A Good Return by Larry Refsland
We all want to receive a good return on our time, our money and our ideas. I’ve observed people as they scan the financial section of the newspaper. Their reaction gives away whether their stock went up or down in value. Homeowners open their property tax statements with anticipation and fear. They hope the value of their home has appreciated yet still want the taxes to go down! The Bible records a story that Jesus told about a wealthy man that left some money in the hands of his servants. They were to manage his assets while away on a trip. One of the servants made investments and was able to give a 100% return on his master’s money. Another one achieved a 50% return by putting his master’s money to work. A third servant, however, hid his master’s money and simply returned it to his master upon his arrival. A 0% return! Granted, he didn’t lose any of his master’s money (unless you factor in inflation), but the fact is he didn’t even try to get a return. The application, of course, is that our master, the Lord Jesus, has given each of us a gift, a talent, or an ability that he intends for us to invest and achieve a return for him. How are you doing with what he has entrusted to you? Each day is an opportunity to make your life count for the kingdom of God. He deserves a good return on his investment in you! Have you ever pulled on a stray thread and unraveled half of your sweater? It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. Just give it a little tug and things will be fine. Then suddenly the ordered whole becomes a tangled mess, and it seems impossible to put it back. The same thing can happen in our lives. The smallest mistake can sometimes turn out to unravel our whole life! Trying to fix it on our own, we make matters worse.
God has woven the fabric of our lives together. He is the one who made us and designed us. When a part of our life is out of order, we can be tempted to ignore it, deny it, or try to fix it ourselves. These methods are sure to just make the problem bigger. To fix a stray thread, I go to someone that knows something about needles and thread. The sooner I get professional help, the less damage has to be repaired. In the same way, when we see something wrong in our life we go to the one who created life. The sooner we come to Him, the less damage has to be repaired. The loose thread could be trouble in our home, or a physical problem or a financial need. Before it becomes a crisis, take it to God. He is able to mend the brokenhearted and repair any damage in our life. Not only does he make the repairs, he comforts us in our pain or loss. A daily time with the Lord helps keep our lives from unraveling. He is the Master Tailor and wants to help us keep our life in order. No repair is too small and no damage is too great for him to make it as good as new! |
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May 2016
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