David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

recent posts

about

In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Stewards of a Different Kind of Treasure

Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. – Acts 16:1-5

The rebar shows in the concrete of the Berlin Wall
This remnant of the Berlin Wall testifies to the perceived danger of people maintaining relationships with one another on the part of the East German Communist rulers. The stark shadow is also a symbol of the dawn of a new day when the Wall came down.

They say it’s not what you know but who you know that opens doors and provides opportunities in life. Sometimes that’s a real challenge – especially when you’re looking in from the outside. And it’s quite welcome when you are the beneficiary of relationships  and connections that provide you with the inside track.

There is yet another way to assay the realities of relational capital that has little to do with one’s own personal benefit, or advantage over another. That has to do with the way we may leverage the relationships we have for the cause of God’s kingdom.

Relational capital is even more important than financial capital in the cause of the rule and reign of God. For God has all the silver and all the gold. He can provide those resources when and where he wills. But relational capital is lived out between people, and we have the sad capacity to undercut the blessings of God’s grace that is meant not only to be received, but also to be shared. What’s more, it is through relational capital that both our spiritual capital and financial capital are leveraged.

Consider the people mentioned in these verses. Timothy, his mother, and father provide entrance into new places and open the kingdom to new believers. Even though Paul and Silas are on a journey to re-visit the places they had previously shared the Gospel, their presence and the prior relationships they have enjoyed will bring the message of the Gospel into more people’s lives. The church will be strengthened, encouraged, and grow in the number of people who call Jesus Lord.

Certainly it is only God who causes the church to grow. But God works through people and people who leverage their relationships for the cause of his kingdom are part of something very special. They are stewards of a treasure (relational capital) for which there is no substitute.

Discover more from David Bahn – Reflections

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Posted in

One response to “Stewards of a Different Kind of Treasure”

  1. Quilting Crosses with Threads of Hope Avatar
    Quilting Crosses with Threads of Hope

    I see a simple machine: lever and fulcrum in need of a pry bar.
    The lower edge of the lever is deeply embedded in the foundation on which the machine sits, while on the upper end rests opportunity waiting to be balancingly lowered to an attainable position.
    Enter the pry bar! The Holy Spirit pry bar moving us out of stagnation, a rut, a decisive action to remain out of motion or whatever. Balancing occurs as the Holy Spirit leverages HIS treasure on us!
    What a fun thought- exercise your words have provided today! Come Holy Spirit, you are welcome here! Leverage away!

    Reply

Leave a reply to Quilting Crosses with Threads of Hope Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.