I recently listened to a speech by the motivational speaker Les Brown. In his speech, he told a story called The Builder, which has stuck with me since. The story centered around having integrity and doing your best every day. The story went like this; there was a builder who was excellent at his work. He had worked for his employer for several years and was at the point of retirement. His employer asked him to take on one more job before leaving. The Builder began building the house, but instead of giving his best effort, he used inferior products and mediocre skilled workers. He also did not pay close attention to details that he usually would have. Once the house was finished, the employer came to the Builder and said the house is yours. Here is the key; it is my gift to you. Immediately the Builder regretted not giving it his best.

I share this story with you to ask are you using your God-given gifts, knowledge, and skills to help build the kingdom of God, knowing that God has given you the key? Are you living each day giving your best effort? If not, why not? At the end, when our work is done, will God say, well done, my good and faithful servant, receive the eternal treasures that you have stored up? Or will he say to you away from me I never knew you, you stored up treasures that have rotten away?