(Matthew 25:14-30)
The other day I talked with Sara, the big-hearted little lady who runs the nursery program at our church. I just told her that I appreciated her. Honestly, if there is something that I wouldn’t particularly want to do, it’s herd babies and wrestle toddlers for the biggest part of a sunny Sunday.
“People work hard all week,” she says. “This way they can go and get filled up for the next week without having to worry about their little ones.”
How often I’ve seen a courageous young mama trying to corral a twisting, whiny baby while the pastor teaches and preaches. And the little one? I can imagine he develops a real desire to go to church, when he knows he’s going to have to sit still and not move for 45-minutes. Either that or wrestle with his mom and get nasty stares from people sitting nearby.
“When do we get to go to church, mommy?” Yeah, in your dreams. It’s better to go through that than miss, but it’s not easy for a while.
So I cheer, “Bravo, nursery crew. And children’s church. And evangelism team. And the cleaning crew.
“Bravo, hospital and prison visitors (Mat. 25:36), those who give to hungry people, those who work in the kitchen, those who open their home for home groups, those who …” well, you get the idea.
We all get to say, “amen” here because we appreciate these servants in the Church.
God Expects More From Us
But, God expects more than, “amens” from us. He’s made a heavy investment in each one of us. He expects a return on His investment. Listen to this story that Jesus told (in Matthew 25).
A rich man trusted three of his men with money to invest and make grow. He had to make a long trip and no one knew exactly when he would return—maybe the next day, maybe in a few years.
The employer had evaluated their abilities and gave each of them a sum that he felt the man was capable of putting to work. It wasn’t a case of administrating his money, or protecting it. He wanted a return.
These guys are investors, capitalists to the tips of their fingernails.
So, one had five talents, another two, and another one, each according the Boss’s evaluation of their abilities. (Someone said that a talent was roughly a year’s salary for a worker).Then he leaves. So far, so good.
Mister Five Talents sets to work immediately. Mister Two Talents also goes at it right off. Mister One Talent? He’s afraid of losing the investment, so he buries the money in the backyard, or somewhere safe.
How To Invest
Several things spring to our attention here, at least for those who really want to give God a return on His investment (and look towards the end of the story. There is something in it for us, if we do this job well).
There are no zero-talent people. God has gifted everyone with something, not always five-talents, but something.
Those who multiply their talents set to work immediately (25:16). The Church crawls with people who are going to do something for God, “soon,” “one day,” etc. They’re “seeking God’s will.” They mumure ‘humbly,’ “I don’t feel like I have any talent.”
Investment opportunities abound. They are everywhere. “Well, I’m not sure I’m called to that,” says the young Christian (and the old, lazy Christian) while visions of mission fields dance in their head.
Let me give you a hint. DO SOMETHING! The Master will come back, or you will go to stand before Him. He expects a return on those gifts He’s put into you. Are you investing?
Dreams of doing GREAT THINGS often block us from doing the job that’s in front of us that needs to be done. We’ll let someone else tend the kids, sweep the floor, go witness on the streets, etc., all these important, but “small” things.
We’re saving ourselves for a world-changing mission, but it’s going to be a while, you see. “God has shown me it’s not for right now.”
If you’re not doing something for the Lord now, you’d be a waste if you were on the mission field or pastoring a church, or doing whatever “great thing” it is that God is going to call you to do.
One morning I was reading about young David and how he tended that flock of flea-bitten sheep out in the desert. Even his brother made fun of these four-legged grass burners.
But, for David those “baaaa-ers” were the world. He risked his life to save them more than once. When he was called away for “important things” like serving the king and later killing a giant, the Bible notes that he left them in the care of an intendant.
And I said to myself, “That’s nuts. Why did he worry so much about a little flock of sheep in the middle of nowhere?
Because that was the first job he had and that’s how David rolled. Whatever he did, he did it to the best of his ability.
Later, when he got the call for the “big time” he was ready. He shepherded a nation just like he shepherded that little band of dusty sheep. And you know what? You will, too. Better Use Those Gifts Or You Will Lose Them (and More)
(Matthew 25:14-30)
The other day I talked with Sara, the big-hearted little lady who runs the nursery program at our church. I just told her that I appreciated her. Honestly, if there is something that I wouldn’t particularly want to do, it’s herd babies and wrestle toddlers for the biggest part of a sunny Sunday.
“People work hard all week,” she says. “This way they can go and get filled up for the next week without having to worry about their little ones.”
How often I’ve seen a courageous young mama trying to corral a twisting, whiny baby while the pastor teaches and preaches. And the little one? I can imagine he develops a real desire to go to church, when he knows he’s going to have to sit still and not move for 45-minutes. Either that or wrestle with his mom and get nasty stares from people sitting nearby.
“When do we get to go to church, mommy?” Yeah, in your dreams. It’s better to go through that than miss, but it’s not easy for a while.
So I cheer, “Bravo, nursery crew. And children’s church. And evangelism team. And the cleaning crew.
“Bravo, hospital and prison visitors (Mat. 25:36), those who give to hungry people, those who work in the kitchen, those who open their home for home groups, those who …” well, you get the idea.
We all get to say, “amen” here because we appreciate these servants in the Church.
God Expects More From Us
But, God expects more than, “amens” from us. He’s made a heavy investment in each one of us. He expects a return on His investment. Listen to this story that Jesus told (in Matthew 25).
A rich man trusted three of his men with money to invest and make grow. He had to make a long trip and no one knew exactly when he would return—maybe the next day, maybe in a few years.
The employer had evaluated their abilities and gave each of them a sum that he felt the man was capable of putting to work. It wasn’t a case of administrating his money, or protecting it. He wanted a return.
These guys are investors, capitalists to the tips of their fingernails.
So, one had five talents, another two, and another one, each according the Boss’s evaluation of their abilities. (Someone said that a talent was roughly a year’s salary for a worker).Then he leaves. So far, so good.
Mister Five Talents sets to work immediately. Mister Two Talents also goes at it right off. Mister One Talent? He’s afraid of losing the investment, so he buries the money in the backyard, or somewhere safe.
Several things spring to our attention here, at least for those who really want to give God a return on His investment (and look towards the end of the story. There is something in it for us, if we do this job well).
There are no zero-talent people. God has gifted everyone with something, not always five-talents, but something.
Those who multiply their talents set to work immediately (25:16). The Church crawls with people who are going to do something for God, “soon,” “one day,” etc. They’re “seeking God’s will.” They mumure ‘humbly,’ “I don’t feel like I have any talent.”
Investment opportunities abound. They are everywhere. “Well, I’m not sure I’m called to that,” says the young Christian (and the old, lazy Christian) while visions of mission fields dance in their head.
Let me give you a hint. DO SOMETHING! The Master will come back, or you will go to stand before Him. He expects a return on those gifts He’s put into you. Are you investing?
Dreams of doing GREAT THINGS often block us from doing the job that’s in front of us that needs to be done. We’ll let someone else tend the kids, sweep the floor, go witness on the streets, etc., all these important, but “small” things.
We’re saving ourselves for a world-changing mission, but it’s going to be a while, you see. “God has shown me it’s not for right now.”
If you’re not doing something for the Lord now, you’d be a waste if you were on the mission field or pastoring a church, or doing whatever “great thing” it is that God is going to call you to do.
One morning I was reading about young David and how he tended that flock of flea-bitten sheep out in the desert. Even his brother made fun of these four-legged grass burners.
But, for David those “baaaa-ers” were the world. He risked his life to save them more than once. When he was called away for “important things” like serving the king and later killing a giant, the Bible notes that he left them in the care of an intendant.
And I said to myself, “That’s nuts. Why did he worry so much about a little flock of sheep in the middle of nowhere?
Because that was the first job he had and that’s how David rolled. Whatever he did, he did it to the best of his ability.
Later, when he got the call for the “big time” he was ready. He shepherded a nation just like he shepherded that little band of dusty sheep. And you know what? You will, too. You’ll do the big things like you did the little things.
If you’re doing nothing now, you probably won’t do much when your “chance” comes. And if you’re doing whatever you can, the best you can right now, you’ll probably do an excellent job when the big door opens.
___________________________________________
Think a bit—
“…maybe your desire to change the world is trumping your desire to serve.”
(Passed on by Amy Farley)
Smile—
THE PERFECT HUSBAND
Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cellular phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands-free speaker function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen.
MAN: “Hello”
WOMAN: “Hi Honey, it’s me. Are you at the club?”
MAN: “Yes.”
WOMAN: “I’m at the shops now and found this beautiful leather coat. It’s only $2,000; is it OK if I buy it?”
MAN: “Sure, go ahead if you like it that much.”
WOMAN:”I also stopped by the Lexus dealership and saw the new models. I saw one I really liked.”
MAN: “How much?”
WOMAN: “$90,000.”
MAN: “OK, but for that price I want it with all the options.”
WOMAN:”Great! Oh, and one more thing… I was just talking to Janie and found out that the house I wanted last year is back on the market. They’re asking $980,000 for it.”
MAN: “Well, then go ahead and make an offer of $900,000. They’ll probably take it. If not, we can go the extra eighty-thousand if it’s what you really want.”
WOMAN: “OK. I’ll see you later! I love you so much!”
MAN: “Bye! I love you, too.”
The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are staring at him in astonishment, mouths wide open.
He turns and asks, “Anyone know whose phone this is?”
(The Funny FARM)