The one with the two bags of gold gained two more. (Matt. 25:17)
Once I heard about a church in which they did a “reverse offering.” Instead of passing the offering plates to collect tithes and offerings, those in attendance were to take out one of the ten-dollar bills that had been placed in the plates. No further explanation was given regarding why the church was doing this.
A few weeks later, the pastor shared that his morning message was going to be on the parable of the talents. He then reminded the congregants about the reverse offering and encouraged people to stand and share what they had done with the ten dollars they had taken. The responses varied. Quite a few stated that it was still in their purse or wallet. One older woman had purchased food with hers. A teenager had given his ten dollars to a friend who had a financial need. One man used his to buy some stock in a certain company and, because that stock had quadrupled, he was ready to give what he had earned back to the church.
The pastor then shared, “We wanted to illustrate a lesson for our church. All of us have been given money, possessions, and position that God wants us to use while we wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians we are to multiply these things, not for selfish gain, but for the kingdom of God.”
Use what God has given you for his glory.
Jim Umf Lo is a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, cross-cultural leader, intercessor, and author of several books published by Wesleyan Publishing House.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
