Talent Time

(Originally blogged by mistake on 7 Jan)

To one he gave give talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent 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 the five talents brought the other five. 'Master' he said, 'you entrusted me wiht five talents. 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!'

~ Matthew 25: 15-21 (NIV)

Funny. This morning I was thinking about money (or rather, experiencing that panic-inducing train of thought when one's bank account goes from 6 to 5 to 4 figures). I was thinking, should I take my husband out for our 14th anniversary and spend that money? And, I need to colour my hair - should I just do a bottle rinse and forget the nice hair? And, I know I need to get to the gym - but maybe I should postpone, I need the money...

Pastor always says, "God doesn't have a problem with us having money. He has a problem with money having us."

Have I got to that point? But then again, I know I need to be prudent, for Bible does say the wise grow their money by saving, little by little.

All this comes at a point when I am thinking of moving on and leaving my "stable" job. I should be wise and save this cash. But each seems a necessary expense. Does every necessary expense have to be in the hundreds. And I haven't cleared my credit card bills yet.

*throat tightening, breath growing shallow and rapid*

But GOD reminded me, as I searched for verses containing the word "money" this morning, what He told me at the end of last year, and what He said at the beginning of this year. I asked, Do I deserve $15,000 a month? I have been stuck (actually, gone backwards) at the same amount of salary for the last 10 years. But we are expected to go from glory to glory, so obviously, I am not fulfilling my full potential. And is what I am thinking of doing - creating multiple streams of income that could potentially be very exhausting! - the right thing to do?

The Lord told me tha tI have been given five talents. So far, I have only been trading one - that's why my income is so low. I HAVE these other four talents, time to make them work.

One day God's going to come back — Payback Time! — and what will I have multiplied?

Multiplcation — another intriguing concept. Am I to turn my talent into money — I know I am to "put my talents to work". By multiplying, is that just money or am I right to think, by exercising what I do have in my brain, I am growing my repertoire. Practice makes perfect, after all.

The feeling of panic hasn't fully subsided, but I shall put all my trust in my God, my Jesus. I pray today for wisdom — should we do that celebration, or perhaps just go for dinner? I pray for all the money owed to my agency to be paid in 2 weeks, so that I can have some income from there as well.

After all, Father, all I have is yours. I am only the steward. So I ask for Your wisdom, how to spend, how to apportion my money, how to save. Help me keep better records, help me be prudent, help me to save. I don't want to use Building Fund as an excuse — so help me gain back all the money I did to pay for Building Fund, so I'm not taking it out of my savings.

I shall walk this day in victory. I shall have You by my side in all that I do today. I pray for Your favour in all I do. 

I do not have a spirit of fear — but POWER, love and a sound mind. I have the POWER to get wealth because You have given it to me. I receive it, and I will put that power to work.

Thank you Lord.

T