Gas Prices and Despair

As we watch gas prices rise, it would be easy to despair.  After all, we depend on it every day to get to work, go out to eat, go shopping, go go go go go. . . . Not only that, but from my limited understanding I realize that gas prices effect other aspects of our economy as well.  But I want to challenge you to take a step back.  All the way back to your home and your personal life.  Yep, make it about you.

I think we are looking at it all wrong as Christians.  Yes, the economy does matter.  But what about you and how you are managing your economy.  Take a personal inventory of all you have. . .a home, food, clothes, car, heat, air conditioner, numerous toys, etc. But then make it even more personal. . .health, ability to read this article, ability to write, ability to talk,  family, friends, etc (continue your inventory with all the talents/gifts God has given you).

Do you realize you have been given much? Everything we have, even our breath (Genesis 2:7), belongs to God.  They are all on loan to us.  All that He gives, He may take away at any point.  Often we feel depressed and have a hard time dealing with things not going easily. The truth is that easy was not ever promised to us. In fact, God promised the opposite. When Adam and Eve sinned, that sin caused horrible curses to be upon the earth and our bodies.  Have you truly considered the reality of that sin in our world?  If so, have you considered that despite that sin God has provided and continues to provide all that we need.

But back to all that God has loaned us.  There is a story in the Bible where God graciously has shown us what He expects.  It talks about being given to according to your abilities, the expectation of handling it well, and the discipline for not.  Here is the story from Matthew 25:14-28 for you to enjoy:

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶ The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. ¹⁷ So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. ¹⁸But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²² “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

²³ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²⁴ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

²⁶ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷ Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

²⁸ “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. ²⁹ For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ³⁰ And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

There is so much to be learned from these scriptures.  But I will try to stick to the point at hand. To each a portion was given according to his abilities (breath, time, talents, money, family, home, food, health, etc) and he was expected to grow it from there.  Losing it was not an option and simply maintaining it was not an option.  He was expected to be a good steward of what had been loaned to him.

I believe that is also what God is calling us to do. We must be good stewards of all He has given us. Otherwise, why would He give it. He gives us more than we need so that we may be a blessing to others. So that we may help those in need or use our talents to serve in ministry.  The list could go on and on.

But I fear in our race to collect all the things we want and find time to use them all, we have forgotten all that is important.  The time we have on this earth is so short as compared with eternity.  The Bible says, From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48

So with that I ask. . .

1) Where does most of your money go?

2) How do you spend your free time?

3) How do you use your gifts and abilities to serve others?

I am deeply convicted over this lesson. I realize my focus has been blurry because I was trying to focus on the wrong things. How about you?