Use it or lose it

Then he said to those who were standing there, ‘Take the gold coin away from him and give it to the servant who has ten coins.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he already has ten coins!’ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘that to those who have something, even more will be given; but those who have nothing, even the little they have will be taken away from them.’ (verses 24-26)

Read Luke 19: 11-27

When you receive a gift, what do you do with it? Do you leave it in its wrapping , put it back in its box, think it’s too good to use and put it on the shelf, hide it in case it might get stolen, use it with pleasure, give it to someone else?

What would give the giver of the gift most pleasure?

God has given many gifts to many different people, but he has given us all one special gift: his word. What are you doing with that gift? Are you leaving it in its box, leaving it on the shelf because it is too good to use, hiding it in a cupboard in case it’s stolen? Or do you take it out, use it with pleasure , study it and share it with others?

There is a saying that goes ‘Use it or lose it’. The person in today ‘s story was afraid and hid his gift-he didn’t use it-and so he lost it. If we don’t take God’s gifts, use them for his glory and share them with others, we will lose them. But if we use them, take pleasure in them and share them with others, we will give joy to God and receive much blessing.

What is your gift, and how will you use it?

Dear God, thank you for the many gifts you have given me, especially your word. Help me to treasure this gift and to use it for my own growth and the growth of others. Amen.

by Merna Thamm, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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