Derek Smith
Lead Pastor
Matthew 25:14-19
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
In 1904 William Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy Estate, graduated from a Chicago high school a millionaire. His parents decided to give him a trip around the world, and as he was traveling through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe God gave Borden a burden for the world’s hurting people. Writing home, he said, “I’m going to give my life to prepare for the mission field.” Borden went on to graduate from both Yale University and Princeton Seminary, and upon completing his studies Borden sailed for China to work with Muslims. He first stopped in Egypt for some training and while there he was stricken with cerebral meningitis and died within a month. Some said, “what a waste!” However, after his death someone picked up his Bible and opened it to find these powerful words written: No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets.
As Children of God we have been entrusted with a sacred trust: the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. All the time, talents, and treasures the Father has given us are for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Jim Elliot once said, “It is no sacrifice to give what you cannot keep to gain what you cannot lose.” Friend, the only thing going before us to Heaven is what we invest in God’s Kingdom work here. We can’t take anything earthly with us to the other side. What are you doing with the time, money, and gifts that you’ve been given? We are going to answer to the Master one day for how we invested what He gave us in service to Him. William Borden was a much richer man the day he died than before He entered the ministry. The same will apply to you and I if we commit our resources to building God’s Kingdom. Then and only then can we declare we have lived a life with no reserves, no retreats, and no enduring regrets.