‘What have you already got?’ is a question we tend to ask as a coaching team. What do you have around you? What resources or tools do you have to hand? Who do you have to support or champion this project?
It’s essentially an inventory check—What have you got? It can be a helpful question to survey what you have, identify what you need, and eventually achieve what you want. However, sometimes it can make you realise you already have what you need to press on and pursue your goals.
My wife, a few friends from church, and I lead a student group on campus. We meet once a week in a chapel with a few students, provide snacks and hot drinks, and create space for students to come and explore faith. Last year at about this time, we had five regular students, whereas this year we have two. It’s really easy to feel disappointed and frustrated because our expectations haven’t been met. Last year it was five—why isn’t it ten this year? What are we doing wrong?
One of the team mentioned that they had been challenged by the parable of the talents. Jesus tells a story of a master who asks three of his servants to take care of his wealth while he is away. Two of the servants take what they are given and double it by trading or investing it, while the third servant digs a hole and hides his master’s wealth. This servant, concerned with losing what he had, ends up doing nothing at all. When the master returns, he asks for an account of his wealth. The first two servants receive praise and reward for their efforts, whereas the third servant is dismissed for his laziness.
So - what do you have? And how are you using it?
At the moment, we have two students who want to know more about Jesus. It may not be ten, but it is two, and God is challenging us to put aside our expectations and invest in what we have.
Are you investing in what you have? What a gift it is to have the opportunity to disciple even just one student! Let us not miss what we can already be investing in.
