In the parable of the Ten Pounds, Jesus tells the story of the nobleman who went away for a long journey. Before leaving he called ten of his servants, gave them ten pounds each, and told them to “do business until I return.” When he returned, one servant had doubled his ten pounds, one had a return of 50%, another 10%, but one was afraid and hid his in the ground.
Last week our pastor asked the congregation, “What would you say to your 22-year old self today?” I thought about that for awhile, since my 22-year old self was several decades ago, and I realized I would say invest, invest, invest–invest in yourself, invest in others, and invest financially.
Investing in something or someone on any particular day can sometimes be daunting. It may feel trivial or not even seem like an investment. It can actually be so discouraging that I do nothing at all. I remember times of having those feelings. Sometimes they stopped me in my tracks. I am grateful now for the times when I invested anyway.
Investment carries the connotation of vision–that what I do today will ultimately make a difference, regardless of the current discouragement or even setbacks. Who or what do you need to invest in today? What is holding you back, or what might you be resisting? What steps by God’s grace do you need to take today to invest in God’s vision?