At my age, there can be two basic types. One type congratulates itself  for all the wise financial decision they have made. The other kicks itself for not having done a better job. I'm the latter type.

That doesn't mean I would go back and change anything. You see, it's as the Bible says -- in life we reap what we sow. If I would have committed my life to achieving material success, there would be spiritual treasures that I would have missed. But, even in regard to spiritual things, I still could have done a better job. That's one reason I hope God allows me more time. 

It's a little long, but Jesus taught a parable I think important. 

A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, "Do business with this until I come back." But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, "We do not want this man to reign over us." When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. The first appeared, saying, "Master, your mina has made ten minas more." And he said to him, "Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities." The second came, saying, "Your mina, master, has made five minas." And he said to him also, "And you are to be over five cities." Another came, saying, "Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow." He said to him, "By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?" Then he said to the bystanders, "Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas." And they said to him, "Master, he has ten minas already." I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence (Luke 19:12-27 New American Standard Bible).

You see, for me it's never been a matter of having all the prophecies down right. What counts to me is fulfilling the ministry that God has given me. I didn't chose God, He chose me. And, if you are a fellow believer in Jesus, He chose you too. The bottom line is, He appointed all of us to produce fruit for His kingdom.

When I was young and read the book of James, I would sometimes pray for wisdom. Later in life, when I read Paul's letter to the Ephesians, I would sometimes pray that the eyes of my heart be enlightened. Today, before I write my commentaries, I still pray for insight. And lately, I've even been praying for the gift of evangelism. When I go out to speak, I pray that God will give me words and a special gift for my listeners. You see, I know that whether Jesus appears in the sky for me, or at my death bed, He's going to ask what I have done with the spiritual gift that He gave me when I was saved. 

As of today, I could have done a better job.

How about you?