“Taking Stock”
Psalm 90:12
Many businesses are taking inventory around this time of year. Some will do it shortly after the New Year, and still others will choose to do it at a later time. We are getting year end reports now on where the Dow Jones and NASDAQ are for the year. The fiscal year for many business and organizations will close on December 31st, and begin anew on January 1st.
I think it would be good for us today to an inventory of what our lives have been for the past year. Along with doing an inventory, plans must me made for the new year.
Today I would like for us to take inventory of our lives, past, present and future. While we cannot change the events of the past, nor predict the events of the future, we can in the present look over the past and plan for the future.
Moses was Taking Stock – Ps. 90:1-10 Contrast the Almighty with the Mortal Man
I. We Need to “Take Stock” of Where We Have Been
A. Where Have We Been In our Stewardship?
1. My Time – Ps. 31:15; Ecc. 3:1-8; Eph 5:16
2. My Talents- Abilities – Riches God Has Entrusted you with!
3. My Treasure – The Financial Blessings of God
You may not have much money because God can’t trust you with it!
B. Where Have We Been In Our Discipleship?
1. Does the Lord Jesus consider me a Good and Faithful Servant?
2. Have I been AN ACTS 1:8 Christian?
3. Am I Growing In Grace or Stagnating in Sin?
EXAMPLE: The Corinthians
C. Where Have We Been in Our Fellowships?
A. Is the World Changing Me or am I Changing the World?
*Story of the boy and the starfish –
A man was walking on a beach where hundreds of starfish had come ashore. As he walked he noticed a boy of about 12 or 13 picking up starfish and throwing them into the ocean.
“Son, what are you doing?” he asked.
“Saving these starfish!” came back the reply.
“There are hundreds of starfish on this beach – you can’t save them all, so what difference will it make?”
The boy picked up a starfish, threw him back into the ocean, and then said to the man, “It made a difference to this one!”
B. Does the fellowship of others mean more to me than fellowship with Christ? (Bible Study, Prayer, etc.)
II. We Need to “Take Stock” of Where We Are
A. Individually - Personal Responsibility To God – What Am I Doing personally for God in my life now?
1. Don’t Wait on Someone Else to Do It or it probably Won’t Get Done!
B. Collectively – Are We Fulfilling the Great Commission?
1. If you don’t give to Faith Promise Missions, why not start this year?
2. If you don’t know how to win someone to Christ, why not learn how this year?
3. If you gone out in the highways and hedges and compelled them to come in?
What will I tell them – John 4:29
III. We Need to “Take Stock” of Where We Are Going
A. Where Would I like to be Spiritually This Time Next Year?
B. Where Would I like for Our Church to Be This Time Next Year?
C. What am I going to do to get there as an individual Christian and a church member?
It is not just enough to “take stock” though, we must go beyond that!
I. What Have You Learned from Your Mistakes of the Past?
II. What Am I Doing Now To Avoid Them in the Future?
III. Where Do I Hope to Be This Time Next Year, and How Am I Going To Get There?
