How Big Is Your Faith?

      Hebrews 11:1-2 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.” With half a century of life under my belt, I have accumulated a number of fascinating observations regarding those who claim to be God’s children.

      One observation involves the faith demonstrated toward the financial decisions incumbent with a church’s opportunities to work. I have repeatedly witnessed brethren claim we cannot undertake a work because of the checking account balance. Proper stewardship is important and desirable. However, when it comes to our work with the Giver of All Blessings, far too many brethren walk by sight and not faith. Their faith is no larger than the checkbook’s balance.  Psalms 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those that dwell in it.” I see individuals obligate themselves to pay money they do not have for things they do not need. Somehow they justify the purchase, expecting to fulfill the obligation. They seem to walk by faith regarding their own desires.

      But when it comes to the Lord’s work, I’ve observed far too many “business meetings” where brethren focus on the problems in undertaking work rather than positively figuring out solutions with a positive expectancy that a good work needs to be done. They may suggest “cutting back.” Rather than making decisions on faith, obedience, and trust in God, their thoughts so often ignore God and His ability to bless our efforts for good and entrusting us with even more. In our stewardship, we are given the talents and the opportunities to demonstrate our confidence in God’s ability to provide even more. In Haggai 1:2-11, God said, “This people says, ‘The time has not come, even time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt’…Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate? …consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes. …consider your ways! You look for much, but behold, it comes too little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?...Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs his own house.”

      I wonder what lessons people receive from the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. The message demonstrates talents and opportunities that had been given to three different individuals. The two and five talent men utilized both their talents and their opportunities. God’s response was, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master” (v21, 23). The one talent man had the same opportunities to utilize and multiply his talent. Everything appeared too difficult to him. At his judgment, he accounted for his little thinking and wasted talent. He hadn’t lost the talent, he just hadn’t used it. He had lost opportunity costs associated with his negligence. It’s what the talent could have done and accomplished had he used it, but he didn’t. Observe God’s response to his thinking in verses 26-30. “You wicked, lazy slave…Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have in abundance, but the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into outer darkness…”

      Benjamin Franklin said, “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall receive it.” Someone may say, “You don’t know my heart.” How can we know what’s in a person’s heart? Observe their behavior. I have for half a century.

Phil Cavender