Easter Devotional Guide

Seventeenth Day:

"We must each carry our own load. Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said. You cannot fool God, so don't make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life." Galatians 6:5-8

Paul seems to forget the common wisdom that 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work. This breakdown is not a new phenomenon. It is all too common for only a small portion of a church body to do the work of the church. It is normally that very same number who financially supports the church budget, ministry expenses, and missions. Maybe Paul was not privileged with the information we have on how groups of people function. Perhaps the realities of persecution weeded out those who were unwilling to contribute to faith with their time, talents, and material resources. More likely, the same experience of depending on a handful was a First Century reality, just as it is in our own time.

It is interesting to note that those who contribute time and energy to the church are also those most likely to contribute financially. Our financial resources follow the investments we make with our time and effort. Mission agencies like hosting short-term volunteers, for those who invest their time in a mission effort return home to increase the investment of their financial resources, as well. In talking of participation in the mission of Christ Jesus, however, Paul speaks of a much greater contribution and reward.

Paul boils the issue down to a simple equation. We have a choice to make on how we will invest our lives. We can invest in selfish issues, or we can invest in God. The decision we make in terms of where we choose to invest our time, energy, talents, and material resources will likewise determine the quality of the return we will receive on our investments. What kind of return are we seeking?

When we are the minority paying 80 percent of the bills, we are likely to question the fairness of the proposition. We are likely to be upset that the majority are not picking up their fair share of the load. On the other hand, Paul says that in reality, the minority is not overburdened. It is the 80 percent who are missing out on God's blessings as a result of their burden of their selfish direction. Their short-sighted selfish actions and attitudes rob them of the blessings God has in store. They are charting a course of destruction rather than blessing.

It is like the world of financial investments. We are told there are simple steps to insure long term yields. Make consistent investments over time. Diversify holdings. Invest for the long term. It is when we ignore these simple steps that we tend not to meet our financial goals. It is when greed takes over and places our focus on the short terms that we miss the mark.

So it is with our investments in eternity. Spiritual growth and eternal rewards demand consistency. It is necessary to keep sight of the goal. The goal in Paul's view is service to God that results in fellowship with the Almighty, both here and forevermore.

What does the investment of your time and resources say about the direction of your life? Take action to focus your investment on goals of eternal consequence.

"Lord, help me to look upon investing in your mission from a perspective of eternity."

—©2009 Christopher B. Harbin

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