TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a recent newspaper story, some local governments of the United States have come up with a variation on the idea of prepaid expenses. The new initiative includes prepaid traffic tickets, which means putting money on deposit with the local authorities so that if you are stopped for speeding, your ticket has already been paid. Some people, bothered by the idea, see it as giving drivers permission to speed.

Those who object to the concept of prepaid speeding tickets have a point. Human nature is such that it’s hard to be good and it’s easy to abuse a privilege when the bill has already been paid. All of the expenses for Ezra’s trip back to Jerusalem, and his ongoing needs in Israel (and then some), were “prepaid” by the generosity of the Persian king Artaxerxes. Ezra carried with him a sizable wealth that had been entrusted to his care, and he didn’t abuse this privilege.

That’s worth noting, because the letter of authorization that Artaxerxes gave to Ezra also granted him and his fellow Jews permission to use “the rest of the silver and gold” in any way they chose. But the king added that this must be done “in accordance with the will of your God,” a condition that we can safely say Ezra would have followed anyway because of his faithfulness to the Lord.

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How much can God trust you with, and how far can He trust you with it? We’re not necessarily talking about money, although that’s part of a Christian’s life management. The three Ts–time, talent, and treasure–are a good way to summarize the “stuff” of life that God has given us. Are you using these gifts to bless Him and serve others? Paul said, “It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). Turn this verse into a prayer that God will help you be faithful with all of your resources.

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