Last year, my friends and I each separately asked God for a word to guide us through the year. At first, I wasn’t sure how that would work, but it ended up being both an anchor and a reminder in good and bad times. My word was “Holy,” meaning to be set apart, and I delved into the depth of that word. I discovered that God is holy, and that same holiness can be found in me. Understanding this taught me that being different doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with me; rather, it means I’ve been chosen not to conform to society's expectations. Even if I sometimes feel like a stranger among my own family and community, I found solace in knowing that God sees me, and in His arms, I am safe. Exploring the concept of holiness further, I read Jackie Hill Perry’s book, "Holier than Thou," which opened my eyes to the profound nature of God's holiness. It's a book I would definitely recommend to others seeking deeper insights into this topic.This year though, the experience was a little different. The word given to me was revealed through Luke 19:11-27 (The Parable of the ten Minas):
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ “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?’ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”
Upon reading this scripture, I headed over to the Matthew Henry Commentary, which gave me a new perspective on this scripture as it is similar to the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The commentary states:
Those that are called to Christ, he furnishes with gifts needful for their business; and from those to whom he gives power, he expects service. The principal difference is, that the pound given to each seems to point out the gift of the gospel, which is the same to all who hear it; but the talents, distributed more or less, seem to mean that God gives different capacities and advantages to men, by which this one gift of the gospel may be differently improved.
When we look at the “minas” as gifts instead of currency, the perspective changes. It made me ask myself, how am I utilizing, strengthening, and exercising my gifts in order to advance and build the kingdom?
That very question led me to the word of 2024: Invest.
3 Questions I want you to ask yourself today that I asked myself as well:
- How am I investing into myself in order to grow and expand into the person God needs me to be for the purpose he has for me?
- What unique gifts and abilities has God entrusted me with, and how can I intentionally invest them to make a positive impact in the lives of others and advance His kingdom?
- Am I willing to step out of my comfort zone, take calculated risks, and invest in opportunities that may require faith and courage, trusting that God will multiply my efforts for His glory?
We are currently in a season of expansion. Therefore, we must learn new things, create new habits according to where God is calling us to be, meet new people, join new groups, get out of our norm, and experience all that God has for us. Something God said to me was, “Expansion is not about what you can or cannot handle; it’s about what you are willing to invest in order to advance and build the kingdom!”
In the scripture, the word “mina” refers to three months of wages. The king gave 10 minas to ten of his servants and told them to “Put his money to work.” This meant he gave away quite a lot for his servants to invest for him. However, did you notice that out of the 10, only 3 were accounted for? The first made an investment, doubled the earnings, and was appointed over 10 cities. The second made an investment, made a little less back, but was nonetheless appointed over 5 cities. The third allowed his fear to hold him back from a blessing. As for the other 7, we have no idea about them, but I can only imagine they probably lacked confidence in themselves and in the skills of their hands.
I am wondering today if that applies to you? Is it applicable to me?
I have struggled for years wondering if my skills were worthy of being seen because God has kept me hidden in the shadows, preparing me for a coming glory. It isn’t easy. Trust me, I understand, but we can’t allow those doubts, fears, and insecurities to send us running. We must invest in ourselves, in our gifts, and talents in this season because just like the first 2 servants, there will be a return on investment. The more we go out there and cultivate what has been given to us, the more God will bless us.
Take for instance right now. I don’t have much. I don’t have a car, I don’t have a steady income, I don’t have my own place, I don’t have money in the bank, and to the rest of the world, that is a lost cause. But to God, that’s a sacrifice. What I do have are my gifts. I have a mother who is obedient, I have clothes and shoes, I have food and a roof, I have a computer, I have internet, and I have a bible, and that is all I need to make an investment in my life.
Currently, things around me are changing. I am taking trading and investing classes, something I never thought I would ever be doing. I am also taking business classes, and I am joining business groups. This is significant for me because I am an introvert, and meeting new people is daunting for me. I am learning how to sell my personal art pieces, making my mark in the art industry, which is one business. I am rebranding the Graciously Defined Women’s Ministry, which is a second business. All while also building Graciously Defined Designs, which will be a sister company alongside the ministry to create brands for women entrepreneurs, ministry leaders, and business owners, which is a third business.
The point is, when you make an investment in your life, there are sacrifices that will be made, and in the process, there is an expansion that creates space for the new wine you produce from the newfound you found in the midst of transformation and change.