In the house of the wise are choice stores of oil and food, but a foolish person devours all he or she has. ~Proverbs 21:20
Keep watch over yourselves and over the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood…Be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Now I commit you to God and to the Word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ~Acts 20:28-&-31-35
The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he or she has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, He should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen! ~1 Peter 4:7-11
What do you do with all of the spiritual treasures you have received? Do you distribute them among others or keep them to yourself? A few days ago, we talked about spending on ourselves as if we had holes in our pockets, with nothing to show for it in the end. We can do that spiritually as well. “In the house of the wise are choice stores of oil and food, but a foolish person devours all he or she has.” Jesus said to them: “Therefore, every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the Kingdom if heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” (Matthew 13:52)
Just as you may have had a hard time accepting the idea that you are a leader, you might also tend to object to the thought that you are also a teacher. But if you have read any of God’s Word, you know more than someone. You can teach what you know. “In the house of the wise are choice stores of oil and food.” Food is for growth. Oil is for soothing and healing. Both are for blessing yourself and others.
What good is the treasure of wisdom if you keep it to yourself? What use is the gift of comfort if it is not used to bless others. It is the foolish person that devours all that he or she has for themselves alone. Hoarding blessings never works for the one blessed and certainly does not bless others. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
“Each one should use whatever gift he or she has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, He should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 10-11)
All of these are means by which doors can be opened to share the treasures you have been blessed to share. The worldly person is only interested in taking care of themselves. Paul, on the other hand describes working with his own hands not just to provide for himself, but to give and bless others with the blessings he has received. “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
The same should be true with our treasures of wisdom. When we study God’s Word, it should not be for us alone. We should have in mind how to share it with others and bless them with the knowledge we are gaining. This is not just the Pastor’s job. Everyone needs to be growing and learning and sharing what we have learned with someone else for their edification as well. Bring the treasures you have, new and old, out of your storeroom, your memory, to share with others.
Don’t keep it to yourself like the foolish person that consumes all he or she has so there is nothing to share or save for later. Use what you have. It will be blessed as you do. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Cor. 9:8-10)
Be willing to share. Don’t be dependent upon seeing results. “As God says in Isaiah: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from My mouth: it will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:8-11)
The question for us is: will we share the treasure He has sent us or keep it to ourselves?
Prayer: Father, I will share! Show me the people who need to hear from me. Help me to be wise and loving as I share the treasures you have lavished upon me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Go Light Your World
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