BEING A BLESSING #3

BEING A BLESSING #3

April 21, 2024

In the world of economics, there are two kinds of cost – an actual cost and an opportunity cost. An actual cost is an expenditure. It shows up on your balance sheet as a liability, and it’s relatively easy to account for. An opportunity cost is a hidden cost. It’s the loss of potential gain often because of indecision or inaction…

I. Jesus spoke these words in the context of a construction project, but they are true of a thousand things…

Luke 14:28-33 MSG
28-30 “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and
figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’ 31-32 “Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce? 33 “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.

A. Some opening observations:
1. When it comes to counting the

, most people fail to realize that it’s a two-sided

.
2. Most of us are pretty good at counting the

cost – counting

cost is a different story.
3. When you try to account for the

, there are far more

at play.
4. Spiritually speaking, counting opportunity cost is a moral calculation that involves a

of

.

Romans 12:3 TPT
God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.

B. When it comes to the

of faith in your life, nothing is more critical to your

.

C. You can do nothing wrong and still do nothing right – goodness is not the

of

.

Faithfulness is not

Reveal Answer

the

Reveal Answer

.
It’s playing

Reveal Answer

, which is the opposite of playing it

Reveal Answer

.
As Christ followers, we should be more known for what we are

Reveal Answer

than what we are

Reveal Answer

II. Today there are opportunities all around you…

Genesis 6:13-22 NKJV
13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. 21 And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

A. Blessing is defined not by what we

, but by what we

.

B. What is the

behind more blessed to give?

Ephesians 3:20 AMPC
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us,
is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we
[dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or
dreams].

C. What is Paul saying here?
1. In Christ all

are made possible or turned into a

.
2. In Christ our opportunities are made

far beyond our wildest dreams and expectation.

D. Some final observations:
1. Fear is the biggest

of opportunity.
2. Face fear head-on, one

at a time.
3. Surround yourself with

and encouraging people.
4. Visualize yourself succeeding and

your goals.
5. Take action even when you are not 100% confident – courage grows as you step out of your

zone.
6. Stay in the

.

Isaiah 43:19 AMPC
Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.