I feel like the parable of the talents (read below) has been biting me on the arse...um...behind... for the last couple of weeks....so I thought I'd share the pain! :)
I'm just going to ask outright - are you using your god-given talents, ability, resources to the max?? are you doing everything possible to make sure that you double the amount God has invested in you?
I was having a conversation with myself yesterday- yes i do have those every once in a while...it's good for my sanity - and I came to the conclusion that's it's actually righteous to use our talents to the max- to invest our resources, as the Message bible says...God commands it! Isn't that absolutely cool? And get this, it's okay to make a couple of mistakes, it's okay if you mess up in trying to invest that resource, but it's totally not okay to bury it, sit on the sidelines and wait for kingdom come.
So ladies and gentlemen...I believe I've just laid down a challenge - are you up for taking it on?
Love,
Ria
The Story About Investment
Matthew 25:14-30 (The Message)
14-18"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.
19-21"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'
22-23"The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'
24-25"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'
26-27"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.
28-30"'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'
