-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / HEARTLIGHT(R) Magazine -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
January 11, 2009
/--- Sponsor a Child with Compassion -----------------------\
For less than a dollar a day, you can make a powerful
difference in the life of a needy child. Click on the
following link to learn more about sponsoring a child
through Compassion!
\--- http://ads.heartlight.org/email/92/ -------------------/
=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Entrusted, by Warren Baldwin
The economy has a lot of people upset, and for good reason. Major
corporations threatened with collapse, jobs continuing to be outsourced
(being sent overseas), the massive bailout of the mega-banks, the stock
market going down, and now the hint that the U.S. economy is possibly
being merged with the European Union.
What in the world is going on? People are worried about their jobs and
money. Some retired people I know are returning to work. The nest egg
they set aside not only isn't growing, it is losing ground fast. At
least some of the institutions we have entrusted with our money, our
retirement, are letting us down.
Being entrusted with someone else's hope and prosperity is a major
responsibility. It is also scary. I'm not just speaking here of the
financial institutions. No, that was just an illustration. I'm speaking
now about the great hope that God has entrusted within us.
Many years ago, the apostle Paul reminded Timothy of the sincere faith
that lives in him (2 Timothy 1:5). He then told Timothy:
[F]an into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the
laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6).
He then encourages Timothy to testify about our Lord, and to suffer for
the gospel. He also says:
[God] has saved us and called us to a holy life -- not because of
anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.
This grace was given us in Christ Jesus ... (2 Timothy 1:9).
Paul even further told Timothy:
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you -- guard it with
the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us (2 Timothy 1:14 TNIV).
We deposit money in a financial institution and we expect it to produce
more money. We trust the institution itself, the federal government,
the federal insurance programs, the Securities Exchange Commission, and
the Federal Reserve. We entrust them not only with our money, but with
our hope and faith.
Paul says the same thing about God's relationship with us. God entrusts
something to us that is far more valuable than the money we sock away
for retirement. God entrusts us with faith, with the gospel, and with
holiness. And he wants to see some interest earned on the deposit he
makes in our lives.
What in the world is going on?
I think that means God wants to see our faith seriously impact our
lives. Faith is not a seasonal activity, like football, nor a timed
activity, like a test. When the last horn sounds in football it is over
for a season; when the buzzer sounds in school we know the test is
over. But when the closing prayer is said at church, that doesn't mean
faith is over until the next service. It means it is time for faith to
start earning interest. Will that faith make a difference in how we
treat one another? In how we treat our families? In how we speak? In
how we earn our money? In the entertainment we choose? When the
football season is over, we put the pads in the closet for 8 months.
There is never a time for us to closet our faith.
In addition, I believe that guarding the deposit God has entrusted to
us means that we share the gospel. We are fortunate recipients of God's
grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. We bear interest with that gospel
by sharing it with others and even suffering for it. Our salvation is
not something to be selfishly hoarded, but is to be boldly proclaimed.
As Paul told Timothy, "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity,
but of power and love and discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7 NASB).
Finally, God has entrusted us with holiness. Holiness means we exhibit
the qualities of God himself. It means we walked as Jesus walked. To be
holy is to be like God. Are we earning interest on this deposit? Do our
lives exhibit moral purity, honesty, financial responsibility, kindness
and a sharing spirit? Are we moved by the needs of others to reach out
and help?
Ultimately, God does not want us to fritter away or mismanage what he
has entrusted to us, unlike some of the institutions that have
frittered away or mismanaged the money we entrusted to them. He wants
us to earn interest on it. Today, as you go about your work and life,
give some conscious thought of how you can be true to the faith, gospel
and holiness God has entrusted with you, with God's power for today.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A Parable of Jesus:
"Again, it [the Kingdom of Heaven] 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, 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. 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.
"'Take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten
bags. For those who have will be given more, and they will have an
abundance. As for those who do 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.'" (Matthew
25:14-30 TNIV).
---------
(c) 2009 Warren Baldwin.
RELATED LINKS:
* Valuable Possessions!
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200404/20040402_valuablepossessions.html
* Babysitters for God
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200605/20060526_babysitters.html
* Living Below Your Means
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200004/20000405_means.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200901/20090111_entrusted.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
TWO HEARTS PRAYING AS ONE, by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
"Praying together may be the single most important spiritual discipline
you and your spouse will ever share," say the Raineys--it reduces
conflicts and safeguards marriages from divorce.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?257
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
HEARTLIGHT DAILY EMAIL /\/\
===============================================================\ /===
http://www.heartlight.org/ \/
Visit HEARTLIGHT on the web for even more articles, plus music,
devotionals and more for your Christian walk!
ABOUT HEARTLIGHT:
Heartlight, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit organization.
Donations are welcome and tax-deductible! Find out how to help!
http://www.heartlight.org/support
EDITOR: Phil Ware, phil@heartlight.org
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
It's FREE! To subscribe send a blank email to:
join-heartlight@maillists.heartlight.org
HOW DO I LEAVE?
To unsubscribe send a blank email to:
heartlight-unsub@maillists.heartlight.org
STILL HAVING TROUBLE?
If our automated unsubscribe system isn't working for you,
send an email to mailmaster@heartlight.org and let us know
what list you would like to leave. We'll take care of you.
======================================================================
