Investing, Then Divesting

Saturday, February 20, 2021
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "The Lord's Prayer"1 (Lyrics)

2 Timothy 4:7 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. (NLT)

I feel as though I have spent most of my life preparing for the next thing on the agenda. As a child, school prepared me for life in general. College then helped me to prepare for a career. A first job was a starting point, which would progressively lead on to other jobs. Our marriage began with a first apartment and many decisions which set in motion a lifetime together. Our goal in childrearing was to raise our daughter to become a mature, responsible adult. We worked hard and diligently planned ahead for retirement.

Investing means purchasing something or devoting time and effort in the expectation of some benefit in the future. Our younger years are spent investing in life through the coinage of our work, relationships, community involvement, church, and family. We can spend a lifetime in preparation and investing in things because we trust that there will be a return.

Let's look at this pattern of preparation and investment from a different perspective — our church life. We invest our time, prayers, and energy in our church in order to see lives change. My generation held the reins for its chapter in history, having a strong influence on church traditions and practices. We introduced new and exciting programs, music, and methods of outreach. But time moves on, and the younger generation is now stepping up to take charge.

Divestment is the natural follow-up to investment. The time comes to step back and to disengage. It is a normal progression to pass on responsibilities, possessions, and traditions to our children. As this happens, we also relinquish power and ownership. We entrust these things to our successors while allowing them to make their own adaptations as they see fit.

So it is, also, with church life. Change in our churches is normal — changes in music, dress, teaching styles, programming, finances, and so on. Change requires grace and flexibility as beloved traditions may no longer be observed. But how exciting it can be to watch this new generation carry the church forward into a bright future!

We can trust God to hold the church firmly in His hand. Passing on the mantle of leadership is a biblical pattern. Moses passed on the role of leadership to Joshua, Elijah to Elisha, and Paul to Timothy. In this same way, the older generation of believers should willingly pass on the work of the church to those who are following us. Our investment has borne fruit, and it is now time to divest.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, as one generation passes the torch on to the next, please preserve our unity and give us grace as the work of the church moves forward. Amen.

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About the author:

Gail Lundquist <gail10833@gmail.com>
Beaverton, Oregon, USA

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Wise words, Gail.


    Interesting thoughts, Gail, in your devotional, “investing, then divesting” in today’s PresbyCan.


    Morning, Gail,
    Thank you for your devotional, a good reminder for those of us at the retirement level… things change even though the major beliefs remain the same.
    Hope you are getting settled and feeling at home.


    Wonderful thought for today, but I was reminded last Sunday, that Daniel was 80 when he was shut in the Lion’s den!
    “It’s not over ’til it’s over”!
    Wishing you a joy-filled day.
    Bless you for your faithfulness!
    (BC)


    Thanks for sharing Gail.
    This is one area where we need to really call on God for help.
    The continuity in church leadership, especially in this end time, if the church must stand, we need better and stronger leaders, who would be ready to lay down their lives for the gospel.
    Blessings on you and yours.


    Dear Gail,
    Thank you for sharing your wisdom on how our lives mature and how the church will grow in the future. In Canada, we don’t have a great deal of young people stepping into the church these days. My faith is that God has different plans for the growth of his church which might be radically different from how the generations have the recent passed worship and it might be quite changed. God is in control and as long as I remember that I can be certain there will be a future for Christians. May you have a blessed day.


    Good morning Gail,
    Thank you for this very interesting devotional this morning. You laid out the facts so correctly as change is a constant happening as we age along in life. We may not always like the changes that occur, but we are here and have to be adaptive. One thing for sure is our Lord is ever there, ready to hear our prayers and guide us along our daily journey. Our faith must remain strong through the changes around us.
    Blessings for the special and very meaningful devotionals you contribute.


    Interesting way of looking at this subject. And vitally important. The role of former movers and shakers also should involve the sharing of wisdom gained through experience without hanging on to old ways.


    Dear Gail,
    My husband and I have many conversations about how normal changes are in the normal ebb and flow of life, yet at times how we are so resistant to them. I appreciate this very applicable devotion. Yes, we can trust God. Amen.

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