The Story About Investment

“It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.

“After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

“The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

“The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

“‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.

Another name for this scripture from Matthew 25 is “The Parable of the Talents” but I like The Message Bible’s title: The Story about Investment. I love that through parables (a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels), we receive a clearer picture of God’s heart and hopes for us as His followers.

The Beaverton Christian Church family invests.

From outreach events to community partnerships, BCC is a known and trusted name in its community.

Did you know - in addition to the many BCC led initiatives, in which many of you serve - that BCC serves the community by inviting folks to use building space with the goal of seeing folks who are often under-served and under-resourced, have the opportunity to learn, grow, and flourish in community?

Each school year, BCC partners with the Beaverton Literacy Group, a volunteer-run organization in the Beaverton area that seeks to empower and support adult learners by teaching English and building community. Their weekly ESL classes, hosted at BCC, empower their learners to have the confidence and skills to participate fully in their communities.

Weekly, BCC hosts Every Body Athletics, a local non-profit committed to creating a lasting impact on the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of adults with disabilities through inclusive group exercise.

I'm also encouraged by the way you love your neighbor, Fir Grove Elementary School. Through your partnership, the faculty and families of Fir Grove Elementary experience the love of Christ in a multitude of tangible ways - school supplies, Christmas gifts for low-income families, and support in maintaining the school property.

In August, you will be partnering several organizations - Catalyst NW, Fir Grove Elementary, and the City of Beaverton. (Find out more at beaverton.cc/serve) I'm excited to hear your stories from these upcoming serve opportunities! I have no doubt that you will be a blessing, and that YOU will be blessed through these serve experiences!

I can imagine Jesus' words to the BCC community ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’ You inspire me to seek to do the same. May we all respond to the challenge to risk and invest our lives for the pleasure of our King.

Grateful for you!

Chris Yarco
Executive Lead