LIFE IS ENTRUSTED TO YOU BY GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 03, 2024.

SUBJECT : LIFE IS ENTRUSTED TO YOU BY GOD!

Memory verse: "The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein." (Psalm 24 vs 1.) 

READ: Matthew 25 vs 14 - 19:

25:14: For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered his goods to them.

25:15: And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

25:16: Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

25:17: And likewise he who had received two, gained two more also.

25:18: But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.

25:19: After a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled account with them.

INTIMATION:

Life is a trust, and the second Biblical metaphor of life. Our time on earth and our energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships, and resources are what God entrusted to our care and management. We are stewards of whatever God gives us. This concept of stewardship begins with the recognition that God is the Owner of everything and everyone on earth. We never really own anything during our brief stay on earth. It is for this reason we come into the world bringing nothing with us at birth, and takes nothing away with us at death. God loans the earth to us while we're here. God only gives us right of use when we come in. And He will give the same right to another when you depart at death. 

In the beginning, God created the world—the heavens and the earth—and all therein. He created man last, and empowered man to have dominion over all other creations of His. When God created Adam and Eve, He entrusted the care of His creation to them and appointed them trustees of His property. Then God blessed them, and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis 1 vs 28.) 

The first assignment God handed over to humans was to manage and take care of His property while here on earth. This role has never been rescinded. This stewardship Is the major part of our purpose on earth. Everything in our care, every gifts, are all from God, and should be treated as a trust that God has placed in our hands. Him only gives us all we have (John 3 vs 27; James 1 vs 17). The Bible, in First Corinthians 4 vs 7 says, "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” 

Unfortunately, the common culture amongst us is to be careless of what you don't own. But that is not God's idea. Christians should live by a higher standard of "Because God owns it, I must take the best care of it in line with my ability." The apostle Paul stated this in First Corinthians 4 vs 2, "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." The faithful servant does the master's bidding, he does what the master tells him to do. We must do what God (our Master) tells us to do in the Bible, and through the Holy Spirit. Each day God presents us with needs and opportunities that challenges us to do what we know is right.

Jesus often referred to life as a trust and told many stories to illustrate this responsibility toward God. In the passage we read today about the story of the loaned money (the talents), a businessman entrusted his wealth to the care of his servants while he was away. When he returned, he evaluated each servant's responsibility and rewards them accordingly. Those who did well, in line with his expectations, he says, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy your Lord." (Matthew 25 vs 21.)

At the end of our lives on earth we will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well we handled what God entrusted to us. That means everything we do, even simple daily chores, has eternal implications. If you treat everything as a trust, God promises three rewards in eternity. First, you will be given God's affirmation: He will say, "Good job! Well done!" Next, you will receive a promotion and be given greater responsibility in eternity: "I will make you ruler over many things." Then you will be honored with a celebration: "Enter into the joy your Lord." 

The greatest test and trust God put before us is money, hence one quarter of the teachings of Christ during His earth walk centered on money. Most people fail to realize that money is both a test and a trust from God, and the greatest. God uses money to teach us to trust Him. God watches how we use money, and tests us on how trustworthy we are. The Bible says, "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" God says there is a direct relationship between how you use your money and the quality of your spiritual life. How you manage your money ("worldly wealth") determines how much God can trust you with spiritual blessings ("true riches"). 

God blesses you so as to be a blessing to others (Genesis 12 vs 2). This is a very important truth. How then do you manage the blessings God entrusted in your care? Are you serving Him with them? Are you blessing others with your talent, money, possessions, etc., or are you greedy and selfish with them? Jesus noted in Luke 16 vs 13, that no servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon. It is only in serving God with your possessions by being a blessing that you have truly managed what He entrusted to you properly. 

How do you treasure your possessions? Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12 vs 34). The key to using money wisely is to see how much we can use for God's purposes, not how much we can accumulate for ourselves. Does your money free you to help others? Does God's love touch your wallet? If so, you are storing up lasting  treasures in heaven. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my Loving Father. Give me the grace to love as You love, and manage all You entrusted to me with utmost diligence in service, building lasting treasures in heaven to the glory of Your name, and to my earning eternal rewards from You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!