Possessive of Possessions

When I think about preparing to move to another country and all the things I need to pack to take with me, I am reminded of the story of the woman who anoints Jesus with her perfume in Matthew 26.

The woman had a precious perfume that was usually used for acts of devotion. It had been valued at about a years worth of wages for an average worker during this time period. She poured a years worth of wages and her special perfume on Jesus’ head! Why in the world would she do that?

You might be thinking, “What does this have to do with you packing up your things?” Well, it reminds me that things we often think are important are not so important in the grand scheme of things. But more importantly, it reminds me that all of our things should be used to glorify God.

As I go through my things and decide what I should and should not pack, I have to really ask myself, “Why is his so important to me?” But more importantly, I need to ask, “Can I use this to glorify God?”

What are some of your possessions you have used to glorify God?

Talent Search

What are your gifts? How are you using them?

Remember the great story in the Bible of the 3 slave men given talents by their master? Well these aren’t talents, as in gifts, in this story. This story is talking about money. He gave the servants money, and they were supposed to invest their money in order to make more money. Well, 2 of them did just that and the other one did not.

This story has so many great principles in it! Let’s just hit on the greatest 2 I can point out right now.

First, God gives us gifts, or talents as He uses them in this Scripture, in order for us to use them to share the Gospel. We should invest our gifts in other people in order to make more disciples. Let me rephrase: We are not making more disciples, but God is using the gifts He gives us to make more disciples through us! What a gift He gives us to allow us to be apart of growing His kingdom! Using the gifts God gives us is a vital part of discipleship, and if take advantage of those opportunties, we will be rewarded with additional opportunities to expand God’s kingdom.

Second, faithful stewards, who use the gifts God gives us wisely, will be given greater responsibility in both this life and the next! Not that we use our gifts because of what we will be given, but we truly use our gifts for the sole purpose of spreading God’s Word, then God faithfully rewards those who are faithful to Him! How gracious is He! This means we should be faithful in all things God has given us-our money, our time, our skills, our marriage, our children, everything!

So let me ask you again…what are your gifts and how are you using them? Has your answer changed?