Long Scripture reading.
Take your time. Notice the details.
Ask God to speak to directly through the scripture:
Matthew 25:14-30
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who
called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another
two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he
went on his journey. The man who had
received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained
five bags more. So also, the one with
two bags of gold gained two more. But
the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his
master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned
and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold
brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of
gold. See, I have gained five more.’
“His master replied, ‘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!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he
said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
“His master replied, ‘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!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came.
‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have
not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your
gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you
knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered
seed? Well then, you should have put my
money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have
received it back with interest.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one
who has ten bags. For whoever has will
be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even
what they have will be taken from them.
And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
I can not read this story, taking
it seriously, and come out on the other side thinking that my actions regarding
what I have been given are unimportant to God – the specific ways that I spend
my time, the specific ways I spend my money, the ways that I use my
talents. None of those things - my time, my money, or my talents – are
really mine. They will all recalled some
day by their owner (my owner) and an accounting will take place. I’d like to think this won’t happen, but this
Jesus tells me this story to assure me that it will. My faithfulness IS EXPECTED! I can try and fail, but not trying is not a
faithful option.
So I recommit myself to faithfulness. I hope you will too.
Prayer: Lord, we commit actions today to your
purposes. Use them beyond our time,
talent, and treasure. To you be the glory forever. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray a
prayer of gratitude for all the resources, relationships, gifts, and other
blessings that you have in your possession at the moment.
Song: All I Am – Phil
Wickham
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXBr5W27pao
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