Invest What's Given

Last week, in our Wednesday morning Men’s Bible Study, we walked through the Parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:11-27). As with the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, the challenge is: invest what you’ve been given.

We’ve all been given time, skills, knowledge, resources, and influence to utilize for the glory of God. Perhaps in insecurity, we may feel we’ve only been given a little, or, perhaps in pride, we may be convinced we’ve been given a lot, but the point is that it’s all a gift. As the Apostle Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (ESV). Every “mina,” every “talent” we possess is a gift from God. It didn’t originate in us nor is its grand purpose for us. We are simply temporary stewards of that which belongs to the Giver. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (Jas 1:17). This should offer confidence to the insecure and humility to the proud; but…then both should invest.

Out of necessity, a mobile church plant asks a lot of its members. I am continually amazed as I see your week-in and week-out faithful investment of gifts in the context of our church–participating in and leading Life Groups and Bible Studies, running slides and sound and singing and playing to facilitate worship, sitting with hurting people, listening and praying, and serving Severance to make Jesus non-ignorable. And, I know that your “minas/talents” extend far beyond the confines of our local church! Thank you for using what you’ve been given for the glory of God.

As we transition to Severance High School on May 4th and then into our own building later this year, how we use our gifts may look different for some of us. Roles may change because our needs as a church will change. No more setting up chairs, and, eventually, no more pulling the trailer; yet, new challenges and opportunities will arise through these changes.

My ask today is: (1) assess the “minas/talents” you’ve been given, (2) assess how you are investing them now, and (3) consider how God might be asking you to invest them as we move first to the high school and then to our building.

Do you need to continue serving right where you are? Or, do you need to shift to a new role? Do you need to do less, so that your investment is healthy and sustainable? Or, is the Lord calling you to do more? Do you need to serve for the first time? Do you need to focus more on our internal ministries–like Kids and Youth? Or, do you need to shift your effort to reaching those outside the church who don’t yet know Jesus?

Regardless of your situation, it would be my joy to sit with any of you and help you assess where you are and where you need to be with regard to your investment of God’s gifts.