The
Vicar's Monthly Jottings
February
2012
This month Nick Grew writes:
Investment is so important. Right now we're hearing how our
economy is struggling and one factor that is both cause and
effect is a lack of visionary investment [i.e. more than just
a savings account]. All of us know at a personal level what
that feels like as our own incomes effectively shrink and we
have to make decisions on what we can or cannot afford.
The word that often gets bandied about is 'confidence' - where
people have confidence they will take a risk now, anticipating
future payback. We can see that issue explored in Jesus' teaching
[e.g. Parable of the Talents] and the disciples' experiences
[e.g. Feeding the 5000].
I'm fascinated by the response of the third servant in the above
Parable whose take on his master led him to bury what he had
been given out of fear of the future. In our sermons over the
next couple of months we're exploring the scope of God's love
for us. Everything we have and do arises out of our ongoing
grasp of that love. We are "loved from all eternity",
as Julian of Norwich put it. Two servants stepped out with confidence
in the master's heart and fairness; the one buried what he had
out of fear.
We have some key decisions to make and while we are also told
in scripture to weigh up the risks and costs, what we do will
have more to do with our confidence in God's love than our confidence
in our economy, personal or national. Past investments should
give us confidence as we see the outcomes [e.g. employing Jo
as Children & Families Worker and now seeing the increase
in 20:20, Messy Church & Ju:C].
Will we choose to invest in Chrissie Lacey as Pioneer Schools
Minister and part-time curate with us working to expand ministry
to those in their 20's and 30's? With options to change Sunday
patterns how will we choose to invest our time? With questions
about the gifts God has given us, where will we invest them
for His kingdom? And with all this going on, will we all invest
time in prayer to seek The Father's will?
Our response to all of these and more must arise from our confidence
in the love God has for us [1John 3:16]. His love protects us,
trusts in us, hopes in us, perseveres with us [1Cor.13:7], and
perfect love casts out fear [1Jn.4:18]. Let's invest with vision
& hope, trusting in such a generous & loving Heavenly
Father.
Nick
Grew
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