Parable of the Talents

Most likely you have heard and/or read the Parable of the Talents before. If not, I would suggest you take a moment right now and read it (Matthew 25:14-30). Though it is very short, I think you will find it immensely helpful in putting your business in the proper perspective with your faith.

When you begin to think about this parable and your business, I want you to consider the business itself as one of the “talents” given to you by Jesus (the Master). Take the approach that as the true owner of the business, He has placed it in your hands for a period of time. Until He decides otherwise, you are the steward of that business.

Where To Invest?

In this picture, you are charged with “investing” this business while it is in your care. You are to run it, grow it, and invest it while it is under your stewardship. Because it is not actually not your business, at some point in the future you will be held accountable by Jesus for the results you achieve with it.

Now, let’s pause a minute to make sure you are tracking with me. Just like the servants in the parable, you and I will be called to account for our results at the end of this life. Also like the servants, we will be accountable for our results based on the “talents” given us. For some that received more (bigger business, more employees, etc.), more will be expected.

What Is The Best Return?

The REAL question here is the return. The natural response is to think about money or the size of the business as the goal for the best return. It is our instinct to drive more money to the bottom line and to expand our business through additional locations or increased capacity. These are not bad pursuits by themselves, but are these the returns for which we will be held accountable on that day? Is this what Jesus is looking for from us?

I would have to say I do not think this is the case. God already owns it all! He does not need our money because it is already His. He doesn’t need our additional locations or increased capacity either. All of this is already His. So what is it that Jesus seeks? What is it that He does not already have AND that He desperately wants?

What Does The Bible Say?

Let’s check a couple of Scriptures that I believe give us the answer.

For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost. – Luke 19:10

The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

We Are To Seek Souls

I think it should be clear to all of us that the one thing that Jesus wants, but does not yet have, is the souls of all of His creation! He wants everyone to come to Him and it is up to us to help make that happen. The returns we should seek as we invest His business are the souls of the lost.

Do you understand that?

Let’s review to make sure. You run a business that is God’s business. You are the steward of that business. You are charged with operating a profitable and healthy business, but money and economic growth are not your end goals. Your goal – the very purpose of your business – is to point people toward Jesus in a way that leads them to an eternity with Him.

We Are Accountable!

So, let’s go back to the parable. The two servants that brought a strong return through the investing of the talents He gave them – they receive the praise and reward. Even though they began, and ended, with different levels of talents and returns, they were given the same praise and reward. We are accountable for generating returns according to what we have been given.

So, I urge you to stop and take a look at the business He has placed in your trust. Regardless of the size, when you invest are you generating returns that are pleasing to Him? Is He seeing people come to Him because of the way you are operating the business?

Stop And Think

Depending on your answers to these last few questions, I encourage you to stop and think about the actions you need to take. Maybe you need to start at the beginning and cast a new vision for your business. It could be that you simply need a slight course correction. Whatever the case, I pray you will do what it takes to get on track.

Don’t allow yourself to be in a position years from now where you are looking back and recognizing that you have been seeking to invest for the wrong returns all along. Change your course now. There is still time!

photo by Ken Teegardin

As you might guess, I have a little different perspective for you to consider on this topic.

Last Post

In my last post, we looked at two key characters in the book of Luke (18:18-23 and 19:1-10) that will help us understand the best strategy for long term gain. For the full effect, you really need to read that post before reading further in this one.

In that last post, I discussed the differences between the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus. Both of these men were wealthy by the world’s standards. Both encountered Jesus and both made a choice. The rich young ruler chose to retain his grip on his wealth while Zacchaeus released his grip on wealth and chose to embrace Jesus instead.

What Jesus Says Next!

The reason this contrast became so vivd to me was that I read these two stories almost back-to-back in Luke 18 & 19. I had read each before, but not one after the other like this. I believe there is purpose in these two stories being so close together. If we follow this logic, then let’s take a look at the very next verses after the story of Zacchaeus!

If you read the very next words (Luke 19:11-27), you realize Jesus has continued his speaking and gone on to tell a parable. If you recognize that this parable comes right on the heels of two actual encounters relating to the wealth of this world, then you would be wise to heed the parable and apply it accordingly.

Parable of the Ten Minas

Jesus relays to the crowd the parable of the 10 minas. In this story, a nobleman is going off to be crowned king. This is fitting because Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem to be “crowned king” as well – though not in the way his followers thought. The nobleman calls some of his servants together, gives them money, and tells them, “Engage in business until I come back.”

As he leaves, it is clear that many of his subjects did not want him to become king and they opposed him. Upon his return, now with the authority as king, he recalled his servants to hold them accountable for their returns. The first two have invested (at risk) and gained returns. They are praised and given more authority in his new kingdom.

A third servant admits to hiding the money he was given (avoiding risk), not investing it at all. He is judged to be an evil slave and what he had was taken from him. Then the king calls for those who opposed his crowning as king to be killed.

We Have a Choice

There are many lessons in this story – too many to cover them all. Jesus was clearly foreshadowing His own “going away” and returning later as King. In the meantime, all of us have a choice to make as to whether we support or oppose His “crowning”.

Understanding this, we can see that He has given each of us what we have in this world, with the expectation that we will invest it while He is gone. We can know that we will be held accountable for our results when this life ends or when He returns. The question I would encourage you to ask yourself is, “What return is He expecting from my investment?”

God’s Expected Return

See if you follow my logic here. God owns everything, right? Scripture backs this up so there really is no doubt about this. If He already owns everything, then does He need a “financial” return on His investment? Is he interested in more dollars, yen, rupees, etc.?

If He already owns ALL of the money in the world, what is the ONE thing that He seeks? What is it that He does not already have?

Souls. God has given every soul on earth the freedom to choose Him as King or not. Yet, from Scripture it is clear that He desires EVERYONE to come to Him (2 Peter 3:8-9). He seeks souls! He wants them all!

What Will You Choose?

So if you accept this, then you realize that He wants you to take the time, treasure, talents, and resources He has given you in this world and invest them for the very best long term gain – a return of souls. This follows the Great Commission – make disciples of all nations!

This is where we see the connection between the previous stories about the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus. These two men had to choose between Jesus and their grip on their wealth. They could not maintain a hold on both.

If we are to please Jesus during this life, we must recognize that He wants us to release our grip on everything other than Him. For some that choose Him, He may have them retain their worldly wealth as a means to impact others for eternity. For others, they might have to walk away from it to choose Him and increase their impact.

Best Long Term Gain

We cannot pretend to know how He will deal with each of us. What we can know is that whatever He has given us is for the purpose of “engaging in business” while He is gone. We are to invest these resources in ways that will point others to Him. Our main goal must be to bring Him the eternal returns He desires, not the worldly wealth our flesh desires. This is the best long term gain!

Release your grip and invest wisely!

In this, and the next two posts, I am going to break this process into three simple steps using material from Dave Anderson’s book, How To Run Your Business By The Book.

The first step in developing your inner circle is to:

1. Identify and invest more into those with the highest upward potential

Identify Your Inner Circle

Let’s start with identifying the people with the highest upward potential. So, exactly how do you go about doing this? Well, first and foremost, I would pray about it. I would pray for wisdom and discernment as I reviewed my employees for prospects. Ask for Him to reveal qualities and characteristics that you may not already be aware of. Pray for patience as well. Jesus prayed all night!

Next I would look at your current leadership structure. The easiest people to choose are already in your key leadership positions. Hopefully, assuming you have these positions, the people you have here are trustworthy and have the potential you are seeking. Mutual trust is mandatory.

For me, it was fairly clear because I had been fortunate enough to have people in my key management positions that fit this role perfectly. Not only did they have the highest potential, but they also shared the same values and beliefs and were quickly bought in to the mission as I presented it.

Your situation may not be the same. If not, you may have to spend more time on this step. You also may see that you are not positioned well with your key people. While that is likely not something you can change quickly, it is certainly something you need to address over time.

Here are three keys to choosing these people:

Ready – The people you choose must be ready to take on the additional learning and responsibility. Regardless of where they are now in their leadership growth process, they cannot be immature, unstable, or short-sighted. They need to be ready to take on the challenge you will place in front of them.

Willing – Another requirement is that they must be willing, even eager to join this group. You do not want someone that you are constantly having to sell on the idea! They need to see the opportunity you are presenting and value it.

Able – The actual level of each members’ ability to take this on depends on the general ability level of the group. While every member of the group does not necessarily have to be on equal ground with all of the others, they need to be close. If you have one potential member that trails the others by a significant amount, you may want to consider another path for them. Otherwise, they will likely hold back the progress of the group.

One note, it is my opinion that you may need to start with only one individual that IS the right fit rather than trying to force two or three others that are NOT a good fit. Think quality over quantity! Personally, I have a total of five. I am not sure there is a magic number, but I would not have many more than this. Intimacy is also important for this group.

Invest In Your Inner Circle

This step will be different for each leader, depending on the level of the members of the inner circle. Depending on your industry or your company’s mission, you may already have a ready-made path for leadership development. If not, you may have to create your own. The key here is to be intentional about their development.

Here are some simple steps to consider:

Determine the gap – Look at where they are as a group right now. Look at where you see them in x number of years after you have invested in their development. Now try to plot out a path to close that gap!

Gather material – Choose material that will reinforce your mission while moving them down the path you have chosen. Make sure it is not too far above or below their ability to absorb. Obviously, the internet is an almost infinite source of material! Consider joining a C12 group as one source!

Schedule time alone with them – Jesus spent time with the crowds, but He also carved out time just for His twelve. He then carved out other time for the three. You have to do the same.

Monitor your progress – Take time along the way to stop and check your progress. Document what you are doing. This will give you a sense of how far you have come as a group.

Celebrate growth – Take time to celebrate your progress! While there is a lot of work to be done in this process, you need to enjoy the fruit of it as well!

Are you ready to choose your members?

What are your challenges here?

What is your next action step?

(Originally posted 10/19/11)

In this, and the next two posts, I am going to break this process into three simple steps using material from Dave Anderson’s book, How To Run Your Business By The Book.

The first step in developing your inner circle is to:

1. Identify and invest more into those with the highest upward potential

Identify Your Inner Circle

Let’s start with identifying the people with the highest upward potential. So, exactly how do you go about doing this? Well, first and foremost, I would pray about it. I would pray for wisdom and discernment as I reviewed my employees for prospects. Ask for Him to reveal qualities and characteristics that you may not already be aware of. Pray for patience as well. Jesus prayed all night!

Next I would look at your current leadership structure. The easiest people to choose are already in your key leadership positions. Hopefully, assuming you have these positions, the people you have here are trustworthy and have the potential you are seeking. Mutual trust is mandatory.

For me, it was fairly clear because I had been fortunate enough to have people in my key management positions that fit this role perfectly. Not only did they have the highest potential, but they also shared the same values and beliefs and were quickly bought in to the mission as I presented it.

Your situation may not be the same. If not, you may have to spend more time on this step. You also may see that you are not positioned well with your key people. While that is likely not something you can change quickly, it is certainly something you need to address over time.

Here are three keys to choosing these people:

Ready – The people you choose must be ready to take on the additional learning and responsibility. Regardless of where they are now in their leadership growth process, they cannot be immature, unstable, or short-sighted. They need to be ready to take on the challenge you will place in front of them.

Willing – Another requirement is that they must be willing, even eager to join this group. You do not want someone that you are constantly having to sell on the idea! They need to see the opportunity you are presenting and value it.

Able – The actual level of each members’ ability to take this on depends on the general ability level of the group. While every member of the group does not necessarily have to be on equal ground with all of the others, they need to be close. If you have one potential member that trails the others by a significant amount, you may want to consider another path for them. Otherwise, they will likely hold back the progress of the group.

One note, it is my opinion that you may need to start with only one individual that IS the right fit rather than trying to force two or three others that are NOT a good fit. Think quality over quantity! Personally, I have a total of five. I am not sure there is a magic number, but I would not have many more than this. Intimacy is also important for this group.

Invest In Your Inner Circle

This step will be different for each leader, depending on the level of the members of the inner circle. Depending on your industry or your company’s mission, you may already have a ready-made path for leadership development. If not, you may have to create your own. The key here is to be intentional about their development.

Here are some simple steps to consider:

Determine the gap – Look at where they are as a group right now. Look at where you see them in x number of years after you have invested in their development. Now try to plot out a path to close that gap!

Gather material – Choose material that will reinforce your mission while moving them down the path you have chosen. Make sure it is not too far above or below their ability to absorb. Obviously, the internet is an almost infinite source of material! Consider joining a C12 group as one source!

Schedule time alone with them – Jesus spent time with the crowds, but He also carved out time just for His twelve. He then carved out other time for the three. You have to do the same.

Monitor your progress – Take time along the way to stop and check your progress. Document what you are doing. This will give you a sense of how far you have come as a group.

Celebrate growth – Take time to celebrate your progress! While there is a lot of work to be done in this process, you need to enjoy the fruit of it as well!

Are you ready to choose your members?

What are your challenges here?

What is your next action step?