Dear Beaver Ridge,

 

What does it mean to have bold faith? It means taking risks.

 

We see an example of taking risks in the parable of the talents. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of a man who went away for a while and gave his servants some “talents”—a large amount of money. He gave one person one talent, another person two talents, and another person five talents.

 

The five-talent person invested his money and doubled it. The two-talent person invested his money and got two more talents. When the master came back and saw what they had done, he said to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23 NIV).

 

But the person who was given one talent became afraid, so he hid his talent in the ground. When the master saw this, he said, “You wicked, lazy servant . . . 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 NIV).

 

The lesson Jesus teaches is this:  God wants us to take risks in our faith. If you make the most of what he’s given you, he will trust you with even more. When you’re scared and take no risks, then you’re not acting in faith with what God has given you. And that includes your abilities, relationships,

finances, and career.

 

Not long ago, the people of Beaver Ridge had a dream to remodel the sanctuary. I am sure there were those who thought it couldn’t be done or that it was a waste of resources or were afraid of change. Some may have questioned the ones who dreamed, “Who do they think they are?”

 

But people with bold faith, the risk takers, ask a different question, “Who do we think God is?” You see, God determines the size of our goal. They dared to believe that when we act in faith, God will provide the vision and the provision to achieve that goal.   

 

“Glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” — Ephesians 3:20 (TLB)

 

This Sunday, December 3, join us as we celebrate what God has done through the people of Beaver Ridge UMC who dared to step out in bold faith, invest their talents to honor God, and follow His dream. Because of your faith, many more will come to know who God is, believe in Him and accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

 

 

 Well done, good and faithful servants,

Pastor Teresa