What Kind of Trading Are You Doing?
ICS Daily Devotions
Matthew 25:16-17 (NKJV) Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
In the Parable of the Talents, the servants with five and two talents both doubled their talents by trading, or investing the money, as soon as it was entrusted to them. If you work in business or the corporate world, you need to believe that God has given us a mandate to create wealth.
Isaiah 1:19 (NKJV) If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
What distinguished the two servants with five and two talents from the lazy servant was obedience. God values heartfelt willingness as much as practical obedience. He desires an internal attitude that matches external actions.
God’s blessings are often linked to walking in His ways and His will. We obey God because He has saved us from our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are involved in the Father’s work of preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth. Therefore, we should be faithful stewards of His resources by supporting the preaching of the gospel because we belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. None of us can take worldly goods with us when we leave the earth, but we can store up treasures in heaven by obeying His call and being faithful with the resources entrusted to us.
Abraham was richly blessed materially because he obeyed God and walked in His will. Joshua and the Israelites received material blessings when they trusted in God and conquered the land flowing with milk and honey. Likewise, we should seek to align our will and actions with God’s revealed will.
The gospel must be preached to the ends of the earth before Jesus returns. There is no Christian witness or church among the unreached people groups, but there is hope they will hear the gospel as more missionaries are sent. As citizens of heaven, we should care about the salvation of all non-believers. We must be faithful stewards of the wealth He has entrusted to us so His will can be fulfilled through us.
God owns everything on earth and in heaven. Yet, He needs us to act as channels of blessings. The funds entrusted to us are intended to do His work on earth—preaching the gospel, caring for orphans, widows, the poor, and the underprivileged in society. God expected the lazy servant to at least deposit the money to earn interest.
God, in His wisdom, allocates to each servant according to their ability, but even if we are initially given just a few talents, He will entrust us with more if we are proven faithful.
Reflect: What kind of trading are you currently doing with the money God entrusted to you?
Sermon Series： Are you a wealth creator?
