There was a wealthy man that hired three men. He gave out talents, each man according to his current ability. One man he gave ten talents. Another man he gave five talents. The third man he gave one talent. Then he took a trip. After a while, he came back to check on his investments. The word investment itself says, the wealthy man was expecting a return, right.
The first man with joy reported to his employer, look I have multiplied what you gave me tenfold. The employer said, “Well done, my good and faithful employee! I’m increasing you to ten cities.
The second man also with joy, gave a good report. He had also doubled what was given to him. He showed his employer he had multiplied what was given to him to ten talents. The wealthy man gave his approval and rewarded him with an increase as well.
Finally, the last man filled with self-condemnation, he lashed out at his employer saying, because I knew you were a shrewd man, gathering where you have not sown. I took my one talent and buried it. I thought to myself, “At least, I’ll be able to give back to him what he gave me.”
The wealthy man was upset with the man he had given one talent saying, “Why didn’t you at least put my investment in you in a bank. At least, it would have built up interest.”
Instead of approval and reward, he said, “Take what he has and give it to the one who had the most. Then throw this man out.”
I’ve heard this story told most of my life. But one day while sitting in church listening to it being told again, something changed in my heart. I felt convicted about my one talent. I repented and told the Lord I was sorry for burying my talent. I asked for another chance. I repeated the words of the minister, “Father take my small and make it big.”
I’ve been busy multiplying what God gave me to start with. My one talent was writing. Father God has been multiplying me from faith to faith and glory to glory. Fifteen books later, I’m thankful. I didn’t start as a publisher with a book ministry. I started taking classes and volunteering writing newsletters to my family, church departments and eventually business associates.
With that said, has your faith gone to another level, recently? Has your fame increased? Yes, I did say fame. Remember the story I just reminded you of was told to explain how the kingdom of God operates.
In the kingdom of God, He expects us to increase in the things of God. You see in our generation and in the New Covenant of grace, we have been given much. And to whom much is given, much is required. The great and precious gifts of faith love and mercy run rampant today through Christ. Centuries ago, civilizations could only glimpse the inventions, wisdom, knowledge and revelation from God that we experience today. Humanity suffered through the Dark Age, now we live through the Information Age, Digital Age and Technology, simultaneously.
In my mind, it’s for the spread of the Gospel. So we can accomplish the Great Commission make disciples of the nations and so that every soul may have the opportunity to choose Christ.
So to continue increasing in every area of life, here are six questions to ask yourself, periodically. It will keep you moving forward in Christ increasing in faith to faith and glory to glory.
The first three are decisions and the last three are actions to confirm your decisions.
- Do I need to change my perspective?
- Do I expect to increase?
- Do I believe that God wants greater for me?
- Do I seek the kingdom of God first?
- Have I asked God for my appointment?
- Do I renew my mind with the Word of God?
Changing my perspective.
Most of us need a perspective change at one time or another. Jesus is the lifter of our heads. He lifted my head when I was walking around with my head hanging down. Inside, I was humped over with my hands hanging to the ground like a monkey. But God gave me a new perspective—His perspective. Along with that new perspective, I needed an inner healing. God gave them both to me. Maybe that’s not your story. You may just have wrong thinking about whether God even wants to give you increase. Let me be clear, Father God wants increase for His children. In fact, He promised to give us and our children increase.
Raising my expectancy.
Now that you know it’s God’s will for you to increase, raise your expectancy level. As a child with a parent, we can expect God’s goodness and love. The word of God says, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Deciding to believe.
Then there’s others of us, who just don’t believe. When I find this in my mind and heart, I repent of unbelief and ask for God’s help. We don’t think Jesus meant what he said in the red letters of our Bible. One specific scripture is, “Greater works than these shall you do.” We have a tendency to think, Jesus is so great that he couldn’t have meant that. But yes, he did mean it.
Seeking first the kingdom.
Normally, we don’t think of Matthew 10:20 as increase scripture. But notice the last part of that passage is, “…all other things will be added to you.” Jesus said, “Seek the kingdom of God and all other things will be added unto you.”
Getting your appointment from God.
When we can say as the Apostle John said, we can only do what is given to us from heaven, we can ask God for our appointment. Say with me, “What do you want me to do with my life?” I know this can be a scary question, especially if you’ve heard the stories about God’s call to missionaries in distant lands, not seeing family for years.
God is a faithful and just God. Meaning, I can’t promise you it won’t hard but I can promise you that He with you every step of the way. It’s not about what we can or can’t do. Although he equips us, it’s more about our willingness. Our ability to take courage, let go and let God be God through us. Now go receive your appointment from God.
Renewing my mind in the Word of God.
It’s God way, we have to renew our minds and life in the word of God. No, just on Sundays is not enough. We must read, pray and do the word of God daily. Many of you have heard this story. But it’s worth repeating.
I dreamed that I was watching a storm on the horizon. It was a huge ominous black natured storm headed straight for me. I began to do all the things I heard you should do before and in a storm. I heard you should praise God. I repeatedly said, Thank you Jesus! Thank you Jesus! About twenty times. I heard you should hunker down, meditate and trust God. I had moments of silence to no avail…
The dream continued. The storm arrived and I was being destroyed like the wicked witch of the west. I woke up and said aloud, “That’s not scriptural!” The Holy Spirit responded, “Oh, but it will be if you don’t do what I’ve been leading you to do. Read the Word of God.” That day I went and got a daily reading Bible. I’m not saying you should buy a new Bible; but you should get in the word of God.
You know I didn’t want you to feel like I’ve just added another list of things to do in Christ. Some of you may be saying, “Yeah right, I should increase. I’ll start today. No, don’t shift into works mode, like we’re prone to do. It’s more about your decision and then confirming those decisions with your actions.
So I encourage you to change your perspective, raise your expectancy level and believe. Even, say it aloud, “I believe our Lord wants me to increase. Therefore, I raise my expectancy level to receive increase in every area of my life.”