1. For a long time I have had a vision of being able to end hunger and poverty one person or one family at a time in a Biblical manner.

2. Deuteronomy 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in the land.

3. It always has been and always will be the responsibility of the Church and the Body of Christ to take care of as many widows, orphans, hungry and needy people as possible.

4. However, in today’s economy, many Christians are needy & poor themselves.

5. A large percent of Christians only have enough funds to give small offerings now and then.

6. And only a small percent of Christians have the income to live a comfortable lifestyle and give generous offerings.

7. All of our skills, knowledge and possessions are God-given and we are stewards of what God has given us.

8. Matthew 25:14 – 18 (the parable of the talents) 14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

9. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

10. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

11. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

12. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

13. Hiding our money or spending everything we have on ourselves does nothing to increase the amount of our tithes and offerings.

14. This parable teaches us that we are to take what we have and increase our prosperity through some form of business transaction.

15. True prosperity & financial security cannot be achieved by working for someone else. This is self-evident by the number of employees who live from paycheck to paycheck forever.

16. Okay. I get the message. However, I have less than $100 to invest in a business and I can’t risk quitting my present job.

17. And I don’t want to neglect my family by working a lot of long hard hours.

18. So what do I do?