Invest Your Life

In The Parable of Talents (Matthew 25: 14-26)

Jesus told his followers the story of a man with three servants. He entrusted each of them with a portion of his fortune while he went on a journey. When the man returned, he found that two of his servants had invested the portion they’d been given and were able to show him that they’d made a great return – each of them had doubled the treasure he’d given them.

‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

But the third servant was scared and didn’t invest what he’d been given. Instead, he had hidden it and had only the one portion to return to the man when he returned.

‘You wicked, lazy servant!’

When you read this story, you might feel a stab of conviction. You’ve probably figured out that Jesus isn’t trying to teach us about money here, rather, He’s offering a lesson on investing our lives.

You have been entrusted with a precious treasure: salvation and a close personal friendship with God, of course. But You have also been given a treasure unique to you: a special combination of spiritual gifts, your heart – the things that you care deeply about and love to do, your talents. Your story. This is the treasure of your life.

What have you been doing with your treasure? The reason He’s given you all of that is because He believes in you and trusts you to invest what you’ve been given and multiply it. The potential value of your life is off the charts. So, how do you multiply the treasure you’ve been given? Invest in people. Take everything you’ve been given and use it to make disciples.

A Sound Investment

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

 

Insure your interior treasures. Spend at least an hour this week uninterrupted developing a talent God has given you or exercising a spiritual gift.

What are you doing to make sure that you keep your heart and soul healthy?

Keep your spiritual gifts from gathering dust by living in the Holy Spirit daily. Make your talents, your gifts, your relationship with Christ the true treasure of your life and you’ll find that life really is more abundant.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

This verse reminds us that everything we have comes from our Father, who loves to give His children good gifts. As I consider His gifts, I’m reminded that many of them are temporal, only to be used for a season.

Ultimately, everything belongs to God. This is where we get the biblical concept of stewardship; a steward is not an owner. Stewards are required to take care of something until the master returns to take possession. We can love the gifts we’ve been given, but the Bible warns us to never love them more than the Master.

Recall the parable of the wicked tenants (Luke 20: 9-18) who were placed in charge of a vineyard. When the master wanted to harvest the produce, the tenants refused and went so far as to kill his son. There was nothing wrong with enjoying the vineyard, but they sinned when they loved it so much that they tried to steal it for themselves.

Time is a great example of this. It is a gift – one we’ve been entrusted to use wisely – but not one that we own. This humbles me as I also reflect on other gifts in my life. I often forget that all these wonderful earthly treasures we enjoy belongs to God.

Let’s be faithful with what we’ve been entrusted, whether it’s time with friends, ministry positions, communities, career, or family. Love these gifts, just not more than the Giver.

Eternal Investments

Plan and purpose are concepts that flow beautifully through the entire Bible. There is nothing random or spontaneous about our God and his works. He is purposeful in all things.

God’s kingdom is increased by men and women who tap into the purpose that God has for them. They understand that their story is part of a much bigger story, His story, and this great insight becomes their guiding light.

Perhaps one of the greatest verse in the Bible on the subject of God’s will is this one: 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Consider what that one verse means for your life:

God has a plan perfectly formulated with your name on it.

It’s a good plan. He didn’t create you to be miserable, but to be fruitful.

God has reserved for you a future filled with hope.

Further, we can venture certain conclusions from this plan:

God’s plan was written long before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5)

God’s plan for you is bound up with his plans for others. (Romans 8:28)

God’s plan is built upon your gifts and talents. (Ephesians 2:10)

God’s eternal purpose brings together your plan with those of others. (Proverbs 16:9)

God will guide you as you attempt to follow his will. (Proverbs 16:3)

Today’s Prayer:

Biblical Principles in Network Marketing

As a Pastor, Bill Nissen was against Network Marketing for years.  In 2003, a friend helped 
him see a new perspective.  He still dislikes the ethics of many who do it, but he sees a 
biblical perspective that allows him to not only support network marketing, but embrace it as
a way to serve people.  Watch This Video. It is longer than most (20 minutes) but carries essential information.