Survival kit for Economic Downturn Period
SEIZE EVERY OPPORTUNITY
Text: Luke 16:1-15
(Luke 16:1-15 NIV) Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. {2} So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' {3} "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- {4} I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' {5} "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' {6} "'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' {7} "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.' {8} "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. {9} I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. {10} "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. {11} So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? {12} And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? {13} "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." {14} The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. {15} He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.
Introduction:
(Rom 15:4 NIV) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Greek word kurios means master or Lord
Greek word oikonomos, which means manager, steward, administrator, fiscal agent, treasurer, chamberlain, governor, house-manager, and an employer who overseas an estate.
(Deu 23:20-21 NIV) You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a brother Israelite, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess. {21} If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.
(Luke 16:8 NIV) "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
Greek word: is phronimos which means shrewdly, astutely, prudently, wisely.
Some Quotations about Opportunity
Opportunities come to those who seek them.
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." - Milton Berle
Even when opportunity knocks a man still has to get up off his seat and open the door.
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overallsand looks like work.” - Thomas Alva Edison
“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” - Charles R. Swindoll
Opportunities, when seized, multiply; when neglected, vanish.
“Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” - Orison Swett Marden
Successful men think; they think up more opportunities than they find.
Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along. ~Hugh Allen
Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards. ~William Arthur Ward
Opportunity is a bird that never perches. ~Claude McDonald
Opportunity is as scarce as oxygen; men fairly breathe it and do not know it. ~Doc Sane
Opportunities do not come with their values stamped upon them. ~Maltbie Babcock
Nothing is so often irretrievably missed as a daily opportunity. ~Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
It is often hard to distinguish between the hard knocks in life and those of opportunity. ~Frederick Phillips
Seize the opportunity by the beard, for it is bald behind. ~Bulgarian Proverb
I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one. ~Mark Twain
Seize every opportunity along the way, for how sad it would be if the road you chose became the road not taken. ~Robert Brault
Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards. ~William Arthur Ward
Opportunity is a bird that never perches. ~Claude McDonald
Opportunity is as scarce as oxygen; men fairly breathe it and do not know it. ~Doc Sane
Opportunities do not come with their values stamped upon them. ~Maltbie Babcock
Nothing is so often irretrievably missed as a daily opportunity. ~Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
It is often hard to distinguish between the hard knocks in life and those of opportunity. ~Frederick Phillips
Seize the opportunity by the beard, for it is bald behind. ~Bulgarian Proverb
I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one. ~Mark Twain
Seize every opportunity along the way, for how sad it would be if the road you chose became the road not taken. ~Robert Brault
A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. ~Harry Truman
The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes. ~Benjamin Disraeli
How can we Seize Every Opportunity
1. We must have strategies for Securing our Future.
(Luke 16:4 NIV) I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'
Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
(Prov 24:6 NIV) for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
2. We must be Smart in our Dealings.
(Luke 16:5-8 NIV) "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' {6} "'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' {7} "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.' {8} "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
(Mat 10:16 NIV) I am sending you out like sheep among
wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
(Prov 24:5 NIV) A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;
3. We must Serve Faithfully.
(Luke 16:9-12 NIV) I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. {10} "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. {11} So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? {12} And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
(1 Cor 4:2 NIV) Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
