SPIZE CAFE

“But now thus says the Lord,
He who created you, O Jacob,
He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name,
you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and through the rivers,
they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I give Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored,
and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life.

Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you.
I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He.

Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me. I,
I am the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior.

“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth,
do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert. “

“I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭1‬-‭7‬, ‭10‬-‭11‬, ‭18‬-‭19‬, ‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Recently I saw a bumper sticker that read,

“He who dies with the most toys wins, but he is still dead.”

This must be a post-modern version of the late 1990’s original, which simply read, “He who dies with the most toys wins.”

If bumper stickers are a reflection of the soul of our culture (and I am not sure that is true) are we in the 21st century moving away from the idea that the acquisition of “things” and the pursuit of pleasure are the driving forces and measuring rods of a successful life?

If so, what does success look like today? What is the measure of success? Does it look different for Christians? What is the Biblical definition of success?

I set out to try to answer these questions. My sermon title was “The Biblical Meaning of Success,” and I used the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14-30 as my text.

I told the congregation they had been lied to. Two great lies have been told to them by everyone from their kindergarten teacher to the U.S. Government:

You can be anything you want to be.
You can be the best in the world.
These two lies distort the Biblical meaning of success, and set all of us up for disappointment and failure.

The antidote for these two great lies is the Parable of the Talents, which teaches us three important lessons:

1. We are called to work while we wait for the return of the King.

The Parable of the Talents teaches us how to work while we wait for the second coming of Christ. Many Christians believe that our salvation is a bus ticket to heaven, and what we do while we wait for the bus makes little difference. The parable makes it clear this belief is false.

One of my favorite quotes is spoken by General Maximus in the opening scenes of the film, “Gladiator.” General Maximus tells his troops, “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” While this may not have been true about them, it is certainly true for Christians. Our work matters to God.

2. We are given everything we need to do what God has called us to do.

Do you know what a talent is worth in today’s dollars? Somewhere between five hundred thousand and a million dollars. Even the servant that was given only one talent was given more than enough to set up a business and produce the expected return for the master.

God has given each of us unique resources and talents to be used in everything we do, especially our vocational callings. The master gave out a different number of talents to each servant “according to the servant’s ability.” The one talent servant was not expected to produce five talents.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:10,

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We seldom associate this verse with our vocational work, but we should.

3. We will be held accountable for what we do with what God has given us.

As Christians we work “as unto the Lord,” not for an earthy boss. The Parable of the Talents shows us we will be held accountable for what we do while we wait for the return of our King. Thankfully, we are not held to some arbitrary standard. What God expects from us is based on what he has given us.

However, it will take just as much effort for the two talent servant to produce two additional talents as it does the five talent servant to produce five additional talents. This is why the reward for both is the same. This is the great lesson of this story.

So what does this parable tell us about the Biblical meaning of success?

We are called to use all the resources God has given us and work diligently at our callings, maximizing the return for the Master while we expectantly await His return.

The late John Wooden, the most successful college basketball coach in history and a committed Christian, was asked how he would define success. He replied:

Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.

This is what the Parable of the Talents is all about.

We labor at the pleasure of the Lord God Almighty. Our work is driven by our love of the Master. Our only desire should be to hear his praise at the end of our days on this earth:

Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the master.

What do you think? What does the Parable of the Talents say to you about your work? About success?

- Hugh Whelchel
Work, Success, and the Parable of the Talents

One of the most neglected Bible subjects among Christians today is the priesthood of all believers – that is, that we today are priests of God.
As His priest, we should be faithful in exercising our privileges and responsibilities.

What are our responsibilities?
Basically, they are twofold: intercession and sacrifice.
Intercessory prayer should occupy much of the life of the believer (1 Tim. 2:1)

If we really understood that unbelievers cannot pray and that Christians out of fellowship with God cannot pray, then we would be burdened to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for the unsaved.

The course of history could well have been changed had we Christians been more faithful in the regard.

Another work of the priest in the Old Testament was to sacrifice.
The New Testament tells us of four sacrifices that Christians can make:
Romans 12:1-2 – your body – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Hebrews 13:15 – the sacrifice of praise (worship) – By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Hebrews 13:16 – good works – But to do good and
Hebrews 13:16 giving – to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

- Ken Cayce

The Beatitudes
1)”Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

- Being "poor in spirit" means recognizing your spiritual bankruptcy without God, coming before Him as a spiritual beggar, and surrendering your self-reliance to fully depend on His grace.

2)”Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

- Sorrow for Sin: It refers to the deep spiritual grief we feel over our own shortcomings and the brokenness of the world.
- A Path to Joy: The "blessing" isn't in the mourning itself, but in the comforting presence of God that follows it.
- Authenticity: It is an invitation to drop the pretense and acknowledge when we are hurting, allowing God to restore our souls.

3) “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

- “meek" is often mistaken for weakness or passivity. However, biblically, it points to strength under control:
Power under restraint: It describes a heart that is submissive and gentle toward God and others, while retaining immense inner strength.

-Trust over control:
Instead of using manipulation, aggression, or vengeance to get ahead in the world, the meek person trusts God to be their defender and provider.
-The Promise of "Inheriting the Earth"
This promise echoes Psalm 37:11 and highlights a divine reversal of fortunes:

Eternal Perspective:
Rather than the ruthless conquering the world, the meek, as fellow heirs with Christ, are promised ultimate, eternal security and rule over God's creation.

Present Peace:
Even in the present, those who let go of the need to dominate or control find freedom from anxiety, anger, and bitterness.

4) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

- a deep, desperate spiritual longing for God's goodness and will—just as a starving or dehydrated person craves food and water—is met with the ultimate fulfillment and spiritual nourishment.

The Intensity of the Desire:
Hunger and thirst are not casual preferences; they represent survival needs. Just as a person becomes consumed with the need for a meal or water, true followers of Christ are called to have an overwhelming drive and ambition for His ways.

The Object of the Longing:
Righteousness here means an active pursuit of right standing with God, living a life that reflects His character, and desiring to see His justice and truth prevail in the world.

The Promise:
The reward is guaranteed to those who seek it. God promises to completely satisfy and fill the soul of anyone who sincerely seeks His kingdom and His will above their own.

5) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

- those who actively show forgiveness, kindness, and love to others will, in turn, receive God's mercy and favor.

The verse emphasizes a cycle of grace:
Mercy in Action:
Mercy is not just a passive feeling of pity; it requires action. It involves extending grace to others, particularly those who are hurting, broken, or undeserving of it.

The Promise:
The reward for being merciful is the assurance of receiving mercy from God. When we choose to forgive others' faults rather than seeking revenge or harboring resentment, we position ourselves to receive God's understanding and patience in our own moments of weakness.

A Reflection of God's Heart:
Showing mercy is seen as a sign of a transformed heart. Because we have received profound mercy through God, we are called to let that overflow into our relationships with everyone around us.

6) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

- those who seek a sincere, undivided devotion to God will experience His presence profoundly now and see Him face-to-face for eternity.
The verse beautifully highlights three core spiritual concepts:
The "Heart":
In biblical terms, the heart represents the center of human desires, motives, and thoughts.
Being "Pure":
This signifies having single-minded devotion, sincerity, and inner moral cleanliness. It is the opposite of living a hypocritical life or having divided loyalties.
“Seeing God":
This means experiencing a deep spiritual intimacy and understanding of God in this life, and eternal communion with Him in the next.

7) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

- a foundational call to action for believers, focusing on reconciliation and reflecting the character of God.

- Active Peacemaking:
A peacemaker isn't just someone who avoids conflict; they actively step into broken situations to mend fractured relationships and restore harmony.
Divine Likeness:
Jesus, the ultimate "Prince of Peace," reconciled humanity to God. When believers actively foster peace, they reflect His nature and are recognized as members of His family (sons and daughters of God).

8 ) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

- It offers a promise of eternal reward for those who endure suffering or opposition because of their unwavering commitment to doing what is right and following God's will.

The Paradox of Blessing:
In this verse, Jesus flips the world's definition of success. While the world views happiness as comfort and popularity, Jesus calls those who are mistreated for His sake "blessed" (meaning spiritually favored and deeply joyful) because of their heavenly inheritance.
For Righteousness' Sake:
This is a vital condition. The blessing isn't for those who suffer because of their own poor choices or wrongdoings, but specifically for those who suffer for living righteously and standing firm in their faith.
The Kingdom of Heaven:
Jesus provides an immediate comfort for their earthly trials: the assurance that they belong to the kingdom of heaven. This emphasizes that a believer's ultimate citizenship and reward are eternal, transcending temporary earthly struggles.

9) “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

- It reminds believers that facing false accusations and hostility for following Christ is a badge of honor that aligns them with the prophets and Jesus Himself.
The verse emphasizes a few key principles:
The Reason for the Trial:
The persecution must be specifically "on account of me [Jesus]" or for living righteously.
The Nature of the Accusation:
The hostility is rooted in falsehoods and insults.
The Response:
Rather than despairing, believers are instructed to rejoice because these temporary trials are met with an eternal, "great reward in heaven"

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

- the final verse of the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.
It serves as a radical call to joy, commanding believers to rejoice even in the face of insults and persecution, linking present earthly suffering with eternal heavenly reward and solidarity with the prophets.

This verse concludes Jesus' introduction to His famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12).
The Call to Joy:
“Rejoice and be glad" (or "exceeding glad" in the KJV) is a command to exult in the face of opposition, not because suffering is inherently pleasant, but because of the spiritual reality behind it.

The Eternal Perspective:
The "reward in heaven" reminds believers that the values of God's kingdom are often at odds with the world, and eternal treasures far outweigh temporary earthly trials.

Prophetic Solidarity:
Jesus connects His followers' present suffering with that of the ancient prophets who were similarly mistreated for speaking God's truth.