Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- May 9, 2012
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:8-9
Creating an economic structure around passion and purpose can be a prayerful and godly goal. It could be converting informal free advice into a formalized fee for coaching, consulting, or counseling. It may mean engaging a hobby of painting, writing, or singing and moving it into the market as a valued product. God gives gifts and skills to create a living. There are times to give away time and expertise, and times to monetize our mission.
Money is not our motivation, but it is a by-product of producing value around what wakes us up in the morning. Why waste our lives just working for a paycheck, when we can creatively come up with ways to channel our energies and experiences into an economic endeavor. Christ commends shrewd servants of His who innovate new ways to make friends and influence people. Indeed, we are called to be creative for Christ’s sake.
“So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” Matthew 25:25-27
You are wise to work in your area of expertise, but avoid ruts that lead to complacency. Pray about how the Lord wants you to steward the relationships, opportunities, and gifts He has given you. Perhaps there is a small group of friends who will pray with you and even invest some seed money to eventually monetize God’s mission for your life. Truly, compared to eternity—life is a blink of an eye, so don’t hesitate on His direction.
Sad are servants of Jesus who remain in a scared state of inertia. Instead, follow by faith the sensitive promptings of the Holy Spirit in your heart. Do not allow your head to talk you out of following an unconventional course for your career. The world will watch with admiration a shrewd servant of the Lord, who, with an eye on eternity, invests in people on earth. Your life is attractive when you live out your mission with passion and productivity. Trust God to give you the wisdom to make a living from living for His call.
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Prayer: Lord, how can I monetize my mission for the sake of your Kingdom?
Related Readings: Proverbs 22:29; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Post/Tweet this today: Sad are servants of Jesus who remain in a scared state of inertia. #sad #scared
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This is really awesome! So on time & on point. Thank you Wisdom Hunters!
Thank you always for your timely wisdom shared by the Spirit of the Lord.. Definately makes me meditate and encourage me daily to seek Him deeper as well as share with so many others.. Be blessed as you listen to His call..
Perfect piece for me right now! There is so much wisdom in this for me today; I don’t know where to begin. This is my season of life. I have been struggling with this. So I am going to meditate on this, be opened hearted and hear what God is saying to me. God used me for 25 years or so as a church administrative secretary. During all those years I have written so many things, but never published them. I also have written a book that I know He wants to say some things to His Bride. I am working towards getting that published. I am creating a website and a publishing company. But I have resisted selling “words” that God has given me. I can’t reconcile that what God speaks to me, doesn’t belong to me, so how can I sell it. I get about 18 thousand hits on my website. I work like I would at a job, every day writing and keeping it updated. People ask me, “Why don’t you get advertising sponsors” I have so resisted it. I admit, I struggle with exactly what you spoke so wisely about today. Thanks for this wisdom, it really helps me!
Definitely something I needed to hear/read. Thank you.
Thank you for the note! It sounds like the Lord is using your writing for His glory and I’m humbled today’s devo spoke to you. – Boyd
Thank you, I’m humbled the Lord used today’s devotional to speak to you.
friends please join me in prayer as I go forward with some dreams… my prayer is that His kingdom would come in my heart and His will be done in my life! And that the dreams that I choose to follow will bring joy to our Father’s heart! I will pray the same for you! I love our Creator … I believe it brings Him great joy when we live fully with His love flowing from our hearts! I want to bring Him more of that joy! (of course I could use a bunch of your prayers to help lift me up along the way and much wisdom from Him!) Im praying Ill stay close to His heart to hear His voice and pray for others as He would have me to as well! (I know I’m going to fall alot!) But I’m excited about our prayers for each other and what will happen as we share His encouragment and love and wisdom with each other …there is so much beauty in His word! I am so grateful! and He’s so expressed His love for us and revealed what He’s like in the almost infinitely enjoyable varieties of amazing things He’s placed in our world for us! And the most amazing gift of all…just unfathomably so!!! is that He would humble Himself and express His Heart and nature so fully to us in His Son! That He would satisfy His own perfect sence of justice in response to all the horribly painful heartache weve caused each other in our world by taking the punishment Himself so He can be just and open the door to forgiveness for us! There is no greater love! Sooo…So please pray with me that we would be mindful of Him and return deep thanks by a life lived in gratitude and love and the ravishing lo Inc gift of responding to such amazing.love with our joyfilled loving passionate pleasing Truly! This is the greatest most amazing love story that ever was!!!
This has been on my heart for the past few months and more so recently; my prayer is to be bold and step out in faith and live my calling to serve in a new environment-as an entrepeneur, career coach. I have known the Lord for 20 years now and I simply need to step out and do it. Thank you for your words and encouragement through God’s word.