January 9

Beforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Conduct business with this until I return,’ he said. — Luke 19:13 BSB

We’re doing business in this world for Christ. Each one of us has something He has entrusted to us—our “pound,” if you will, to trade with as His representative. Our very life, with all its abilities, opportunities, and blessings, is that pound. Our life isn’t our own. We’re not here just to enjoy ourselves for a few years. Life is a trust. And when it’s over, we must give an account of it to the One who gave it to us. Our task is to make the most of this life for Him.

People often talk about how serious and solemn dying is. And while it’s true that dying is significant, living is far more serious. Dying is just returning the gift of life back to God. If we’ve lived well, death is victory—leaving behind the temporary things of this world as we enter into eternal life and joy.

Living, then, is the serious part. Every bit of our life belongs to God, and we are meant to use it in a way that multiplies it. Then comes the judgment. We will stand before Christ and give an account of what we’ve done with His pound. He will expect us not just to have kept it safe but to have increased it in value.