"What do I Know?" by Margaret Slaughter

What Do I Know?

We spend a lot of time focusing on what we don't have, and what we don't know.  In the corporate world, we spend a lot of time bragging about who and what we know.  Not so much in the Christian world.  So I thought, ‘what do I know’?  God’s Word is full of thousands of promises, sure to help you IF you know them.  This year, I've purposed to focus on what I DO have, and what I DO know.  Here are a few things I know . . . 

I know that He knew me before I was born:

“You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Ever moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” –Psalm 139:15-16

I know that He doesn’t make junk:

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.” –Psalm 139:13-14

I know that He values me:

“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.  They cannot be numbered!  I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!  And when I wake up, you are still with me!” –Psalm 139:17-18

I know I have experienced real love:

“This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” – 1 John 3:16

I know I can accomplish anything with His help:

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” –Philippians 4:13

I know He will fight for me:

“This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid!  Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” –2 Chronicles 20:15

I know He wants me to succeed:

“Commit your works to the LORD [submit and trust them to Him], and your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].” –Proverbs 16:3

So, the next time someone asks you, ‘what do you know’, what will you tell them?

Margaret Slaughter

"What Will You Do With Your Gift?" by Margaret Slaughter

What Will You Do With Your Gift?

Parable of the Three Servants

¹⁴ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. ¹⁵ He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.  ¹⁶ “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. ¹⁷ The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. ¹⁸ But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.  ¹⁹ “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. ²⁰ The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’  ²¹ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’  ²² “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’  ²³ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’  ²⁴ “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. ²⁵ I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’  ²⁶ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, ²⁷ why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’  ²⁸ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. ²⁹ To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. ³⁰ Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 

Matthew 25:14-30

In this passage of scripture, the Master has entrusted each of his servants with bags of silver, each according to their abilities.  The bags of silver represent ‘talents’, meaning:  gift or skill.  God has given each of us a gift or skill to use for His glory.  What will you do with your gift?  Will you bury it, and let it lie dormant like the servant with one bag of silver, or will you use it to help others, thereby multiplying it like the servants with two and five bags of silver?

1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT says, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts.  Use them well to serve one another.  Do you have the gift of speaking?  Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you.  Do you have the gift of helping others?  Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies.  Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.  All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”

So, I ask you, what will you do with your gift?

Margaret Slaughter