Asset Or Liability: Five Day Devotional

Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:

• Watch the replay of "Asset or Liability" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: I First Must Manage Myself

Based on the Message: "Asset or Liability" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." - Galatians 5:22-23

Devotional: The foundation of effective leadership and lasting success begins with self-management. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. Self-control is more than avoiding sin; its about developing discipline in every aspect of life.

Take a moment to consider your daily routine. Do you start the day with clear goals, only to find yourself spending more time scrolling through social media than pursuing what God has called you to do? Self-management is the ability to control your emotions, develop your skills, guard your words, and align your actions with your values. It is the discipline of saying no to distractions so you can say yes to your divine assignment.

God has placed each of us in a specific garden; your workplace, your family, your community. But you cannot effectively tend and cultivate that garden if you have not first learned to manage the most important asset you possess; yourself. Your character, your habits, and the way you respond to pressure all determine how far God can trust you to go.

The encouraging truth is that self-management is not about perfection, it's about progression. Start small. Master your morning routine. Keep the commitments you make to yourself. Practice discipline in private so you can demonstrate reliability in public.

Most importantly, ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Remember, when you are faithful over a few things, God can entrust you with many.

Quote: "If I want to manage more, I first must manage myself. For many of us, our root issue is self-management." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What specific area of self-management do you need to develop in order to become the asset God is calling you to be?

Prayer: Father, I acknowledge that before I can manage anything else, I must first manage myself. Help me to develop the discipline to govern my thoughts, actions, and time according to Your will. Show me the areas where I lack self-control and give me the strength to make necessary changes. I want to be found faithful in the small things so You can trust me with greater responsibility. Holy Spirit, help me align my daily choices with my eternal calling. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 2: God Gives According to Ability

Based on the Message: "Asset or Liability" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability" - Matthew 25:15

Devotional: God’s distribution of gifts and opportunities is never random; it is relational and intentional. In Jesus’ parable, the master entrusted talents to each servant according to their ability. This reveals something powerful: God knows you personally. He understands your capacity, your potential, and your readiness for responsibility. He doesn’t guess at what you can handle, He knows exactly what you’re capable of because He created you.

Yet many of us fall into the trap of comparison. We wonder why someone else received five talents while we received only one. Here’s the deeper truth: taking one talent and multiplying it to ten can be even more remarkable than taking five and making ten. When you’ve had to fight harder, stretch further, and overcome with less, you develop qualities that cannot be taught any other way: resilience, creativity, perseverance, and a deep appreciation for every opportunity.

God does not give you what He thinks will break you; He gives you what He knows will build you. The difficult assignment, the challenging season, the limited resources, they are not signs of neglect but evidence of careful preparation. God is not shortchanging you; He is shaping you. Each new level requires a different version of you, and He is developing the character that will sustain the calling on your life.

So don’t despise your “one talent” season. God entrusted it to you because He knows what you can do with it. See it for what it truly is, your training ground. The lessons you learn when you have little will prepare you to steward much. God is preparing you for greater things, but the path always begins with faithfulness in what you hold today.

Quote: "God wouldn't put it on your plate if you couldn't eat it." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How does this truth change your perspective about the"talents" God has placed in your life, according to your ability?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for comparing my portion to others. Help me see that You give according to ability, and You know exactly what I can handle. Thank You for every challenging circumstance that's building my capacity for greater responsibility. I trust Your wisdom in what You've placed in my hands, and I commit to being faithful with it. Develop my ability so that I can steward even more for Your kingdom. Transform my mindset from complaint to gratitude, knowing You're preparing me for my next level. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 3: Am I an Asset or a Liability?

Based on the Message: "Asset or Liability" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank." - Proverbs 22:29

Devotional: Every believer faces a fundamental choice daily: Will I be an asset or a liability in every space I occupy? This isn't just about workplace performance; it's about the very essence of Christian living and Kingdom impact. When the Holy Spirit transforms your life, He produces fruit that automatically increases your value in any environment. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control aren't just spiritual qualities, they're practical assets that make you a better spouse, parent, employee, and community member. These fruits distinguish you in ways that open doors and create opportunities.

Assets are low-maintenance and high-output. They don't need constant motivation or reminders because they understand their assignment and own the outcome. They're proactive rather than passive, seeking solutions rather than just identifying problems. They grow in responsibility because they've proven trustworthy with what they've been given. Liabilities, on the other hand, consume more than they contribute. They require constant attention, retreat from responsibility, and manage only the minimum required. They're always waiting to be told what to do next instead of taking initiative. The question isn't whether challenges will come, it's whether you'll respond as an asset or a liability when they do.

The good news is that becoming an asset is a choice you can make every day. As you allow the Holy Spirit to shape your character and guide your actions, your life begins to add value wherever you go. Instead of draining the environments you enter, you strengthen them. When you consistently show up with faithfulness, integrity, and initiative, you reflect the character of Christ and become someone God can trust to influence more.

Choose today to be an asset in every place God has positioned you. Your faithfulness doesn’t just impact your life; it advances the Kingdom.

Quote: "When you're faithful over a few things it's natural that more things come to you"" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In which areas of your life are you currently operating as a liability, and what specific steps will you take to become an asset?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I want to be an asset wherever You place me. Help me develop the fruit of the Spirit that increases my value in every relationship and responsibility. Show me where I've been a liability, consuming more than I contribute, requiring constant attention, or managing only the minimum. Transform my character so that I naturally add value, seek solutions, and take ownership of outcomes. Make me the type of person that others want on their team because they see Christ in me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 4: No Reward Without Risk

Based on the Message: "Asset or Liability" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6

Devotional: Faith and risk are inseparable companions in the Kingdom of God. The two faithful servants in Jesus’ parable understood something the third servant failed to grasp: playing it safe can actually be the greatest risk of all. Instead of burying what they had been given, they stepped into the marketplace, uncertain of every outcome but confident that their master expected a return on his investment.

Many believers convince themselves that avoiding risk is wisdom, but passivity carries its own dangers. Money left idle loses value over time. Gifts that go unused eventually weaken. A calling that remains un-pursued leaves a God-sized gap in the world. The greatest risk is not failing while trying; it is never stepping forward at all.

Yet, faith-filled risk is not reckless. Wisdom calls us to evaluate, plan, seek counsel, and move strategically. Most importantly, we walk in close relationship with the Holy Spirit. He provides guidance, direction, and the wisdom we need when we ask. Risk becomes far less intimidating when you remember that your Shepherd is invested in your growth and success.

God would never place something in His children's hands for the purpose of watching us fail. He entrusts us with opportunities because He sees the potential within us. Yes, challenges will come, but we serve the God who conquers death and raises the dead. If resurrection power is at work in your life, no obstacle or uncertainty can ultimately stop what God intends to accomplish through you.

So don’t bury what God has placed in your hands. Step forward in faith, steward it with wisdom, and rest assured that the One who entrusted you will also empower you to multiply it.

Quote: "Everything has risk, even passivity and inactivity. The first two servants mitigated risk and realized a reward, doubling their investment. The third servant buried his talent suffered the greatest consequence of all: rebuke and punishment from his master."- Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What God-given opportunity have you been avoiding due to fear, and how might your inaction be the greatest risk of all?

Prayer: Father, forgive me for allowing fear to masquerade as wisdom. Help me understand that faith requires risk, and that You are the rewarder of those who diligently seek You. Give me the courage to step into the opportunities You've placed before me, trusting that You wouldn't give me something You didn't want me to succeed with. Holy Spirit, guide my decisions and help me mitigate risk through wisdom and strategy. I refuse to bury what You've given me out of fear. I choose faith over fear, action over inaction, because I trust You completely. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 5: Well Done Good and Faithful

Based on the Message: "Asset or Liability" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"His lord said unto him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of our lord"." - Matthew 25:21

Devotional: These may be the most important words any believer can aspire to hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant." They represent the ultimate validation of a life lived with purpose, stewardship, and Kingdom impact. But notice what earned this commendation; not perfection, but faithfulness with what was entrusted.

The master's assessment reveals two critical qualities: good and faithful. "Good" means having desirable qualities, demonstrating obedience and adding value like an asset. "Faithful" means being responsible, worthy of trust, and able to be held accountable. These servants didn't just manage resources; they multiplied them. They didn't just maintain what they received; they transformed it into something greater.

The reality is sobering: one day, each of us will give an account of our stewardship. The question isn't whether you'll face this settling of accounts, but whether you'll be found faithful when it happens. Your salvation is secure through Christ, but your rewards and responsibilities in eternity will be determined by your faithfulness in this life.

This isn't about earning God's love. That's already yours through Jesus. This is about maximizing your impact for the Kingdom while you have the opportunity. Every day is a chance to hear "well done" rather than "wicked and lazy". Every decision is an opportunity to prove yourself an asset rather than a liability. The joy of the Lord isn't just a feeling, it's a state of being that comes from faithful stewardship of His gifts.

Quote: "One day God will settle your account. Will you be considered an asset or a liability?"- Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: If Jesus were to settle your account today, what evidence would He find of faithful stewardship in your life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant" when I stand before You. Help me live each day with eternity in mind, faithfully stewarding every gift, opportunity, and responsibility You've given me. I don't want to waste the talents You've entrusted to me or make excuses for poor stewardship. Transform my character so that I consistently demonstrate the qualities of a good and faithful servant. Let my life be marked by multiplication, not just maintenance. I long to enter into Your joy, not just as a feeling but as the reward for faithful service. Make me an asset to Your Kingdom until that day. In Jesus' name, Amen.