Feb. 08, 2026

Series: The Generosity of Jesus:   2-8-26

LEVERAGE

Matthew 6:21 (NIV) ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

• Our heart and our money are connected, and Jesus really cares about our _____________!

THE KEY: Jesus wasn’t trying to control people’s money; he was trying to keep their money from _____________ them.

• Generosity is not a money issue, but a _____________ issue. 

Proverbs 22:7 (NLT) Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.  

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) ¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Jesus’ Principles of Leveraging: 

(Matthew 25)

Employing Leverage amplifies the potential gain from an investment but also increases the potential LOSS.

"If you don't have leverage, you don't get in trouble. That's the only way a smart person can go broke" — Warren Buffett.

Question of the Day:

How do I LEVERAGE my little bit of time and little bit of Talent and little bit of Treasure for future (eternal) benefit?

1. What we have is not _____________.

Matthew 25:14 (NIV) ¹⁴ Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.

1 Chronicles 29:11 (NLT) Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.

2. We are each given what we can _____________.

Matthew 25:15 (NIV) ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents (100 days of wages) of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.  

3. We are to _____________ what we’ve been given.

 Matthew 25:16-18 (NIV) ¹⁶ The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. ¹⁷ So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸ But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
 

"Attempting to succeed without embracing the tools immediately available for your success is no less absurd than trying to row a boat by drawing only your hands through the water".

4. A full audit is already ______________________.

Matthew 25:19-23 (NIV) ¹⁹ After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.” ²¹ His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” ²² The man with the two talents also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.” ²³ "His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!”

5. What we do with what we have reveals our ______ of God.

Matthew 25:24-27 (NIV) ²⁴ Then the man who had received the one talent came. “Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” ²⁶ His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷ Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

6. If we don’t use what we have, we’ll _____ what we have.

Matthew 25:28-29 ²⁸ Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.” ²⁹ For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 

          1.) God is rewarding the responsible and disciplining the ____________.

            "Your choices create leverage. Working hard is important, but working on the right thing is even more important" James Clear

          2.) God is not saying that having an abundance of wealth is __________, 

because he gave more to the one who was already ___________!

Malachi 3:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into…my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

7. Our temporary resources affect ____________ rewards.

Matthew 25:30 (NIV) ³⁰ And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness…

Romans 2:6 (NIV) ⁶ God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 

Eternity’s Question:

“What have you been packing in your Bags that won’t make it past the security CHECKPOINT at Eternity Intergalactic Airport.”

Matthew 6:19-20 ¹⁹ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

Matthew 6:25 ²⁵ "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than _______________________? 

     (You fill in the Blank!) 

Matthew 6:31-33 ³¹ So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² …your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.