WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:05.440 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the broadcast ministry of 2 00:00:05.559 --> 00:00:10.119 Pastor Rick Warren. Today we continue in the series Essentials 3 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:14.000 for Living. In these lessons, Pastor Rick shares the power 4 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:17.239 you need to live on, the principles you need to 5 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:20.600 live by, and the purpose you need to live for, 6 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:25.280 so that you're truly living and not just existing. Now, 7 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:27.679 in just a few minutes, we're going to tell you 8 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:30.160 how to get a copy of the Daily Hope gold 9 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:34.520 scripture box called Versus of Hope, a great way to 10 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:37.960 keep God's word right at your fingertips all year round. 11 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:40.920 You can go to Pastorick dot com, or. 12 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:44.359 You can text the word Hope to eight hundred, six 13 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:47.759 hundred five thousand and four to find out more. 14 00:00:48.520 --> 00:00:50.520 Right now, here's Pastor. 15 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:53.159 Rick Warren with the final part of a message called 16 00:00:53.479 --> 00:00:56.119 how to Invest your Life Now. 17 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:57.960 The third one, and this is the greatest fear of 18 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:01.799 all is self pity. And self pity is well, I 19 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:04.680 failed in the past, so I'm afraid that I will 20 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:07.760 fail again, So I'm never going to try. Some of 21 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:10.400 you have allowed your past to keep you from being 22 00:01:10.519 --> 00:01:12.359 used by God. You think I could never be used 23 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:15.439 by God, Rick, You don't know my checkered past. I've 24 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:19.760 had some major failures. I've had some moral failures. I've 25 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:24.920 had some relational failures. I've had some financial failures. I 26 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:27.079 have just really blown it in life. So I'm sure 27 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:29.560 that I'm on God's B team or C team, and 28 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:33.439 God could never use me. Well, you're dead wrong. You're 29 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:36.159 just having a pity party because God has never said that. 30 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:40.680 God has never said, well, you can't be used because 31 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:41.799 of your past. 32 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:42.799 You know. 33 00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:46.200 There were two disciples who had spectacular failures two of 34 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:48.439 the twelve who followed Jesus. One was named Peter and 35 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:52.719 one was named Judas. They both committed the exact same sin. 36 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:56.359 They both denied Jesus in the crunch when it was 37 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:58.799 in the clutch time, right before the cross. Both of 38 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:00.920 them did the exact same thing. They betrayed Jesus, they 39 00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:04.599 denied him. But they responded to their failure in very 40 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.520 different ways. Judas went out, had a pity party and 41 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:09.400 hung himself. 42 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:12.120 He committed suicide. That was the end of his life. 43 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:16.319 Peter, on the other hand, went out wept bitterly over it, 44 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:19.199 grieved about it, repented, asked God to forgive him, and 45 00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:22.000 picked himself up dusted himself off and went back to 46 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:26.080 serving God. And Peter, the man who denied Jesus three 47 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:29.000 times was the same guy out of all the disciples 48 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:33.120 that Jesus decided to choose that forty days later he 49 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:35.080 would speak to the whole city of Jerusalem on a 50 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:39.199 day called Pentecost. Three thousand people became believers and the 51 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:42.360 church was born. Of all the people God could have 52 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:45.879 used to start the church, he uses the guy with 53 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:46.879 the biggest failure. 54 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:49.520 I like that. 55 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:52.159 That means there's room for me in the family of God. 56 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.599 That means there's room for you in the family of God. 57 00:02:55.719 --> 00:03:01.520 That God loves to use failures. Moses was a murderer, 58 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:05.479 and God used him. David was an adulterer, and God 59 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:10.560 used him. Jacob was a massive business failure, and God 60 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:13.520 used him. Abraham was such a coward that he once 61 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:17.039 told his wife twice, honey, tell him you're my sister, 62 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:18.520 so they won't kill me to take you. 63 00:03:20.680 --> 00:03:22.599 Now, most of us husbands couldn't. 64 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:26.560 Get away with that one, okay, I mean, that just 65 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:27.759 isn't gonna happen today. 66 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:30.159 And yet God took. 67 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:32.240 Every one of these, picked them up, cleaned them off, 68 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:37.080 and used them in great great ways. God uses imperfect people. 69 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:41.039 If God only used perfect people, what would get done 70 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:41.680 in this world? 71 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:43.159 Nothing? 72 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:46.719 Because there are no perfect people. So God uses people 73 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.719 with hang ups, and God uses people with checkered past, 74 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:53.560 and God uses people who have insecurities, and God uses 75 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:56.240 people who don't have it all together, and God uses 76 00:03:56.280 --> 00:04:00.960 people who don't even know what they're motives are half 77 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:06.840 the time, and have mixed motives. I have up here 78 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:09.319 a brand new fifty dollars bill. How many of you 79 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:10.919 would like this fifty dollars bill? 80 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:12.919 God? 81 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:15.520 Bless you? Thank you, God bless you. Yes, God bless you. 82 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:19.240 I see that hand. Yes, all right, now. 83 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:26.040 Okay, let's scrunch it all up here. 84 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:31.000 How many of you would still like it? Oh? Oh, 85 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:46.079 you still like it? All right? How many of you 86 00:04:46.120 --> 00:04:46.920 would still like it? 87 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:52.399 Oh? Still like it? Here's the point. 88 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:57.639 No matter how dirty, no matter how used, no matter 89 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:02.040 how trashed it gets crumpled, it had not decreased in 90 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:05.600 its original value. 91 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:08.240 Gotcha. 92 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:15.360 Sometimes in life we get dropped, and sometimes we get stomped. 93 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.199 On and ground into the ground. 94 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:20.759 And sometimes we get dirty from our own stupid choices, 95 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:23.439 and sometimes we get our lives so messed up. We 96 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:25.439 don't know if we'll ever be able to unravel it. 97 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:29.680 But you have not lost your original value. In God's eyes. 98 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:34.480 You are priceless. When are you going to stop making 99 00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:39.240 excuses for why God can't use you. 100 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:42.519 Your original value to God is still there. It has 101 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:43.439 not changed. 102 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:47.720 And it doesn't matter whether you're all crumpled up or 103 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:52.360 whether you're creased real nice. It doesn't matter whether you've 104 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:57.000 gotten dirty or whether you're really clean. God can clean 105 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:01.199 you up and he can straighten you out, and your 106 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:06.560 value is still the same. So stop having a pity 107 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:10.920 party about your past and start letting God use you 108 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:14.439 in the present and developing your talent, because one day 109 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:16.680 you will give an account for how well you invested 110 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:20.279 your life. It doesn't matter where you've been. What matters 111 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:22.279 is what direction your feet are headed. 112 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:30.199 Today you're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will 113 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:32.279 be back in just a moment with the rest of 114 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:35.560 today's lesson. You can sign up for Pastor Rick's free 115 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:40.959 email devotional at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 116 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:44.279 In the Bible, Jesus told us that in this world 117 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:47.680 we will have trouble, but we should take heart because 118 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:52.000 he has overcome the world. It's easy to forget Jesus's 119 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:55.600 words of hope when you're experiencing difficulties in your life. 120 00:06:55.800 --> 00:07:00.199 You may even find yourself feeling overwhelmed and distraught. That's 121 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:03.079 why you need to grab hold of God's word. It's 122 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:05.720 an anchor for your soul that will fill you with 123 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:08.720 hope and to help you. Pastor Rick has created the 124 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:12.639 Verses of Hope Scripture Box, featuring a very special collection 125 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:16.319 of verses to restore your sense of hope daily. This 126 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:19.560 beautiful scripture box is gold with a look and feel 127 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:22.480 of leather, and there's an embossed Bible verse on top. 128 00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:27.439 It's filled with artfully illustrated and inspiring scripture cards along 129 00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:30.600 with well designed blank cards for your personal notes. This 130 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:33.839 unique tool will help you anchor yourself in God's word 131 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:36.639 and fill you with hope. We'll send it to you 132 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:39.199 when you give a gift to help daily hope. Take 133 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:42.480 the certain Hope of Jesus to people everywhere. 134 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:43.519 Just go to. 135 00:07:43.480 --> 00:07:46.759 Pastorick dot com right now to get your copy, or 136 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:49.959 you can call eight hundred six hundred five zero zero 137 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:53.959 four that's Pastorick dot com. Or call eight hundred six 138 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:57.720 hundred five zero zero four. Quantities are limited, so be 139 00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:00.959 sure to act quickly and to let us know which 140 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:03.600 station you heard us on. Thank you so much for 141 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:04.600 your support. 142 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:08.000 Hi, it's Pastor Rick with some big news. My daily 143 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:11.680 devotional is now available in French. If you know somebody 144 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:14.360 who would enjoy reading the devotionals in French, would you 145 00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:17.360 please email me and I'll send you a link to 146 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:21.240 sign up. My email is Rick at pastorick dot com. 147 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:28.839 That's Rick at pastorick dot com. 148 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:32.440 Now let's get back to today's lesson. Here on Pastor 149 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:33.720 Rick's Daily Hope. 150 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:37.320 Did you notice in verse twenty four of this Matthew 151 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:41.960 twenty five, this guy gives a little complaint. He prepares 152 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:44.919 a little speech, the guy who hit his talent, and 153 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:47.879 it says, then the master who had received one talent came. 154 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:51.919 And he said, Master, I knew that you. 155 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:54.879 Were a hard man, harvesting where you haven't sown and 156 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:57.320 gathering where you haven't scathered seed. So I was afraid 157 00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:59.000 and went out and hit your talent in the ground. 158 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:04.039 Notice what he's doing. He's blaming his boss, he's justifying himself. 159 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:08.600 He's saying, it's your fault, sir, that I failed. You're 160 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:10.240 a hard man, and I knew it, so I hit 161 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:12.840 it in the ground. It's your fault. The reason I 162 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:20.080 failed is because you were so unreasonable. Question, who are 163 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:25.559 you blaming for your lack of serving God? Who are 164 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:30.720 you blaming for your unhappiness? Who are you blaming for 165 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:32.879 not being in the center of God's will? Well, you know, 166 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:35.000 if I had just married somebody else, I could have 167 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:38.320 really been a great Christian. If I could have just 168 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:41.639 gotten married, I could have really gone far in this world. 169 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:45.559 And if I had had different parents, then I really 170 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:49.120 would have amounted to something in my life. And if 171 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:51.799 I hadn't gone through that divorce, or if I had 172 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:54.440 had a different brother and sister, or if I had 173 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:57.200 had different children than the ones that I've got, well 174 00:09:57.240 --> 00:10:00.200 then maybe I, witdily would have made something of my life. 175 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:04.799 Quit blaming other people. You are as close to God 176 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:07.600 as you choose to be, no more and no less. 177 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:10.120 You are as spiritual as you want to be. You 178 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:13.279 can't blame anybody else. If you're close to God, it's 179 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:15.960 because you've chosen to be close to God. If you're far, 180 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:21.360 it's because you have moved. God didn't He hasn't ever 181 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:26.200 moved so to stop blaming other people. You see, it 182 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:29.759 is fear that always causes me to make excuses for 183 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:32.919 why I haven't done more with my life, And it 184 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:35.159 is fear that causes me to blame other people for 185 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:38.360 the problems in my life and why I can't do 186 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:42.000 more than I'm doing with my life. Now, let me 187 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:45.759 tell you something I've learned this one from experience. Satan 188 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:49.279 will most likely attach a fear to your greatest talent 189 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:54.200 because he doesn't want you to use it for God's glory. 190 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:58.480 So if you're good at, say, singing, he'll think, well, 191 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:01.720 you know you can't do that. Or if you're good 192 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:04.600 at planning, well you couldn't do that, and on and on. 193 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:06.679 Many of you who've been around here in a long time, 194 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:08.440 and one of my biggest fears had been the fear 195 00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:12.360 of public speaking. You say, you gotta be kidding. No, 196 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:17.639 I'm not kidding you. I'm honest. What would have happened 197 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:21.080 if I had given in to my fears. There would 198 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:23.080 be no saddle backed church, Many of you would be 199 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:24.879 headed for hell, and a lot of people wouldn't have 200 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:25.399 been blessed. 201 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:37.799 Okay, now you must move against your. 202 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:40.720 Fear you must do the thing you fear the most, 203 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:45.080 because Satan wants to keep you from using your talent 204 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:48.600 for making the contribution that God puts you on this 205 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:50.840 earth to fulfill. And if you don't do it, you 206 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:53.320 will report to God one day. Why you let fear 207 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:58.440 keep you in a box. You must move against your fear, 208 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:03.120 and you must make contribution helping others with the talents 209 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:08.399 God gave you. Principal number six application if I don't 210 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:11.639 lose it. If I don't use it, I lose it. 211 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:16.159 The sixth principle of life investment application is if I 212 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:20.000 don't use it, I'll lose it. Verse twenty eight. The 213 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:22.559 Master says, take the talent from him who didn't use it, 214 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:25.039 and give it to the one who has ten talents. 215 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:26.840 Have you ever noticed this in life? 216 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:29.799 The people who are really talented seem to get more talented, 217 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:32.600 and people who don't really have a whole lot going 218 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:36.440 for them seem to oftentimes get less. What's going on here? 219 00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:39.919 That doesn't sound too fair? Why isn't that sometimes the 220 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:42.080 person who's got one talent, all of a sudden he 221 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:46.279 didn't have any talent anymore because they didn't use the 222 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:50.159 one that God gave them. Now, this, Folks, is a 223 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:54.000 universal principle. God has the right to take away anything 224 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:59.480 in your life that you don't invest for him. God 225 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:02.399 has the right to take away anything in your life 226 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:06.320 that you don't use correctly and for his glory. 227 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:10.399 Why should he let you have it? Now? This principle 228 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:13.080 of use it or lose it is a universal principle. 229 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:15.639 It's true with muscles. If I don't use my muscles, 230 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:18.440 I lose my muscles. That's why doctors want to get 231 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:20.039 you out of bed after surgery real quick. They don't 232 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:21.679 want you to lay in flat. If you don't use it, 233 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:25.279 you lose it. If you don't exercise, your muscles get smaller. 234 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:31.159 With your money, if you don't invest it, you know 235 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:33.639 you're gonna lose it. It's true with your mind if 236 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:36.000 you don't learn to think, if you don't use your mind, 237 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:39.519 you lose your mind. You get dollar and dollar and dollars, 238 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.720 you get older. Because your mind's a muscle, you must 239 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:45.120 keep it exercise them growing. If you have a talent 240 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:50.120 and you refuse to practice, you will lose that talent. Now, 241 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:53.759 the opposite is also true. If you do use it, 242 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:57.919 you get even more of it. And so if you 243 00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.759 use your muscles, guess what they get. 244 00:13:59.759 --> 00:13:59.879 Bit. 245 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:02.360 If you take a little bit of money and you 246 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:05.759 invest it, it gets bigger. That's true in any area 247 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:10.559 of life. When you do use it, it multiplies. Hebrews thirteen 248 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.960 twenty one. God says, I will equip you with all 249 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:17.840 you need for doing my will. That's a promise. So 250 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:22.320 here's a question. What do you need more of? What 251 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:24.639 do you need more of in your life? Is there 252 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:30.960 anybody here who needs more say energy in your life? 253 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:36.919 Is there anybody here who needs more time in your life? 254 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:45.120 How about money? How about talent? Yeah, here's the secret. 255 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:50.279 Whatever you need more of. Listen, take the little that 256 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:55.480 you've got and start using it in serving other people unselfishly, 257 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:57.799 and God will multiply it. 258 00:14:57.799 --> 00:14:58.559 It is a promise. 259 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.960 You say, I can't. I don't have time to serve 260 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:04.279 other people. I don't have time to minister, I don't 261 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.879 have time to do something on selwish. I don't have 262 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.919 enough time to get all things I need to do done. 263 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:12.240 That's why, because God never meant for you to be 264 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:14.879 a selfish little claw that spends all your time on yourself. 265 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:19.679 Why would God give you more time if you're just 266 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:23.159 going to spend it on you. It's kind of like tithing. 267 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.879 The principle of tithing that the first principle, first ten 268 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:27.960 percent of what I make goes back to God. Why 269 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:30.639 because when I give part back to God, God takes 270 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:33.000 the other ninety percent and makes it stretch further and 271 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:34.840 pay more than I would have if i'd kept all 272 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:38.519 hundred percent myself. Now, that's true with your time, and 273 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:41.399 that's true with your talent, and that's true with anything 274 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:43.519 in life. If you don't use it, you lose it. 275 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:46.000 And the way you get more is you invest what 276 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:49.120 little you've got. So if you don't have enough time 277 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:52.519 in your life, you really need to start serving because 278 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:55.399 you're out of balance. Or it's all take in, take in, 279 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:58.120 take in for me, Where in your life are you 280 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:01.000 doing something totally unselfish that is unrewarded that you don't 281 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:04.559 get any credit or money for it's just volunteer service. 282 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.519 Is there any are in your life that you're just 283 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:10.840 volunteering service and getting nothing back for it. If not, 284 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:15.440 you're out of balance. Now here's the sixth principle of 285 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:20.799 the seventh principle. It's compensation. If I use my talents, 286 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:25.399 I will be rewarded. If I use my talents, I 287 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:29.320 will be rewarded. Now Verse twenty three says this, His 288 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:32.360 master replied when he comes back home, well done, good 289 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:34.639 and faithful servant. You've been faithful with a few things. 290 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:37.480 I'll put you in charge of many things. Come and 291 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:40.879 share your master's happiness. Now look at this verse because 292 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:43.840 it gives the three rewards that God gives when we 293 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:47.200 use our talents in ministry to serve others, to make 294 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:50.440 a contribution in the world. First, we get the affirmation 295 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:53.519 of God. He says, well done, good and faithful servant. 296 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:56.720 Now God says, good job, well done. That's my boy 297 00:16:57.639 --> 00:17:00.559 at a girl. What's he saying here? You know, the 298 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.879 affirmation of God in your life is far more important 299 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:06.000 than any other affirmation you could possibly get from anybody else. 300 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:09.920 Number two, Not only is God's affirmation, God's promotion. You've 301 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:11.960 been faithful with a few things. All put you in 302 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:15.880 charge of many things. You get promoted. Did you know 303 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:19.279 that in heaven your responsibility that you'll be given for 304 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:22.039 eternity is going to be based on your faithfulness here 305 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:24.880 on this earth. And if you mess up and don't 306 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:27.160 do anything with your life on earth. Why would God 307 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:31.079 give you some major responsibility in eternity. If you're faithful 308 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:33.559 and the few talents you have here on this earth, 309 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.759 God is going to give you greater capacity and greater 310 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:40.279 ability to serve Him for eternity in heaven. On the 311 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:43.319 other hand, if you just waste or spend or blow 312 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:45.880 the few talents you've got right here, and you use 313 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:49.279 them all in yourself, don't expect God to give you 314 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:52.079 the promotion in heaven for what you're going to do 315 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:55.200 the rest of eternity. And then notice there's not only 316 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:59.200 affirmation and promotion, there's celebration. Come and share your master's happiness, 317 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:04.240 he says, I'm smiling on you. It's party time. Let's celebrate, 318 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:07.559 and God knows how to throw a party. Do you 319 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:10.279 really want to be happy? Do you really want to 320 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:13.160 raise your self esteem? Do you want to feel like 321 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.079 you're making a significance difference. 322 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.519 With your life? Then you need to find a place 323 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:19.200 and start making an. 324 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:24.119 Unselfish contribution with your life on a volunteer basis. Use 325 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:28.079 your talents to serve God by serving others. 326 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:31.400 If you do that, what happens? Matthew six thirty three. 327 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:34.359 Seek first, the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and 328 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:37.279 all these other things will be added to you. All 329 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:40.160 the other things you're worried about, He'll take care of now. 330 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:42.640 It doesn't say seek second, third, fourth, or fifth. It 331 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:44.720 doesn't say finish your to do list and then see 332 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:48.240 if you've got any time for ministry. It doesn't say 333 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:51.279 fill your schedule up and fulfill it, and then see 334 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:54.000 if you've got any time for unselfish service. It says, no, 335 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:59.039 put it first, think of somebody else first. And God says, 336 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:02.759 when you do that, I'll take care of you. Let's 337 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:08.440 bow our heads. Would you pray this prayer? 338 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:13.599 Father? I realized that you placed me. 339 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:17.839 On this earth to make a contribution, not just to 340 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:22.519 be a consumer. And I don't want to live a selfish, 341 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:29.119 shallow life thinking only of myself. I really do want 342 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:34.000 to make a difference with my life. But Lord, I've 343 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:37.920 gotten so busy, and I've packed my life so full 344 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:42.160 that I haven't made time for anybody else, or for you, 345 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:48.200 or for what's most important. Forgive me for getting out 346 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:53.279 of balance. I want to invest my life and talents 347 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:58.759 in the things that matter most. Help me to know 348 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:01.680 what to cut back in my life, so I'll have 349 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:05.839 time to serve you by serving others. 350 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.960 In faith. Today. 351 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:14.839 I'm going to commit to serving in some ministry today, 352 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.839 believing that you will help me find the time to 353 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.559 make it possible. 354 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.400 If you've never committed. 355 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:24.000 Your life to Christ, why don't you add these two sentences, 356 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:27.279 say Jesus, I want to get to know you and 357 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:29.799 your plan for my life, and I want to. 358 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:31.759 Follow you from here on out. 359 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:35.920 I ask you to come into my life and change 360 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:40.720 me and save me. Help me to use my life and. 361 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:46.240 Talents to worship you in your name. Amen. 362 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:55.279 Hi everybody, this is Rick and I hope you enjoyed 363 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:58.640 today's broadcast. You know, if you just prayed that prayer 364 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:02.640 for the very first time, or you just recommitted your 365 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:05.240 life to Jesus again today, would you let me know 366 00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:09.000 about it. There's something real about sharing your commitment. So 367 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:12.160 write me Rick at pastor Rick dot com and say, Rick, 368 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:15.480 I prayed that prayer of commitment. I gave my life 369 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:18.559 to Christ. And I'll send you some material that'll help 370 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:20.319 you on your journey with Jesus. 371 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:22.000 And I'll also pray for you. 372 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.000 God bless you. 373 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:29.119 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope We're so happy you've 374 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:32.400 chosen to study along with us today. You can get 375 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:36.559 hope and encouragement from Pastor Rick delivered to your inbox 376 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:40.599 every day. Just go to Pastorick dot com and sign 377 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:44.160 up for his free daily devotional. Rick will be back 378 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:47.759 to close out our time today. But first, in order 379 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:51.319 to live for God in the most meaningful way possible, 380 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:55.279 we need to have His word deep down in our hearts. 381 00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:59.559 That's why Pastor Rick created a spiritual growth tool called 382 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:03.680 the Verses of Hope Scripture Box. Here's Rick to tell 383 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.200 you more. 384 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:07.200 One of the most powerful ways you can transform your 385 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:11.680 spiritual life is to memorize scripture. You say I can't 386 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:13.920 do that, Oh, yes you can. The Bible says in 387 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:17.319 Proverbs seven, verse two, guard my words as your most 388 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:21.920 precious possession. Write them down and keep them deep within 389 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:25.119 your heart. To keep them deep in your heart, you 390 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:27.920 have to remember them. That's why I've had my team 391 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:32.000 create a beautiful gold scripture box so you can practice 392 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:35.039 memorizing the verses that we give you and some that 393 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:37.440 you can develop on your own. Now, we've started a 394 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:41.160 collection of forty verses about hope. These are going to 395 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:44.039 encourage you when you feel down and discourage. It's a 396 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:47.240 collection that will help you keep God's word in you 397 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:50.279 so you have it when you need it. Now, I 398 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:53.920 had a graphic artist create Bible verse cards with multiple 399 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:57.200 graphic designs and really cool colors, so you're going to 400 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:59.720 enjoy studying these verses. It's not just words on a 401 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:04.240