We all want our lives to count for something. Jesus taught his disciples in terms of investing one’s life in His kingdom. So it is very important to ask yourself a couple of questions: “What have I invested my life in?” and “What will I spend the rest of my life investing in?”
Jesus told a parable in Luke 19:11-27 about a nobleman who was appointed to rule a kingdom. When he left for his coronation, he gave his servants a mina each, which was about three months’ wages. He told them to faithfully invest it for the good of the kingdom.
When he returned, he called for his servants to see what investments they had made. The first had increased the king’s initial gift tenfold. Jesus said to him, “Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.”
The second servant had increased the initial gift fivefold. Jesus said to him, “And you are to be over five cities.”
Then another servant, who had lived in fear and thought the king didn’t have his best interest at heart, chose not to invest. He hid the mina and invested in his own little kingdom instead. Jesus responded by taking the one mina and giving it to the faithful servant who had increased his gift tenfold.
The first two servants understood that the mina was the king’s generous gift for them to steward. At his return, the king bestowed on them an inheritance beyond their imagination—for his kingdom was their kingdom too.
Many of us spend our lives trying to build our own little kingdoms. We live in self-preservation rather than realizing that God has given us every breath we breathe, the skills we possess, the positions we hold, and the community around us—to invest in His kingdom.
In doing so, we experience blessings in this life and gain a future inheritance we can’t even fathom. Investing in His kingdom brings purpose and joy, and it blesses everyone around us.
Our investments are God’s way of answering the prayer: “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” Unhide the gifts God has given you and begin faithfully investing your life in Christ’s kingdom today.
The King is coming back. May He find us faithful.
