Listen:
“Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you. (Deuteronomy 16:17)
In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him. A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (Proverbs 21:1-3)
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the templetreasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.”Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)
Reflect:
I used to admire people who seem to do it all: full time job, family, church, and even gym! In time though I’ve grown to appreciate more people who seem to know what God is calling them to do, to do that faithfully, and be content with each moment, each day. I realize now too that the former never do all alone. It takes a village, for we are built for community and interdependence, to grow together, especially in the body of Christ.
Now, why am I talking about time when the subject today is treasures? Because to me, time is treasure. I’ve never been very attracted to money or riches. I grew up in a middle class family, and did not know serious need in childhood. Then a medical emergency requiring surgery during my late teens made me appreciate health. I served too for a short while on a humanitarian hospital ship in Africa ( www.mercyships.org), and I met people who gave out of their poverty in every sense, money health time, yet by faith they gave. People shared meals when they did not know when their next meal would come from, shared even shoes, most of all shared encouragement and hope, despite facing hopelessness. I learned that riches needed to be used wisely, and what is eternal is, simply and profoundly, faith, hope, and love.
When I gave up professional work and a salary to be a stay at home mother of one then two then three kids, God provided all our needs through my husband’s simple salary. Now that I have returned to work after twelve years, I find it actually harder to steward my treasures, in all senses, time money health, and even just my attention! I am needing more than ever to lean on God and trust Him, and ask for His wisdom each day. So what is God calling you and me to do today, that is right and just? He does not seek sacrifice, but giving in love, or rather, reflecting his gift, in love. How can I use better my treasures: time, health, money, talents, to sow faith, hope and love in someone, today?
Prayer of Response:
“Father, your heart is a stream of water, you see what is in our hearts, and you desire not sacrifice, but mercy. Help us to share your mercy, and sow faith, hope, and love, using our treasures wisely, today.”
—Submitted by Kae Ting Trouilloud
(Kae lives in France with her husband three kids and a black dog named Skittlz. She manages bugs during the day as an infection control pharmacist, loves cooking, reading, writing and Facebooking which she is desperately trying to steward wisely in the evenings. She is dean of the bilingual Lifesprings School of Ministry LSM-Zoé planned in Lyon 2020-2022.)
Leave a Reply