04.15.08

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:19-21.

For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. - Matthew 25:14-19.

You would think, that if you put some money in a bank’s safe deposit box, that it would be safe. After all, that is why you use those boxes so you can have some peace of mind, and know that your valuables are being kept safe. Apparently that is not true; at least it is not true in the state of Bihar in India. Dwarika Prasad has found that out the hard way.

Dwarika rented a safe deposit box at a branch of the Central Bank of India, which is owned by the government. Into his safe deposit box he put $16,000 dollars worth of rupees and investment papers, along with some silver and gold jewelry. After about two and a half years, he opened up his box, and discovered that the money and investment papers had been devoured by termites! Even the jewelry had some damage. The bank says it is not liable for the damage, because it posted a warning notice about termites back in May of 2007. Dwarika says, "I'm shattered. I do not know what to do as I had kept the money for my old age.”

Of course, we do want to protect the material resources that we have in our possession, whatever those resources/possessions may be. The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 gives us the perspective that we are to have, toward those material possessions, and resources. All that we have, actually belongs to God, and He has entrusted those possessions and resources into our stewardship. We are responsible to God for how we use, or do not use, all that He has given to us; and there will be a day when the Master requires us to account for what we have done with His possessions, and resources.

Not only should we take care, and not lose what God has given to us, but we should also put those possessions and resources to work in ways that will benefit the Kingdom of God. In the Parable of the Talents, the man who was given only one talent hid his talent in the ground. The Master said to this servant, "You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:26-30).”

There is a balance in life toward material things that we must try to keep. We want to use the resources that we have to glorify and serve our Lord, but at the same time we must also provide for our families. Whatever possessions or resources that we use in serving the Lord, are stored up in a very safe place where termites and earthly decay will never touch them. Heaven is the ultimate safe deposit box! So, whenever you can, put a little more away for your eternal retirement.