I was watching a popular investor today talk about how the stock market is literally a guaranteed good investment if you are prepared to stay in it long enough to reap the benefit. I was thinking “you gotta be kidding me?”. How could someone say that after the crash we experienced in 2008. We all know that many investors lost everything and that there are many investments that have not and will not ever recover. Now, let’s do a little compare and contrast exercise. Every dollar I’ve ever invested in ministry has reaped excellent benefits for me and my family. I continue to wake up each morning, my children are safe and healthy, my household is peaceful and pleasant and I have my health and strength. Wow, I think I probably should stick with my investment in God and the investment He made in me by giving His only Son for me. Not only was He a great investment for me, I believe I receive unending and unmeasurable dividends moment by moment. Do you have any stock market investments that you can say that about? I didn’t think so. I choose Stewardship and Him each day.
Are you a “cheerful” giver?
Many of us choose to give charitably to those things that matter to us. We have faithfully given to causes and to our churches where we are being spiritually fed. My question today is regarding what is really in our hearts as we give to our church or ministry. Are we really in a spirit of thanksgiving and worship as we render our gifts or are we simply acting out of routine? Are we giving looking for Him to bless us in return? Are we giving because we are afraid not to? Will He continue to bless me if I don’t give? I believe that we slip into each of these selfish attitudes at some point during our Christian walk.
Giving cheerfully starts with a clear understanding of where our gifts come from and who gave us the gift. If we can accept and embrace that NOTHING BELONGS TO US, it becomes very easy to give cheerfully. Why? Because its not ours anyway so why hold on so tightly to something that isn’t ours in the first place. We are simply caretakers, or should I say “stewards” of what He chooses to bless us with. And as the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 teaches us, not only are we caretakers but we are expected to invest and grow what we have been given so that we return more to the Master than we were initially given. This requires us to get to work!
So, when you give your next gift, remember where it came from and that your first step in investing and growing your gifts for the Master is to cheerfully put a portion of it back into His hands. You shouldn’t care what happens to it after you give it since you are simply expected to give it cheerfully. I can’t think of a more lucrative investment opportunity on earth!
What will you render in 2014?
How wonderful to receive the blessing of living to see a new year? There are many who started this journey but were not destined to see this day. This is the Lord’s day and I will rejoice, sing and shout His praises and be glad in it. This new presents of course new challenges since those demons we faced in 2013 are still present although they may be covered in the blood and dormant. But I praise God that the oporunities given to us as we enter this new year are boundless. The word tells us that a reward is waiting for us if we choose to spend our time here on earth as a good steward. Giving our 10% is just the beginning, how will we invest the remaining 90% so that He is constantly glorified and lifted in everything that we do. A wonderful new beginning! Another chance to show Him how grateful we are that He has allowed us another opportunity to earn the acclaim “Well done, thy good and faithful servant. Well done!”.