Does YHWH expect HIS people to live in uncertain times any differently than HE expects us to live in certain times? (What ARE “CERTAIN TIMES” anyway?:>)
What if you were one of those who were in attendance during the days of the prophet Jeremiah? Jeremiah’s ministry existed just prior to the time when YAH’S people were carried off into slavery because of their rebellion. Jeremiah spent years crying out for them to repent and return to torah before it was too late! Being one his hearers, how would you have responded? Think about it. In the beginning of Jeremiah’s prophecy, wouldn’t you have thought he was a bit extreme??? You didn’t think that things were all that bad. Sure, there was a lot of sin going on. And there were false shepherds and prophets saying that it “was all going to turn out fine!” Some were even saying that Jeremiah was the “false prophet!” But then later, as you began to witness some of the things that he was prophesying come to pass, wouldn’t you have begun to reconsider what he was saying? How would that have impacted your life? Would you have panicked? Would you just scoff in hopes that things were not really going to be that bad? Or would you vacillate to the other extreme and begin to hoard things…you know, just in case? Some of your family and friends were beginning to invest their time and effort into survival and just making the best of this kingdom… But, is that how HE wants you to live? When things get tough, are you supposed to invest yourself into THIS kingdom…or HIS?
How do we invest in HIS Kingdom?
During times of judgment, poverty, despair, confusion, hopelessness, etc., do we huddle up? Do we try to blend? Do we try harder to keep the economic engine running…even in the face of complete collapse? Do we give up? Do we quit our jobs and wear signs saying “The End Is Near“? These seem to be options for some. How about you? Maybe the Parable of the Talents will speak to this scenario…
Matthew 25:13-28 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. 14“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.”
Is this a parable about making worldly investments and “doubling our money” or is it telling us (once again) that even though we physically live in this kingdom, we are to actually live by the principles of HIS Kingdom? What do I mean? Consider this;
In every situation; at home, at work, in recreation, in conversation, in every activity… if you take a stand for HIS Word, HIS righteousness, HIS Truth…you are investing in HIS Kingdom…you are proclaiming HIS Name…you are being HIS witness…one opportunity at a time. Adding all of those opportunities together, one by one, (which, by the way is exactly what HE is doing), they reveal which kingdom that you are investing in! Your investment portfolio!
HE’S called us to be Light in the midst of darkness. That doesn’t mean that in order for us to live as citizens of HIS Kingdom that we have to “chuck it all” and “go do some ministry somewhere” or “abstain from this kingdom totally and spiritualize our lives away” like monks in a monastery or on some mountain…
Regardless of what the financial, social and religious environment of this kingdom may be, we are here to proclaim the existence of HIS Kingdom! Consider Hebrews 11:8-10 of Abraham;
“By faith(believing what GOD says) Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
As we are faithful stewards of what HE has entrusted to us, not only do we proclaim which Kingdom we are of…but we also proclaim which kingdom that we are NOT of… So, maybe you should spiritually take stock of your current investment portfolio to see which kingdom you have been investing all of your efforts, resources and time in…
