|
When is the Master Coming?
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the preset age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
-Titus 2:11-13
Jesus’ parable of “The Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30) tells of the three servants who were each given a portion of their rich master’s wealth. They were to manage their share while their master was gone on a long journey. Do you know that a talent is a unit of weight, approximately 70 pounds? Wealth was probably measured in gold or silver so the servant who received just one talent may have been given the equivalent of 2 million dollars in gold to manage. The other servants were told to manage even much more! After a long-time, seasons or years, we are not told, the rich master returns for an accounting. And he is not at all pleased with the servant who did nothing with his one talent except to bury it in the ground for safety.
John Macarthur’s book on Jesus’ parables, reminds us to look at all the different levels of this parable. On the surface it tells us to keep diligently working with the assets (gifts) given to us to manage. Burying all our assets in the ground or in our savings accounts may be in our best interests at the moment, but God, our Master, may intend a better use for it.
At another level, the parable reminds us that we have been given a different one of God’s gifts to manage, the gift of our salvation. How should we manage our gift of salvation? Titus tells us, “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives” while we await the return of our Savior.
My Friday morning men’s group is studying the origins and operations of the Salvation Army as an example of the successful foundational use of Christian principles for a business model. The Salvation Army has existed for over 140 years, whereas only one of the original Dow 20 companies still operates. The Salvation Army has been working diligently with the “talent” they were given. JCPC Sessions members are working diligently to manage JCPC’s worldly talents. JCPC’s physical plant has almost returned to the pre-Covid level of community service. Your gifts and service to JCPC and the community are working toward building the Kingdom of God. As for our gift of salvation, we are told to always keep diligently working that talent. And we are told to patiently and expectantly wait for our Savior’s return. It is no time to bury our spiritual or worldly talents. There is much work to be done.
Highlights of last week’s Session meeting include:
- Approval of a return to 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. worship in the chapel beginning in September.
- Ending the drive-in worship service with the last service being August 22
- Continuing the on-line streaming of the 11:00 a.m. worship service.
- Approval of a sprinter campaign to partially fund the retaining wall rebuild.
- Review of monthly finances and projected expenses.
- Encouraging staff and team leaders as they guide our church in doing God’s will.
|
