God’s Gifts — Our Treasures
By Joyce Sohl
What are your treasures? Do your treasure such items as money, land, house, antiques, your collection of cups or stamps or whatever? Or do you treasure power, honor, your position in the community, freedom? Or perhaps you treasure relationships, your children and/or grandchildren, your best friend, your relationship with God.
God is the giver of all things we treasure. What we do with our treasures is often determined by our relationship with God and our understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s gifts are for our use, our responsible stewardship, our sharing with others. Let’s look at three things that many of us treasure.
Time
“I don’t have enough time to help you. I am just too busy.” “I’ve got too much time on my hands. I am bored.” Most of us would express our feelings about time somewhere between these two extremes. For many of us, daily busyness saps our strength. Others of us aren’t sure what to do with our free time.
We know that our time is limited. God’s gift of life includes the time we have here on earth. Time is not ours to waste, to misuse or to overextend. Time is to be shared as we work, relax, renew, worship, build relationships and serve others.
Time is a treasure that can enrich our lives and the lives of others. The time we take for spiritual renewal and growth influences the time we use in service for others. The time we spend at work can affect how we spend our days off and the quantity and quality of time with our families.
Time is not to be squandered or jammed full of even important things. Treasure your time, and accept and give thanks for this wonderful gift of God.
Ideas
I believe ideas, concerns, insights and perceptions that come to each of us are God’s gifts to be acted upon and expressed. They can be the work of the Holy Spirit meant to be shared with the community at work, at home, at worship. Unexpressed ideas and concerns should not be hoarded, but shared so the entire community is enriched.
Each of us has gained a new insight through reading a book, studying Scripture or talking with a friend. Either through the spoken or written word, others are sharing their ideas. As their thoughts speak to us, we too must give our insights to others.
It is only in sharing such treasures that growth occurs, problems can be solved, people can be helped. Our minds can grow weary and dull without exercise.
Treasure your ideas, and accept and give thanks for this wonderful gift of God.
God’s grace
God’s grace is a great treasure – the greatest gift from God. It is God’s gift of forgiveness, assurance and promise given without merit or cost to us. We treasure God’s grace more as we grown in the faith and understanding of our responsibilities and opportunities as disciples of the Christ.
In Luke 12:48 we read: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” Jesus is reminding us that those who have received the grace of God are expected to serve and share. We have a responsibility to give and to witness to the power of Christ in our outreach to others.
Treasure God’s grace, and give thanks for this wonderful gift of God.
Treasures are important in our lives. Examine your treasures. If necessary, rethink your priorities to more fully follow the teachings of Jesus. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34)
Joyce D. Sohl has been Laywoman-in-Residence since 2009 as a full-time volunteer. She retired as CEO of United Methodist Women in 2004. She is the author of 4 books, a teacher, retreat leader, writer and non-professional musician. Here at the Center her work is in the area of Spirituality & the Arts with such programs as Tuesdays in the Chapel, Vespers & All That Jazz, Poet’s Corner, and quarterly retreats and art exhibits. Contact Joyce at [email protected]