19
ROI – Return On Investment
John TiltonLuke 19:15-23
“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?
We’ve read and heard this parable often about the nobleman who gave his servants mina to steward, and that later on becoming king he called them to account. The parable goes on about how the first two invested their mina resulting in an affirmation by the King on their wise actions. We also know that the third servant was unwise in drawing conclusions about the King and therefore not acting wisely in his stewardship and investment.
The lesson is very simple and clear for me as someone who came from a family with meager means, financial stewardship running through my Chinese veins and having been thrust into business right out of college; and now having the honor to steward God’s money for His Kingdom.
The key of the matter is knowing how to share, encourage, impart and guide others into stewardship, and the balance between what would be catalytic, measureable, versus throwing money to the wind. In business, ROI or return on investment is a key to success. In ministry, ROI is measured by salvations, changed lives and transformation; rather then transactions. That is where I need to seek God’s guidance in how I lead in this area; that I would be able to communicate and impart stewardship of God’s funds with prudence; less on forecast and net results of the numbers, but foresight and potential of lives influence, changed and saved. Perhaps it is a focus less on what is going out, but who will come into the Kingdom because of prudent investment in people’s lives through Jesus.
Dear Lord, please guide me in my daily decisions and you’ve given me the honor to steward your fiancés as a return on lives, which is the greatest investment possible; far beyond exponential growth in money.
