DAY 27: Invest wisely
Reading: Matthew 25:14-30
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.’
“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!’
“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.’
“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!’
“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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“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? 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.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Some parables are easier to understand than others! This is a parable
about being faithful. A talent was a large sum of money. Though in
the light of this passage we can see that Jesus was calling His followers
to be faithful and to act responsibly in the light of their opportunities.
As Christians we should be willing to invest, not just for a return for
ourselves but also in a way in which others can be helped.
In the parable the three servants were entrusted with large sums
of money and it is clear from the end of the story that they were
expected to do something with the money. Two invested wisely and
therefore the pot grew, while one went for security and retaining what
he had been given. In the end the two were commended as faithful
servants and duly rewarded.
As Christians we should think about what we are investing and where.
The term ethical investment can mean lots of different things, but as
Christians there are many things that we might find incompatible with
our faith.
For further reading: Luke 8:1-3 - Jesus supported by wealthy women.
To ponder: What principles would you use to guide you as you seek to invest
any money that you have?
To pray: Lord Jesus, guide me in my investments that I may look at the
whole return on capital and not just the financial gain that I
might make. Amen.
‘a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his
wealth to them.’ v14
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.’
“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!’
“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.’
“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!’
“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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“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? 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.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
about being faithful. A talent was a large sum of money. Though in
the light of this passage we can see that Jesus was calling His followers
to be faithful and to act responsibly in the light of their opportunities.
As Christians we should be willing to invest, not just for a return for
ourselves but also in a way in which others can be helped.
In the parable the three servants were entrusted with large sums
of money and it is clear from the end of the story that they were
expected to do something with the money. Two invested wisely and
therefore the pot grew, while one went for security and retaining what
he had been given. In the end the two were commended as faithful
servants and duly rewarded.
As Christians we should think about what we are investing and where.
The term ethical investment can mean lots of different things, but as
Christians there are many things that we might find incompatible with
our faith.
For further reading: Luke 8:1-3 - Jesus supported by wealthy women.
To ponder: What principles would you use to guide you as you seek to invest
any money that you have?
To pray: Lord Jesus, guide me in my investments that I may look at the
whole return on capital and not just the financial gain that I
might make. Amen.
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