Diversification of Grace

Matthew 25:14-30

   11.15.20

Reading and understanding scripture can be challenging, to say the least. Sometimes a message jumps right at me. Other times, it confuses me to no end.  After reading this week’s upcoming Gospel, I found myself thinking about finances, investments and returns on financial risks.  We all have invested in something.  Maybe playing the stock market, buying  new home, investing in our child’s education, or perhaps playing it safer by investing in a diversified, moderate risk retirement portfolio for your retirement?

So here it goes.  The King gave three of his servants, gold pieces to hold while he was on a journey. After returning, he was greeted by the first guy who was given five coins and proudly presented the King with ten coins.  Not a bad return, eh?  The King smiled and congratulated his servant for being so financially savvy.  The second guy greets the master and is equally excited to show the King that the two gold coins he was entrusted with had doubled in their worth.  The King applauds the second servant for taking a risk and doubling his investment.  Now the last guy timidly approaches the King with the one coin he was given, saying he was afraid to lose the coin, so he simply buried it.  He did not want to upset the King with a total loss. The King’s demeanor changes into anger and he admonishes this servant for his lack of courage and insight.  He sends him away because there was no profit made and this because the servant lacked the courage to risk taking a chance.

Most are familiar with the multitude of saints God has given us throughout history.  Not all were holy form the onset of their lives.  God picked prostitutes, whore mongers, tax collectors and spoiled brats before turning them into incredible models of the faith for us. Much of their past was filled with lives that only returned a selfish profit, lives rooted in burying their “coins of grace” and never considering the consequences of the actions (or inactions).  Rather than diversifying God’s grace, they hoarded it for themselves.  This kind of plan is stagnant, and the King was aware of this.  Perhaps, these outcasts that God chose, turned away from fear and took the risk to diversify His grace; thereby experiencing a magnificent return on this investment of faith?

The result of a profitable, spiritual investment that multiples itself is rooted in what I call “exponential grace.” As with the first servants, it begins by taking some degree of risk for a profit to be returned.  The saints that preceded us and who walk among us today know the importance of the diversification of grace. They regularly exercise it to renew the face of the earth.  What spiritual investments have you made in today’s renewal project and do you bury your coins of grace or are you willing to share them among those most in need?  Hope to see you on the road to renewal! Pax.

The Pilgrim.