Do you live by faith or live out of fear? Jesus tells us a story about a great businessman in Matthew Chapter 25 that will shine some light on this question. A man gives money to his servants and instructs them to build and multiply the investment while he is out of town on business. Upon his return, he is expecting to receive an increase. He gave the first servant (in present-day value) $5 million, and this investment became $10 million or a 100 percent return. He gave the second servant $2 million and received $4 million in return. In sociology, this is called the Matthew Effect, taken from the parable of Jesus which paraphrased states, “For those who have much will be given even more.” 

So basically, those who begin with advantage, accumulate more advantage over time. At first glance, it seems unfair, but it is a principle of the universe, and goes beyond Christianity. As the parable continues, the last servant, who was given $1 million, was so worried and fearful about the investment, that he buried it. He gives the money back, saying, “I protected it.” The businessman says, “You wicked servant!” 

Friend, I would have loved to sit with Jesus under the olive trees and ask, “What would have happened if the man with the $1 million invested it and lost it all?” I think He would have said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What God is pointing out is not that the man didn’t make any money. It’s that he didn’t try. We don’t have to operate out of fear or uncertainty. Let’s maximize our faith and allow God to use us in this precious gift called life.