Tuesday was my father-in-law’s birthday. It’s hard to believe that he has been gone for almost three years. The depth of grief that we still hold for him is immeasurable. I’ve often thought about the impact he’s had on so many. At his memorial service, friends and family shared about the special ways he went above and beyond to invest in them, both emotionally and spiritually. A former student of Darryl’s said that he drove to his house, picked him up, and took him to lunch. He discussed this person’s troubling behavior and helped him turn his life around. At the time, that person was a teacher, partly because of the investment Darryl made.
Though he didn’t do this specifically for me, the investment he made in my life is still growing, literally. Darryl and I were friends long before I met my husband. When I showed up as a new teacher and softball coach, he took me under his wing. It wasn’t until two years after growing our own friendship that he tried to “set me up” with his son, Chris. It didn’t stick immediately for either of us, but after years of Christmas encounters, it did. Now, I’m married to my guy, and we are watching our children grow before our eyes.
As I reflected through the years of knowing him, it is clear to me that he used his gifts and our relationship to pour into me, to help build me up and spur me on in Christ. Even though he isn’t here with us anymore, I can see him all around us, as he’s been a pillar of faith in helping shape both my husband’s and my spiritual foundation. However, had he not taken time to get to know me and to help grow me, I wouldn’t be living this life I have now.
What does this all mean? It means that we, as believers, need to invest in one another. We need to do the things that are hard or make us go out of our way to help build each other up. I was reminded of this and Darryl as I read through Matthew 25. There’s a story called “The Parable of the Talents.” In the story, Jesus described three men who were given money from their master to handle while he was away on a long journey. When the master returned, the men who were given multiple talents, put their master’s money to work and returned his original money, plus interest they had earned from it. The man with one talent, was scared to step out and buried it. When his master returned, he returned the one talent, and the master was disappointed (to put it lightly) (Matthew 25:14-30). The man going on a journey is likened to Jesus’ second coming. We, as believers, are waiting with hopeful anticipation of His coming, though we do not know when that will be. What we do with our gifts and talents as we wait is key here. Do we bury them in fear – afraid of stepping out and making God angry? Or, do we invest what we’ve been given so that God’s Kingdom can have a full return?
Darryl was a man of investing. He spent time with God and with others. When he left us, which was quite abrupt, I imagine that he heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). I imagine that he was rewarded for investing his gifts and talents in those around him. I want to be a person who invests, and I’m not talking about money. I want to invest in the things that are important to God, because just as the two servants who invested wisely, I want to share in God’s joy (Matthew 25:23).
Friends, Jesus said, “... to His disciples, ‘The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). Let’s strive to be workers of His harvest this week. Let’s invest our gifts, time, prayer, and energy into His people, showing the love and kindness of our Savior, Jesus. Have a great weekend!
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