Suggested Readings: Psalm 105:1-42, Exodus 33:1-6, Romans 4:1-12
Growing up, the days around my birthday were exciting. Usually, these days were marked by the arrival of cards in the mail, and sometimes those cards contained money. I didn’t know much about money so, often, my main thought was, “Sweet! This’ll buy so many Pokémon cards!” One birthday, my Uncle Mike gave me a peculiar envelope. I opened it carefully and pulled out its contents. Instead of a normal birthday card, I found a letter. I scanned it, stumbling on the words: “Receipt of Stocks Purchased”. Stocks? What are stocks and how do I cash them in for a Gameboy? Surprisingly, those stocks held a valuable lesson: the power of Compounding Interest.
Compounding Interest makes investments grow and generate returns (money) without you doing anything. It’s the ultimate win-win. The kicker is it requires commitment (an initial investment) and patience. It wasn’t until later in life that I realized this concept bears a resemblance to the way God’s works play out in our lives. We commit to a life of faith and then, if we’re patient, we witness God’s mercies, love, and provisions pour out repeatedly with little additional action on our end - like Compounding Interest. Let’s explore this further with today’s readings.
Our readings highlight the main mystery of the Old Testament: God’s covenant with Abraham and the people of Israel. Listing the many acts and miracles that He carried out on the journey to the promised land, the psalmist illustrates God’s commitment to this covenant. But notice this: God is the main actor. Apart from “wandering”, few actions are credited to anyone else! Paul reinforces this by reminding us that we consider Abraham righteous because of his faithfulness, not his works or deeds. We see more examples throughout the Bible where an initial investment (dedication or belief) and patience (faithfulness) pay off big time.
I might get fewer birthday cards in the mail these days, and I’m not much better with stocks, but I am more clearly aware of the mercies and love God pours out on me, regardless of what I did–or didn’t do–to deserve them. Take a moment this Lent to observe the many examples of God’s provision. Take heart in knowing they’ll be there no matter what you do or don’t do as long as you stay faithful. Take courage in his faithfulness and recommit to your own.
Joe Mankowski