How Much Did You Get From Your Trade In?

Luke 19:15 (New King James Version)
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

I’ve learned that when you trade in your car you are fortunate if you get the book value for your trade in. Sometimes the dealer shows you on paper that you got some money but by the time they finish marking up the prices you’ve got nothing for your trade in. It’s better if you sell the car yourself and come with cash in your hand to negotiate your purchase.

When we trade in our lives God always gives us more for our old “Clunker of a Life” in exchange for our new life. When we make a trade in with God he puts change in our hands along with being made new. He gives us life and life more abundantly.
When God puts money, change, and new life into our hands he’s expecting for us to make more in our trading.

Jesus uses a parable of a man going out in search of a Kingdom and he leaves some servants with some money to be stewards over until he returns with his Kingdom. Jesus is the man who is establishing a new kingdom and we are the servants he gives the money to. The money is whatever God gives us after our trade in. For some of us it is literally, money, new life, a second chance at life, promotion, or a healed body.

Now the question is how much did you gain by trading?

Two out of three Servants invested the man’s money and gave him back double, but the third servant said he was scared because his master was an austere man. The word "Austere" means economically rigid. He knew the master didn’t play with money, “he collects what he did not deposit and reaps what he did not sow.”

Jesus said, “If you knew that to be true, why didn’t you put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?”

Whatever God gives us he’s expecting us to give him more back. What have you gained by trading?

1. Your Time. God has redeemed time for you by giving you an extension on your life. Are you using your time to give God glory through ministry, volunteering, missions or do you make excuses when it’s time to serve?

2. Your Talents. Whatever we are gifted in we should use a portion of it to bring more people to the Kingdom. You should be using your gifts and talents to bring people into relationship with Jesus Christ.

3. Your Tithes. We should invest our money into Kingdom initiatives. Your tithes should go to a ministry that is about the business of helping people transform their lives and their neighborhoods. The ultimate goal for Kingdom living is when you are able to live off of 60% of your income and invest the other 40% with 10% in tithes, 10% in savings, 10% investments, 10% philanthropy.

What will you have to show for your trade-in when Jesus returns?

Dear God, thank you for giving me more than my trade-in was worth. My intentions are to invest my life in Kingdom initiatives and not waste my life being idle and being fearful. Use me as your servant to increase whatever you put in my hands.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.