Wednesday February 21, 2024

Today is Wednesday, February 21 and we are learning what the Bible says about leaving a legacy.

In the morning I turn to God and ask him to fulfill his plans and purposes for my upcoming day. I relinquish my cares, concerns and requests into his mighty hands and trust him with every detail of my comings and goings.

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord, I worship you in the stillness of the dawning day and seek your abiding presence. With each breath I inhale your loving kindness and exhale my worries and fears. Open the ears of my heart to receive the specific message you have for me. Amen.

I praise God for my many blessings and honor him with the words of Psalm 127.

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Psalm 127:3-5a

Pause and Pray

All of us want to live lives that matter. We want to live lives that make a difference. We want to leave a legacy. We leave a legacy when we wisely invest our time, talents and treasure in what truly matters in life. God wants us to leave a legacy that will multiply and bear fruit long after we are gone. The word “talent” in English is believed to have derived from the following parable of Jesus. Talents are the gifts or natural abilities that an individual possesses. God, as Creator, gives people different skills and aptitudes. Each person is given gifts that are special and unique.

For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. At once the one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:14-21 (NRSV)

The three servants in the parable are given different sums according to their ability. In the same way, we understand that each of us has been given a different amount and type of talents. None of us is talentless or without significance. None of us is without special God-given gifts. Some are given more than others, but even the smallest talent is highly valuable and essential in the kingdom of God. In ancient times a talent was a monetary amount – estimated to be worth more than fifteen year’s wages. The servants in the parable were entrusted with large sums of money. This indicates the precious value of the gift God entrusts to our lifelong use and care.

Ask: What talents has God entrusted to me? How have I withheld or invested my talents in God’s kingdom?

Pause and Pray

Blessed and holy Lord, thank you for giving me talents to invest for the good of the world. Forgive me for the times I have neglected what you have given me or failed to use it wisely. Help me discover my God-given gifts and appreciate them. Inspire me to invest them generously in your kingdom and not let them go to waste. I want to leave a legacy for the next generation. I read the words from Matthew again and listen for the message you have for me.

For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. At once the one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:14-21 (NRSV)

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

What am I doing with my God-given talents? Perhaps I am hiding my talents in the ground instead of using them for good and investing them in the lives of others. Maybe I am holding on to a talent, not sure what I am supposed to do with it at this age and stage of my life. I consider how God might want me to utilize the resources I have to make the world a better place. I can share the Gospel with others, make disciples of others, help those in need, serve others, invest in their lives, and produce good fruit. I reflect on the people in my life from former generations who left a legacy by investing their time, talents and treasure in me. How does God want me to carry that on for the next generation?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, thank you for those who have gone before me and invested so much of themselves for my benefit. I name them before you with a grateful heart. Show me concrete ways that I can use what you have given me to faithfully love and serve others. Take my life, take my time, take my talents and use them to fulfill your good purposes and bless the world. Amen.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

As I leave this time of prayer, I go to invest all that I am and all that I have into the good work of Christ in the world.

Amen