Investments

2 Chronicles 25:
6 [King Amaziah] also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him and said, "O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel--not with any of the people of Ephraim. 8 Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow." 9 Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?"

But God, why do you want me to work in a prayer ministry when I've invested all this work in the choir ministry?

But God, I've bought this house to fix up for my family. Now you want me to sell it?

But God, I paid good money for these baseball tickets, why would you want me to miss the game?

But God, I put all this time into a children's ministry and now you want me to give it up?

But God said (through his prophet) "The Lord can give you much more than that."

I'm sure Amaziah thought he was doing good in hiring those men to help fight. I mean, what could be wrong in preparation? Sometimes, I really think we can do what seems to be good in our eyes & everyone elses' too. We can invest our money in something that seems so wise. We can invest our time into ministries. What could be wrong with a ministry? We could invest our talents. God gave us the talents. Shouldn't we use them?

To everything there is a season. Sure, using talents for God is wonderful. But, has He given us other talents to use for THIS season? Sure, God wants us to enjoy life and, for example, purchase those baseball tickets we've been saving for. But, would he rather us use that money for something else now?

Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.

Praise the Lord that His ways aren't my ways! I don't know what's best for me! This is why I should consult him...

...even when I think I know what's best
...even when things make sense
...even when it's something "godly"
...even when it seems wise to me
...even when I've already spent my time & effort & money & talents
...even when I think I know what He would say

Because when I consult Him and really listen (as His word tells me to do SO many times), I find out what He wants me to invest my ______ (time, money, talent, etc.) in. And, just has he promised Amaziah, he can give me a much better return on that investment!

Amber Alert

When I see an Amber Alert or hear a Code Adam in a store, I immediately start looking for anything suspicious. Was that the car with the broken tail light described by the news? Is that the little boy with the missing front tooth whose mother is so desperately looking for him?

I just received an email from a great Christian friend. It was an Amber Alert. He’d forwarded it to everyone on his email list who would then forward it to all of their friends.

If my son or daughter, aunt or uncle were missing, I would not hesitate to call the police, print posters, call neighbors, and search on foot. I suppose I would not sleep until they were found.

It seems, though, that many of my friends and family are lost. If we truly believe that Jesus is coming back soon, if we truly realize that our lives are just vapors, and if we really believe in a fiery hell, shouldn’t we have our own spiritual Amber Alert?

I’m not saying I have a list at all. I’m just saying this was eye opening to me. We search so frantically, and with good reason, for those who are physically lost. But, those who are spiritually lost are often in greater, eternal danger.

Amber Alert:
Uncle who is lost in sin. Wearing guilt and shame.
May shows signs of exhaustion from fighting a losing battle with this world.
P.S. If found, rejoice with the angels