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Multiplying Assets
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Multiplying Assets
I was staying at a delightful hotel right on the water. It was small and older but very busy and well kept. It was exactly what I was looking for. I enjoyed getting to know the owner. He was proud of what he does and loves his job. He made a point of finding exactly the kind of room that I needed. He went out of his way to make sure I could heat up hot milk at night.
He and his wife currently own 2 hotels in this small vacation area in Wisconsin. One of them is right on Lake Michigan. His wife manages one property and he manages the other. He does most of the maintenance work for both properties.
They work from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM 7 days a week. They meet at home every night at 10:00 PM. They winterize their properties after October 31st and close down for the cold weather. They spend winter months getting to attend church, being together, and visiting children and grandchildren. He is Lutheran and she is Catholic so they take turns attending both faiths. He says there are a lot of similarities in the religions and they are both comfortable.
Years ago, his wife waited tables and he filled vending machines for gas stations and hotels. They wanted to work for themselves and set a goal to own a business. They saved their money and finally bought a very small hotel.
Their next goal was to purchase a larger hotel. The plan was to build a solid business in the small hotel, sell it, and buy a hotel in the area where they wished to spend the remainder of their lives.
They ran this smaller hotel together for several years and built a strong business. They sold that business and did very well. They used that money to invest in the two properties that they have now.
They are where they want to be and plan to manage these hotels until they can no longer work. They are very content. They don't mind the hard work and enjoy the long break. He says the income produced from the two properties is enough to meet their needs.
As I listened to him, I thought about how much discipline it took to save enough money to buy a hotel. Neither of their jobs was high producing incomes. They had a family. They wanted more for their family and they made the sacrifices it took to get it.
They worked for what they wanted and their hard work paid off. They worked together as a team. One of the financial rules of life is that if you want something, you have to have enough money to pay for it. They followed this rule and saved their money.
"If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops." 2 Timothy 2:5-7 NIV
I thought about the parable of the master who entrusted property to his servants. It is a parable that really is about what God entrusts to us. I have always thought this parable was a very practical instruction about the importance of good financial management and management of the assets God allows us to oversee. This story can be found in Matthew 25:14-30. It named "The Parable of the Talents."
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. " Matthew 25:14-15
These hotel owners started as hard workers with jobs that produced a steady income. God trusted them with that income which could be considered the first "talent" they were given. They could have been satisfied to use that money and spend the rest of their lives on that income. .
"The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more." Matthew 25:16-17
I have no idea if God considered their starting position 5, 2, or 1 talents but this family certainly multiplied what they were given. The point of the story isn't about where we start. It is about multiplying what we are given.
"But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money." Matthew 25:18
They could have put that money in a bank account and "saved it for a rainy day." They could have spent all of the money and had none left. They could have been like the man in the story and dug a hole in the ground and hid God's asset.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more." Matthew 25:20
Instead burying their money, they invested it in that first hotel. The investment paid off. They sold that first hotel and made money.
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:21
This man's story could have ended with the first hotel. It didn't. God put them in charge of still more. They now are the owners of 2 larger properties in a beautiful and ideal location.
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you." Matthew 25:25
This family took risks. He certainly could have lost everything. It was risky to invest the first and the second time. His journey wasn't without difficulties. On his last property, he thought he had a partner. The partner backed out. It was frightening for a while but they were successful without the partner. He could have let fear of losing it all, stop him from reaching his goals.
"His master replied, you wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest." Matthew 25:26-27
God calls on us to manage what he gives us. He often calls on us to step out on faith. He expects us to turn 5 talents into 10 talents. He expects us to turn 1 talent into 2.
"`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside. Matthew 25:28-30. NIV
This family could have spent their life longing for more and feeling bitter because they didn't reach their goals. They could have watched others around them flourish and they move backwards. Another financial truth is that God does reward faith accompanied by action.
You may be thinking about all of the assets you have mismanaged. You may be at a point in your life where you think you have already blown this life lesson. I beg to differ with you. This lesson isn't to condemn our past. It is to empower our future. The beauty of our walk with God is that it always begins with today. We all have some assets today. If we start today multiplying our assets, we are walking in obedience to God.
I applaud this family's hard work and faith. Possibly more rewarding than their own success, are the success of their children. They taught their children excellence. As he proudly described their successful careers, I realized they had been a good role model for them. Success doesn't come without risk. Part of Loving The Lord Our God with all of our might is multiplying the assets that God has given us to manage.
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