MUCH IS REQUIRED - June 14 Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter Five, “All” p.74

MUCH

Do you have family or friends who love you?  Have you been to high school?  Have you been to college or earned a degree? Do you have any kind of talent?  Do you have a job?

When you think about all the opportunities and things you have been given by living in a free society, you have to admit, we have a lot!  We have been given much.

There is a principle regarding “much”.  We who have received much must give back more than someone who has been given less.  Jesus put it this way in the old King James version, “For unto whomsoever much has been given, of him shall be much required.” And in the NIV … "from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded…” Luke 12:48

I have to say that from the beginning of my ministry, way back in the early 60’s, I was doing all I could to inspire singers and instrumentalists to be better than they were, to strive for greatness.  They had been given much, now they had to rehearse much!

David was “sold out” to the Lord.  He loved God with all his heart and all his strength.  He had been given power, leadership and a kingdom to rule.  He said in Ps. 18:1, “I love You, O Lord, my strength.” And with that leadership charisma, he led a nation in worship.  “How great You are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like You, and there is no God but You”, 2 Sam. 7:22.

He led by the principle of “loving God with all his Strength” because he could and that’s who he was.  The Apostle Paul said the same thing in Col. 3:22, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Jesus often talked in stories, called parables, to transfer his truths to his followers. In Matthew 25, he laid down one truth in the “Parable of the Talents”; if you are given five talents (a lot), increase what you have been given, bring back five more or however more you can!  But, if someone has been given less, don’t be afraid to use what you have been given, don’t bury it and the same blessing is yours as the one who can do a lot more than you can!

There is a chapter in Romans, chapter twelve, that most Christians know as one mentioning a “reasonable” ask.  It’s when the writer urges us to serve the Lord and not conform to the contemporary world we live in.  In verse 6 he says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” And in verse 11 he tops it off with, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Whatever gifts or talents, or knowledge or abilities or voice you have been given, use it for the Lord.

IT’S MORE THAN AN ASK, IT’S REQUIRED!