When a person passes on, certificates earned, awards received, checkbooks, ATM cards, investment portfolios, or cash are not usually buried with the person. Even if the person had a fleet of cars, state-of-the-art gadgets, and had built a splendid edifice, none of these things are buried with the owner. Everything stays behind.
In rare, extreme cases, people have been buried inside their luxurious cars, but this certainly isn’t the norm, as it isn’t practical to be buried with important assets and valuables. There’s really no spiritual, economic, or eternal value in being buried in a car, no matter how flashy the car.
One of the most important and valuable assets we have is the talents and gifts God has put in us. And they are to be utilized, not buried.
Our talents and gifts are investments, divine investments. People invest so their money can work for them, so it can generate more money and give them an additional source of income. In the same way, when God invests in us, when He puts something of value in us, He expects to receive something in return.
In Luke 19:13, the nobleman, who represents Jesus, entrusted resources, gifts, and talents to His servants, who were to actively put them to work by investing and doing business until their Master returns. God has not given us resources, talents, gifts, and skills for fun; they are an assignment, a heavenly duty to be carried out. They are not for decoration; they are instruments of change. They are to be put to use so that when the Master returns, we will have something tangible to show Him. We will have living evidence that God’s resources and divine deposits have not been wasted; we have multiplied what we were given and grown our divine investments. To do otherwise is like being buried with one’s important valuables and assets. No one gains anything by taking investments, money, and gold to the grave, because they won’t follow you into eternity. The children and loved ones left behind lose the opportunity to have something of value, something they too can benefit from. Similarly, our gifts and all the blessings God has put in our hands are for here and now. They are not to be beautifully wrapped and taken with us to heaven, then presented to God in their unused, untapped form. Their real value is here on earth. No one in heaven is looking for someone with the gift of healing; no one in heaven is looking out for someone who can help pay rent, children’s fees, or put a meal on the table. Nor is there anyone in heaven who is desperately hoping that someone who can sing a song that will lift a weary soul and spirit will come his way. It is for a time such as this that we have been placed here on earth, with the talents, graces, and gifts God has given us.
If we are not investing, we are not growing. Money invested wisely grows. It doesn’t remain in the same state and level. So also, gifts and talents invested in helping, blessing, and ministering to others have the potential to grow.
When we invest our time in being available to offer a listening ear to someone troubled and in distress, or use our resources to help someone who is going through a financially dry season, or intercede for the lost, sick, and weary, our divine investments begin to grow; we are adding value, we are making a profit for the kingdom.
God has loaded your life with valuable treasures. Don’t bury them; don’t ignore and neglect them. Use them to increase your value and capacity and enlarge the Kingdom of God.
One day God will ask you, “What did you do with the time, resources, talents, relationships, and opportunities I gave you? What will your answer be?” Would you say you were afraid you would fail, weren’t sure you were good enough, ready enough, or equipped enough, so you buried your divine treasure in the ground; you left it lying dormant, adding nothing of value to you or to others? Or would you say you got caught up in so many activities, so busy doing other things, that you didn’t have time to use, grow, and develop your gift? Or would you be able to joyfully and confidently say, “Here, my Lord and Master, is what I have done with the divine capital I received”? I have traded, I have worked, I have served, and gained more resources, helped others, solved problems, put smiles on others’ faces, and pointed others to You.
Stop burying your heavenly treasures and divine capital; stop sitting on your gift and wasting the grace in your life that can bring increase, value, and promotion to your life. Stop making excuses. Go and trade; go and faithfully and diligently multiply what God has given you.
Etiquette Corner
The most important etiquette is sincerity: God is not looking for an elaborate performance but a grateful heart that recognises His goodness. “Lord, I may not have received everything I desired this year, but I thank You for everything You have brought me through.”
Let’s avoid political violence during this electoral campaign season.
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