Grains of Sand

Money Manager/Google Images God left us “in charge.” He provided for each of us the skills and abilities necessary for us to accomplish what He had designed us to be and do. And, to some extent at least, He gave us the freedom to make choices as to how we would use what He had given us. Someday, He’ll ask for an accounting. This was the message behind the parable that Jesus told in Matthew 25:14-30. There was a not-so-subtle warning in the story. The parable was built around the story of an owner who left his servants in charge of his property. Each servant was given money. The expectation was that each person would use the money in some way that would result in a profit for the owner when he returned from his journey. Two of the three men did well with their investments. The third didn’t even make an attempt to carry out his master’s wishes. The first two men were rewarded with a commendation from their master, a promotion, and what sounds like an invitation t...

Wendy Farha, singer, comedienne, Cancer survivor " There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good " (1 Corinthians 12:4-7, NIV). The instructions have been given and now the work begins. Moses sends out the call for everyone to contribute whatever he can to the construction of the Tabernacle that will become the place of meeting with God. Those who can give are to do so (Exodus 35:4, 5). Those who can do are to do (35:10). There were some like Bezalel and Oholiab who were especially skilled, but no one was exempt from service simply because they were just "ordinarily" gifted. The lesson is simple—we all have a contribution to make to the " common good " of the body. Whether that contribution be big or small it's still ne...

…I tithed not only my money, but my time and talents? I have at my disposition, 168 hours a week. If I were to tithe my time and talents to the Lord, that would mean an investment of 16 hours and 48 minutes per week that would be exclusively dedicated to Him. Now math has never been my strong point, but I think that works out to a little over two hours a day that we could give to Him. Malachi 3:10 tells us: "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.'" What would happen to our spiritual lives, in our churches, to our mission as witnesses to a lost world, if we tested God in this? God doesn't fail in fulfilling His promises. The possibilities boggle the mind.