Welcome to one of the new and exciting features At the Well – A Fresh Dip. Each month we will share a guest post from one of our readers. Here is today’s post:
Have you been hearing about different investment strategies to weather this bad economy? Some have said now is the time to buy gold, others say investing internationally is the way to go. I’m not an economist or a financial adviser, but all this investment talk has prompted me to start thinking about the Biblical principle of stewardship.
In the parable of the talents (Mathew 25:14-30), Jesus tells the story of a master who goes away and entrusts his wealth to three servants. To the first, he gives five talents, to the second he gives two talents, and to the third he gives one talent. The first two “invest” the talents and are able to give back to the master double what they were entrusted with. The third servant digs a hole and buries the talent so nothing will happen to it and he’ll at least have the master’s talent to give him on his return.
Well, you know what happens. The master is pleased with the first two and not the third. The point of the parable is that everything we have is not our own. We bring nothing into this world. It is all God’s. He is the giver of every good gift (James 1:17) and all things were created by Him, through Him, and for Him (Col 1:16). The parable of the talents reveals the importance of stewardship, or management. This does apply to our pocketbooks, but it’s so much more than that.
I recently read Family Reformation by Scott T. Brown. In it he chronicles how Calvin and the Reformers understood the importance of passing down their faith to the next generation so that, “when we are dead, a holy course of living may survive and remain.” In other words, they had a multi-generational perspective on the family. If you’re a Christian and want to know what the future church in America looks like, take a good look at our youth. Do you like what you see? Children are a heritage from the Lord (Ps 127:3) and are to be enjoyed.
But, they aren’t really ours. They belong to God and He has entrusted us with them. What are we doing with them? Are we teaching them God’s Word while they’re young? Are we instructing them so that they will be able to give a defense of their belief to an unbelieving world? Will they reap a spiritual return for God’s glory? Will our Master be pleased with us when He returns?
Current estimates are that raising a child can cost upwards of $300,000. Children are expensive, but that’s nothing compared to the sacrifice that is parenthood. The real expense is our time, energy, blood, sweat, and tears. The countless hours spent teaching our children, reading to them, worshiping with them, praying with them, even disciplining them. Yes, children are costly, we give our lives for them, but they’re an investment in the future. In other words, they’re as good as gold.
"Are we instructing them so that they will be able to give a defense of their belief to an unbelieving world?"
Yes! We absolutely need to be teaching out children how to defend our faith! Great post!
I totally agree! Children cost a lot,but anything that is good is worth fighting for! Thank you!
We just had this discussion at church yesterday. The “next generation” is a lost and dying one. It is scary that the next generation has no idea of the Word of God! We need to “invest” our time and reach out to those in our community. They are God’s children and even though we are not their parents on this earth we still need to reach out to them and tell of God’s Loving Grace! THank you for the post, it has touched what is dear to my heart, the lost children in our community.