of us. We are all servants of God and we owe Him everything. He has given each of us capital to invest – it may be material like money or riches; it may be land or other possessions; it may be friends or connections na maaaring maging paraan para bumukas ang pinto ng kasaganaan. There is also the literal meaning of talent – ability, knowledge and imagination.
What is God’s basis in giving us capital or talent to invest?
I. WE ARE GIVEN ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITY TO RECEIVE AND INCREASE.
“He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last – dividing it in proportion to their abilities…” Matthew 25:15.
God gives us according to our ability to receive and ability to increase what we received. It has nothing to do with God’s stinginess. God is not stingy. He is a gracious God. The only limitation is our own ability to receive and increase. Do not accuse God of being unfair. “Bakit yung isa lima ang ibinigay samantalang yung isa isa lang? Napaka-unfair naman.” You have to consider first what is your ability. What’s the point of giving you five talents if you can’t even handle one? Ipagkakatiwala mo ba ang iyong kayamanan sa isang taong walang ginawa kondi ang magwaldas? Kaya wala tayong karapatang mainggit sa mga taong talented at nagiging mas talented pa o mayaman na, mas yumayaman pa. Ask yourself, “Napagyaman ko ba ang ibinigay sa akin? Napalago ko ba ito?” If the answer is no, then, we don’t have the right to demand for more. What will you do with Php225,000? Your answer to that question speaks strongly whether you are headed for prosperity or not.
1. HANDLING MONEY – THE FILIPINO WAY!
We, Filipinos, are more into spending than investing. Game show hosts would usually ask their contestants, “What will you do if you win 1 million pesos?” The most common answer: “A, bibili ako ng bahay at lupa. Wala pa kasi kaming bahay.” O hindi kaya, “Ipapaayos ko po yung bahay namin.” Atat na atat tayo diyan sa bahay at lupa. Kapag ang isang member ng family ay nag-abroad, malalaman mo na kumikita na siya doon kasi yung mga kaanak niyang naiwan magpapaayos na ng bahay o bibili ng bahay at lupa. Yung master’s bedroom, naka-aircon na, may terrace na, naka-tiles na ang sala, ang dog house may escalator na, etc.
Pagkatapos ng maraming taon na pagpapakahirap sa labas ng bansa, uuwi na ang Pinoy sa kanyang magandang bahay na kanyang naipundar.
Basically, that is the Filipino dream – to own a house. Well, it’s good to have a beautiful house. But if the flow of money is not sustained, mamaya nakasanla na rin yung bahay at lupa.
King Solomon in all his wisdom said: “Develop your business first before building your house” Proverbs 24:27.
2. THE BUSINESS MENTALITY OF THE FILIPINO-CHINESE
In the Philippines, those who have one syllable names control the economy – Sy, Ty, Tan, Ng, Yu, Uy. Two generations ago, these Chinese migrants were very poor. They came to the Philippines in search of a greener pasture. Back in China life was miserable – talagang sobrang hirap. Masuwerte na sila kapag may makakain na daga, kamote, at kung anu-ano. Pero ngayon sila ang may hawak sa mga malalaking negosyo sa Pilipinas. Kahit saang bayan ka magpunta, sila ang may hawak ng mga negosyo.
What happened? How have they become so rich? Simple. They know how to increase their money. Kahit iyan ay may pera, hindi agad yan bibili ng bahay at lupa. Ang gagawin nila, magrerent ng isang maliit na tindahan, magnenegosyo, titira sa isang gilid o sulok, at magtitiis. They live simply but they have lots of money. They know how to invest.
Students, we have to change our mentality - from spending mentality to investing mentality. Learn how to do business. Kahit gaano kaliit ang capital pwedeng lumago. Pwede kayong magbenta ng load, o hindi kaya magdala kaya ng mga produkto mula sa lugar ninyo katulad ng mga prutas na pwedeng ibenta pagbalik ninyo dito, o mag register sa direct selling, o hindi kaya magbenta kayo ng yema, ng pulboron, at kung anu-ano. If you know how to do business, hindi ka mawawalan ng pera. Do not just dream of getting a good job. Dream of giving jobs to people. Learn to invest.
What does God expect from those who received talents?
II. WE ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
In Matthew 25:16-17, we read, “The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money.”
Notice the word IMMEDIATELY. Right after receiving the money, they invested it. That is what God expects. And what did God say to the one who did not invest what he received?
“Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest” Matthew 25:27.
But what if you were born poor? What can you invest when you have nothing to invest, when what you have is not even enough for your daily existence? It’s not your fault if you were born poor. But if you die poor that already is your responsibility. We cannot choose our parents and the circumstances we were born with but we certainly can choose how we live. Mahirap maging mahirap lalo na yung ipinanganak na mahirap at namatay na mahirap. Kailan pa tayo makakaahon sa hirap kung ganyan?
Those who were born rich and those who were born poor are both given 24 hours a day. How you make use of it will determine the difference. The Lord expects our talents to be invested. And the Lord expects that they earn profits. The Lord expects profit from the capital that He gives us. Katulad nung binigyan ng limang talents at dalawang talents, pagkatanggap, nagtrabaho sila agad, nagsumikap. Hindi nila sinabing, “Saka na, next time, magpahinga muna tayo.”
How do we waste God’s resources and opportunities? We read this line in the parable: “But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money for safekeeping” Matthew 25:18.
Iisa na nga lang ang ibinigay, wala pang nangyari. If you want something done immediately, give it to someone who is busy.
We should be busy. Yung isa na isa na nga lang ang ibinigay sa kanya, inilubog pa sa lupa. There are people who are like that – wala na ngang papel sa buhay, bigyan niyo ng konting trabaho, hindi pa aasikasuhin. Paano kayo bibigyan ng mas malaking papel? When there’s a lot to be done rise to the occasion. Sleep less, work more. When there is more to do, you just have to work more. Because, to who much is given, much is required. And remember: To those who deliver more, more will be given.
If we want to be prosperous we have to work hard. God commanded us to work. He commended the woman in Proverbs for her hard work and He Himself exemplified work. In the creation account, He worked for six days and rested for one day. Work is also God’s way and provision through prosperity.
What about the blessedness of work? How does God bless work? God blesses work through….
I. GOD’S JUSTICE.
God’s justice requires that the worker be blessed. The Lord is the author of all natural laws and phenomena. He established certain formula that when do you something, that something will produce results. Isa doon ang work. When you work, you have a reward. That is a natural law. In Proverbs 24:12, it says, “Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?” The justice of God will see to it that we get rewarded. So if you want to be prosperous, work.
Then there’s another angle to the blessedness of work.
II. GOD’S FAVOR OR GOD’S PLEASURE.
A man in the Bible named Job was a very rich man. Satan knew that God’s favor was with Job when he said in Job 1:10, “Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is!
So there is such a thing as God’s favor or God’s pleasure.
There’s also such a thing as God’s withholding of a blessing. The Bible calls it curse. There are works that God despises or hates. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 says, “It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don’t follow through on. In such cases, your mouth is making you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.”
The context of this is that people make a promise or pledge to God but don’t fulfill it. We usually make a promise to God when we are in a desperate situation. (Lord, makapasar lang jud ko magsimba na jud ko pirme. Lord, mauyab lang nako na si _____ pwede na jud ko mabuang. Lord, maayo lang ko ihatag jud nako ang akong tibuok tithes, etc). But as soon as we recover from that desperate situation we immediately forget all the promise that we made and say, “My vow was a mistake.” What does the Word of God say? “That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.” God has the power to bless and He also has the power to destroy.
Favor is God’s prerogative. He alone decides who to bless. That’s why there are people who work just little but become prosperous, while there are also people who work so hard but do not prosper (farmers, ice cream/ice drop peddlers, laborers, cabinet peddlers, etc). Baka wala yung favor ni Lord. If God’s favor is not in our work, let us examine our tongue instead of questioning God.
If God’s favor is not with us, it has something to do with our tongue. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 says, “It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don’t follow through on…. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.”
Is there a way to override God’s destruction? Only when God puts a protective fence around us. Without God’s protection, we will be destroyed naturally, automatically. But God is so gracious; most of the time, in spite of who we are, He exempts us from the consequences of sin. But yes, the Lord can give favor, and the Lord can destroy one’s work just by withdrawing His protection.
We ask, “Why is he prosperous? Why am I poor?” Don’t blame God. Don’t examine other people’s lives. Examine your tongue. We are accountable for every word that we say. There is power in the spoken word. God spoke and everything came into existence.
Be careful with what you say, it might come back to you. Instead of cursing people, bless them instead. Say something nice or good about others. Para yun din ang bumalik sa inyo. Some people have the habit of complaining about how difficult life is. Some mothers love to talk about other mother’s daughter but comes back to their own daughter! Yung mga taong mahilig magsalita o mamintas ng ganito ganyan, iyon tuloy ang nangyayari sa kanila. So be careful with your words! Your words know your address.
God surely blesses godly work. Godly work is governed by several ethical standards.
1. Focused Work.
Godly work is concentrated. Hindi sabog-sabog. Kailangan may focus. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters.” When you run after two ducks, you will catch neither. Kailangan may concentration.
2. Steadfast Work.
Godly work has steadfastness. Hindi dahil nabugnot ka, iiwan mo na. Hindi dahil hindi mo magawa, titigil ka na. Hindi dahil pagod ka na, aayaw ka na. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain during WW11, was asked to give a commencement address. He was introduced, and he stood up and said firmly, “Never quit!” and he sat down. This was probably the shortest commencement address in history.
Psalm 104:23 says, “Then people go off to their work; they labor until the evening shadows fall again.”
Godly work is steadfast; you labor until evening.
3. Righteous Work.
Work should be governed by righteousness. Ito at pagtatrabaho na walang halong pandaraya o kasinungalingan. Walang pagsasamantala. (Chinese businessmen sold siopao na carton ang palaman.) Proverbs 10:16 says, “The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.” Kaya huwag kayong mainggit sa mga kumikita ng malaki dahil sa paggawa ng masama.
Asaph, a worship leader in the Old Testament complained, “Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong? All I get is trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.” After considering the wealth, the life, the happiness of the wicked, Asaph became envious. But in the end he said, “Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My heart may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”
4. Honest Work.
Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
5. Industry.
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Kung puro satsat, puro salita, pero wala namang trabaho, it will bring only poverty. What is one great way to prosperity? Hard work.
Let’s glorify God through work. We worship through singing, we worship through dancing, we worship through giving – but people of God also worship through work. Work is one of the best ways to worship God.
What about the blessedness of work? How does God bless work? God blesses work through….
I. GOD’S JUSTICE.
God’s justice requires that the worker be blessed. The Lord is the author of all natural laws and phenomena. He established certain formula that when do you something, that something will produce results. Isa doon ang work. When you work, you have a reward. That is a natural law. In Proverbs 24:12, it says, “Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?” The justice of God will see to it that we get rewarded. So if you want to be prosperous, work.
Then there’s another angle to the blessedness of work.
II. GOD’S FAVOR OR GOD’S PLEASURE.
A man in the Bible named Job was a very rich man. Satan knew that God’s favor was with Job when he said in Job 1:10, “Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is!
So there is such a thing as God’s favor or God’s pleasure.
There’s also such a thing as God’s withholding of a blessing. The Bible calls it curse. There are works that God despises or hates. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 says, “It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don’t follow through on. In such cases, your mouth is making you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.”
The context of this is that people make a promise or pledge to God but don’t fulfill it. We usually make a promise to God when we are in a desperate situation. (Lord, makapasar lang jud ko magsimba na jud ko pirme. Lord, mauyab lang nako na si _____ pwede na jud ko mabuang. Lord, maayo lang ko ihatag jud nako ang akong tibuok tithes, etc). But as soon as we recover from that desperate situation we immediately forget all the promise that we made and say, “My vow was a mistake.” What does the Word of God say? “That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.” God has the power to bless and He also has the power to destroy.
Favor is God’s prerogative. He alone decides who to bless. That’s why there are people who work just little but become prosperous, while there are also people who work so hard but do not prosper (farmers, ice cream/ice drop peddlers, laborers, cabinet peddlers, etc). Baka wala yung favor ni Lord. If God’s favor is not in our work, let us examine our tongue instead of questioning God.
If God’s favor is not with us, it has something to do with our tongue. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 says, “It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don’t follow through on…. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.”
Is there a way to override God’s destruction? Only when God puts a protective fence around us. Without God’s protection, we will be destroyed naturally, automatically. But God is so gracious; most of the time, in spite of who we are, He exempts us from the consequences of sin. But yes, the Lord can give favor, and the Lord can destroy one’s work just by withdrawing His protection.
We ask, “Why is he prosperous? Why am I poor?” Don’t blame God. Don’t examine other people’s lives. Examine your tongue. We are accountable for every word that we say. There is power in the spoken word. God spoke and everything came into existence.
Be careful with what you say, it might come back to you. Instead of cursing people, bless them instead. Say something nice or good about others. Para yun din ang bumalik sa inyo. Some people have the habit of complaining about how difficult life is. Some mothers love to talk about other mother’s daughter but comes back to their own daughter! Yung mga taong mahilig magsalita o mamintas ng ganito ganyan, iyon tuloy ang nangyayari sa kanila. So be careful with your words! Your words know your address.
God surely blesses godly work. Godly work is governed by several ethical standards.
1. Focused Work.
Godly work is concentrated. Hindi sabog-sabog. Kailangan may focus. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters.” When you run after two ducks, you will catch neither. Kailangan may concentration.
2. Steadfast Work.
Godly work has steadfastness. Hindi dahil nabugnot ka, iiwan mo na. Hindi dahil hindi mo magawa, titigil ka na. Hindi dahil pagod ka na, aayaw ka na. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain during WW11, was asked to give a commencement address. He was introduced, and he stood up and said firmly, “Never quit!” and he sat down. This was probably the shortest commencement address in history.
Psalm 104:23 says, “Then people go off to their work; they labor until the evening shadows fall again.”
Godly work is steadfast; you labor until evening.
3. Righteous Work.
Work should be governed by righteousness. Ito at pagtatrabaho na walang halong pandaraya o kasinungalingan. Walang pagsasamantala. (Chinese businessmen sold siopao na carton ang palaman.) Proverbs 10:16 says, “The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.” Kaya huwag kayong mainggit sa mga kumikita ng malaki dahil sa paggawa ng masama.
Asaph, a worship leader in the Old Testament complained, “Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong? All I get is trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.” After considering the wealth, the life, the happiness of the wicked, Asaph became envious. But in the end he said, “Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My heart may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”
4. Honest Work.
Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
5. Industry.
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Kung puro satsat, puro salita, pero wala namang trabaho, it will bring only poverty. What is one great way to prosperity? Hard work.
Let’s glorify God through work. We worship through singing, we worship through dancing, we worship through giving – but people of God also worship through work. Work is one of the best ways to worship God.
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