When used to strengthen the Church and our ministries in God's service,
our "Gifts", whether they be our TIME, ABILITY, or MONEY, are or should be
equally valued and interchangeable. As the story goes, there was a man who was about
to leave home on a trip and before he left, he entrusted three of his servants with sums
of money or "Talents" for them to use any way they saw fit for the profit of their Master.
Upon his return, he called in his debtors to account for their use of what he had given
each of them. The 1st who was given 10 Talents had doubled the sum, and was rewarded with
a new and profitable position, he was put in charge of 10 cities. The 2nd was given 5 Talents,
and he also doubled the Master's sum, and was rewarded with 5 cities. The 3rd servant, who was
entrusted with the least amount of Talents, was very much afraid of his Master, and obviously
low on self-esteem, so rather than risk losing anything, he buried his Talent. Upon the Master's
return, he dug up the Talent and returned it exactly as it had been given him. This infurieted the
Master, who said, "Why didn't you at least put my money in the bank where it could have gained
interest?" Then the Master had the 3rd servant flogged, gave his Talent to the 1st servant who had
done the most with what he was entrusted, and had him banished from the Kingdom.
The abvious moral of the story is that we are to use our Talents to the best of our abilities,
whatever they are, in service of our Master, GOD. The kingdom will grow, and we will be rewarded.
If we don't use the TALENTS (Money, Time, Abilities) that God has given us, there is no reward.
A Member of our Church has made a gift to the Church in response to how God has blessed their life, after
hearing this parable. We are going to use their gift in turn, to make $50 available to anyone who signs up,
to be used any way they see fit. They can use whatever they fell their gift or TALENT is...perhaps a hobby
or skill like Carpentry, Sewing, Needlework, Baking, etc...to raise funds for the Church. Use the $50 to
get started; invest and re-invest; beginning Next Sunday and turning in the profits, or making their
"Love Gift" on Valentine's Day, in February.
You can sign up and receive your $50 in the Church Office, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Your Pastor & Friend,
Rev. Wayne H. Ackerman
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