After preaching on the parable of the talents, our pastor handed out $10 bills to each family asking us to take our “talent” and multiply it. We were told that in Jesus’ day, a talent was equal to $130,000- not pocket change.

Indentured Servants

The servants or slaves in the parable had indentured themselves to this wealthy man because they owed someone money and the wealthy man could buy their freedom, or they could not find enough work to buy the basic necessities like food and shelter so they sold themselves in exchange for food. The servants owed everything, including their very lives, to the Owner. So, when this Owner invests these men with some of His bounty, He expects a return on His investment.

Return on His Investment

We, too, owe all we have, even our very lives, to the Owner. Everything we have–gifts, talents, a home, family, food on our tables, the world we live in–everything comes from God. When God gives us these blessings, He expects us to use those blessings in a way that honors Him. So what honors God?

The Least of These

Following the parable of the talents is Jesus’ explanation of the end of time when we will be divided into the sheep, who will enter heaven, and the goats, who will suffer eternal damnation. And what is the criteria that will determine our grouping? It’s probably not what you’d think. Ask most Christians and you will get a laundry list of things, but Jesus makes it simple. He tells the sheep on his right they will enter heaven because they “gave me water when I was thirsty, visted me in prison, and fed me when I was hungry.” The goats on His left ask, “When did we see you thirsty, hungry, and in prison?” Jesus answered, “When you did this for the least of these you did it to me.”

God Wants Us to Make a Profit

In the parable of the talents, the servants were invested with gifts, which the Owner expected to be used according to His will. The first two servants invested wisely, doubling the return on investment for their Master. The third was fearful and hid his Master’s money in the ground. The Owner said to the first two, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” They had returned with a profit what He’d invested in them. But to the fearful servant He said, “You wicked man.” He had not invested his Master’s gifts in a way that honored Him.

God’s Economics

Where we invest our gits, talents, money, and resources will either make a profit for our Lord, or will return void. If you’ve ever had the joy of working with the poor and overlooked, you know that we always receive more than we give. When we invest in “the least of these,” the return on that investment is more than we can count. But God is counting, and one day we will be held to that that account.

Join Me in Investing

November 13-14, when I return the proceeds from our Talent Investment, my “talent” will benefit Jackie’s House, a ministry to rescue children left at the dump in Santo Domingo, giving them a place to live and a future. I’m encouraging those who’ve read this blog to consider giving a quarter, .50, or $1 every time you throw something in the garbage that could be recycled. Say a prayer for these children and the woman who’s made it her life’s mission to rescue these children from the garbage. Then make your donation through my Pal Pay account (CheriCowell). I can’t give you a tax deduction, but I do know The Accountant who knows and remembers each gift.

For More Info on Jackie’s House http://www.jackieshouse.org/testimonies.html

I’m reading Philip Yancy’s What’s So Amazing About Grace, while we travel through Alaska, and I must tell you, I thought I understood grace, but I did not.

Grace Avoidance

Yancy calls legalism grace avoidance. I like that. Perhaps it’s my personality or my upbringing, but I have a should and ought list that is a mile long, and that is just for myself.

sadly, I have an equally long one for others. As Yancy teaches, when we assign spiritual meaning to our shoulds and oughts, that becomes legalism.

Jesus Says

Jesus had a whole lot to say about this subject. The Scribes and Pharisees were all about rules, but Jesus said to them, “You are missing the point.” So, what is the point? The point is grace. Yes, there is a standard, but that standard is not one you or I can ever live up to on our own. Using shoulds and ought prevents us from fully accepting our inability to ever reach the mark on our own, or for anyone else to ever reach it on their own. It is a surefire way to avoid acknowledging our need for grace.

Grace Extended

In Yancy’s final chapter, he gives a vision of what it would be like if the Christian community really got grace. If we really had it invade us and saturate us in such a way as we could do nothing else but fall to our knees before God. What would happen if we experienced that kind of grace, and then had our Savior come over and kneel beside us and with his hand lift up our chin and say, “Go, share this love with everyone you meet.” What would happen?

Questions: Are you a victim of grace avoidance? Have you allowed God’s unmerited grace to flood your soul? Who would be the first person you would go to after Jesus raises your chin and says, “Go, share this love?”