Treasure

Where is our treasure? Do we invest it or is it buried, you know like in our mattress? Is our treasure working in our 401k or IRA? Is it being totally engaged in our jobs? Is it totally working for you?

A few months after I graduated from high school my father received a promotion that required the family to move a certain distance away.  At that time I had already registered at the local college, was dating a special person who would eventually be my wife and had a full-time job.  The decision was made that I would not move with the family but stay behind.  Months later when I moved into my first apartment, I was in the asset acquirement mode as I really owned nothing but my car.  I soon purchased my second greatest possession, a stereo and phonograph system good enough to use at college dances. I wasn’t a totally materialistic person but anything I could acquire I took pride in my ownership of them. 

When Patt and I married those things were no longer as important as caring for my wife and soon to be children.  My sense of treasure was changing.  I worked hard and was hungry to learn skills that would help me provide a comfortable lifestyle for my family. I believe being hungry to learn and become better is a desire set down in our hearts before birth.  This hunger hopefully causes us to do exactly that, get better and become all God has created us to be.

As time passed my sense of treasure changed again.  I learned of a different perspective and reality of treasure.  This reality is called Stewardship. When I first heard about Stewardship, I seemed to recall hearing others talking about how it was all about money. I soon learned that was not the case at all. Stewardship means the careful and responsible management, or control of something entrusted to one's trust or safekeeping. What has been entrusted to us? Three key things can be defined as being entrusted to us including our time, our talent and our treasure.

The very first introduction to Stewardship into this world came along with the creation of man.  From the Source of Creation perspective, it is the act of managing and caring for God's creation and resources.  This perspective comes from the fact that everything we have was created by God and gifted to us to care for.  Genesis 2:15 The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. 

When we understand this and apply this disposition to our lives, our time, talent and treasure, than we are better able to multiply it all.

How should we look at Stewardship in our lives?  If we truly believe that God is our Creator and all good things come from Him than our beliefs would follow what is said in Proverbs 3:9-10. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce; Then will your barns be filled with plenty, with new wine your vats will overflow.

I believe our call is to be more like the parable Jesus gave as Mt 25:14-30 describes.  It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ … You know the rest of the story.

Notice that the faithful servant gave it his all.  He did not return with just 10% tithing.  He wasn’t focused on filling his barns.  He was focused on giving back his all.  God calls us to give Him our all in everything we do, have and use.  When we do everything for the Honor and Glory of God, He is able to multiply within and through us all the more.

Let’s face it that negative energy and influence is thrown at us every day. By giving God our all we are constantly aware that He is with us always.  With that understanding we know that with Him at our side we are able to overcome the negative and be a positive loving influence this world so badly needs. When we love God above all else in this world we are better able to use those treasures He has given us and love His people and appreciate His incredible creation.   

In our hearts and mind we pray, For the Glory of God!  All that I am, all that I have, all that I do, is for the Glory of God.

I finish with these words from a popular Christian song: Amazing Love how can it be that you my King would die for me?  Amazing Love, I know it’s true that it is my joy to honor you in all I do, I honor you.

Let us take joy in honoring our God and let us Shine Like the Son.  God bless you.