Jesus was a masterful story-teller. On one occasion he told the story, called a parable, of a rich man who was going to another country. He wanted to illustrate the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. "This man called his servants and loaned them money to invest for him while he was gone.
"He gave $5,000 to one, $2,000 to another, and $1,000 to the last--dividing it in proportion to their abilities--and then left on his trip. The man who received $5,000 began immediately to buy and sell and with it and soon earned another $5,000. The man with the $2,000 went right to work, too, and earned another $2,000.
"But the man who received $1,000 dug a hole in the ground and hid the money for safekeeping.
"After a long time, their master returned from his trip and called them to account for his money. The man to whom he had entrusted the $5,000 brought his $10,000.
"His master praised him for his good work. 'You have been faithful in handling this small amount,' he told him, 'so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Begin the joyous tasks I have assigned to you.'
"Next came the man who had received $2,000, with the report, 'Sir, you gave me $2,000 to use, and I have doubled it.'
"'Good work.' his master said. 'You have been faithful over this small amount, so now I will give you much more.'
"Then the man with the $1,000 came and said, 'Sir, I knew you were a hard man, and I was afraid you would rob me of what I earned, so I hid your money in the earth, and here it is!'
"But the master replied, 'Wicked man! Lazy slave! Since you knew I would demand your profit, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have earned interest. Take the money from this man and give it to the man with the $10,000. For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him." (Matthew 25:14-29, The Living Bible).
Our Lord is teaching us that we, too, should analyze and evaluate our opportunities and invest what God has given to us in such a way that it will produce the maximum results.
In this parable Jesus tells us that the master held each steward responsible for his investment. He rewarded two of his servants, and rebuked the one who dug a hole and placed his money in the earth, took it away from him and gave the money to the servant with the most money.
What is Jesus trying to teach us? I am glad you asked. I believe He is saying that He expects fruitfulness in the"little things" of material wealth before He will entrust us with the true riches of eternal value (Luke 16:10-11, NIV).
I believe that with regard to the number of subscribers and readers to Hugh's News, that we must double our subscribers to be pleasing to God. Anything less is unacceptable.
It is my conviction that if we are not growing, we are dying. We can double in 2010.
I need your help today to help me double the number of subscribers to Hugh's News. You can help me do that if you will get at least one person to go online to our website, www.hughdnews.com and get them to register. It is so easy, even I can do it.
Let us be good stewards of what God has given to us.
Will you do it? If so, do it now. There is no better time that today. Thank you for helping me double our subscribers to Hugh's News.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (NIV).
Posted on
Thu, June 24, 2010
by Hugh Morgan