Tom Plonski August 11, 2003
        
                                SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT
               WEALTH - CREATING WEALTH - CREATING VALUE
                          VALUE - RESPONSIBILITY - TALENT
                                     11TH COMMANDMENT
           
        
        
       WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY A PERSON IS WEALTHY?

             When we say a person is wealthy we usually mean he
         has much money.  When we say a person is wealthy we
         usually mean he has much more money then he needs for
         food, shelter, clothing, medicine, education, and
         entertainment.
        
                    HOW CAN A PERSON BECOME WEALTHY?
 
                            Stealing?
                            Cheating?
                            Extortion?
                            Graft?
        
         All these ways take something of value away from one
         person and give it to another. One person becomes
         wealthier by making another person poorer.
        
                   ARE THERE WAYS TO BECOME WEALTHY
                     WITHOUT MAKING OTHERS POORER?

          Get a job?
          Perform a service.?
          Selling things?

          Create things of value!
          Example Thomas Edison
          Example Henry Ford
          Example Bill Gates
        

                             WHAT IS VALUE?
 
             When we hear the word "value" we usually think of
         a connection with money.  But there are other values
         besides money value.

                             ________________
                             

          SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
              What are some other values besides money value?
                       What are Christian values?
                    How about the value of a person?
             Can we make ourselves more valuable as a person?
           How can we make ourselves more valuable as a person?
           Can we make ourselves more valuable as an employee?
          How can we make ourselves more valuable as an employee?
                         Can we create value?
                       How can we create value?
                    Can we earn money by investing?
                     Can we invest in ourselves?
            Can we invest in ourselves without using money?
            Can we invest time and effort instead of money?

                             ________________

        
            In the parable of the talents the stewards were
         ordered to create wealth for their master.Study the
         parable of the talents.
        
            Jesus is telling us that servants must use their
         talents to create wealth.
        
            In the parable of the talents, the master calls
         one steward a worthless servant.  Worthless means "of
         little value."  Jesus was teaching of values and
         responsibilities.
        
            These stewards were given responsibilities. Some
         stewards accepted their responsibilities and served
         the master well. These stewards were of value to the
         master. One servant did not accept his responsibility.
         The master called him a worthless servant and took his
         talent away from him. He also took away the
         responsibility for that talent. But the master held
         the worthless servant responsible for his own
         worthlessness.
        
           The master took the talent away and gave this talent
         with its responsibility to the steward who had accepted
         the most responsibility and served his master well.
         This good steward was given even more talent and more
         responsibility. This good steward knew how to make
         himself valuable to his master. This good steward knew
         how to create value.
        
        
                                 FINAL THOUGHTS


        WHAT IS MONEY?
         In a way, money is bottled labor: money is bottled effort.
        
        Obey the 11th commandment.
        
        Always be asking yourself,
        "What should I be doing now?"
        
        If you can't earn big money then earn little money.
        
        If you can't make your own happiness better,
         then make your neighbor's happiness better.
        
        If you can't make your own life better,
         then make your neighbor's life better.
        
        If you can't create wealth for yourself,
        then create wealth for your neighbor.
        
        Obey the 11th commandment.
        
        Always be asking yourself,
        "What should I be doing now?"
        
        In the parable of the talents the stewards were
        ordered to create wealth for their master.
        Study the parable of the talents.
        
        Obey the 11th commandment.