RELEASING

Time, Talent and Treasure

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It is interesting as we delve into words and what they mean to us today. Many words used in the Bible had and still mean what the Holy Spirit intended them to, but as usual man has added his posture and personal thinking over the years to these words changing through time, habits and events the original intent.

Take for example two words "giving" and "releasing"...

Giving today implies ownership and that we should now receive something in return

But releasing implies management without ownership, so today we liken ourselves as releasers, always ready to let go as the Master calls for that which belongs to Him and He has blessed us with to use or draw our needs from as managers.

Giving is very clear in its intent in scripture; it is a condition of the heart NOT an amount given. Jesus verifies this in His teachings to the disciples.

Mark 12: 41-42 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

This is the most important part, compelled by love, adoration, thankfulness and reverence to God, for He loved us first! It makes no difference what we have, we should lay in wait for when the Master calls and says son, I need your time, talent or treasure and with a humble heart we are compelled to do all that we can!

Another one is when we see a fire, a Holy Spirit fire where the passion and desire burns bright to serve, and we can see that the hand of the Lord resides on that effort, we should stand ready to throw wood on that fire that it may not burn out, or join in in the effort that this good work may be completed.

Nehemiah 2:17-18 Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.

Your time, Talent and Treasure all belong to God who in His mercy and grace choose you to be His recipient to manage them, we need to stand ready for His call to release when He calls on us to do so... you will know clearly when that is, it is a matter between you and Him alone... then in free will it will be your choice to respond... filled with compassion to do so...

2 Corinthians 9: 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.