Baba says, “Baba is seeing the result as to what extent each child has accumulated all the treasures.“

Each child has received many treasures from BapDada. He gives freely and to all – the same amount and at the same time. And yet, He notes, the children become numberwise in how they use these treasures.

Even in the world, there are those who use their share of the father’s inheritance wisely- they put some in the bank, they invest wisely and end up multiplying their original share. Such children make their parents proud, elevate the family name and come to be known as ‘worthy (saput)’ children. Then there are those children who take their share- they neither spend it nor invest it. They let it sit there wasting away. It’s like hanging new clothes in the closet and staring at them every day but never wearing them. Neither do I experience what it’s like wearing them, never find out how the material feels on me, how it looks, moves etc., and nor does anyone else get to see it. As a result, I never receive the return of happiness or satisfaction. Finally, there are those children who take their share and spend it carelessly on all the wrong things and come back broke. Most of us are not in this third category but check, says Baba, which of the other two categories you are in.

Often, when we hear ‘treasures’, we think of what Baba has given us in terms of specialties- talents, skills, worldly education, wealth, etc. And so when it comes to investing our treasures, we think/say: “Well, I am a very talented speaker, but I am not given opportunities to speak…”, “I am a great planner or organizer, but I am never made in-charge of anything…”, “I have all these degrees, if only I could attend those conferences, I could really make God famous…”. Baba says, “These are not the treasures I am referring to.” Service is God’s domain, He will get it done and often, He doesn’t even choose the people with the skills or training to do something, He chooses those who are clearly unqualified, untrained and gets His work done through them. He leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind as to who got it done! It was always and only Him.

The treasures God refers to are imperishable treasures- the knowledge, the virtues and powers, the treasure of the present time. There are no obstacles to my using these treasures- I don’t need anyone’s permission, and I receive plenty of opportunities every single day. When that person behaves rudely at the grocery store, when that team-mate or boss leaves me out of the meeting again, I can use my power of tolerance i.e. invest it. The more I use/invest it, the more it grows and becomes a natural sanskar. When faced with a sudden financial crisis or illness in the family, I could use the power to face knowing that God is with me. Then, the next storm or crisis gets easier and less fearsome because I’ve been here before and have experienced God bringing me out safely. This is called becoming an authority of experience. But many of us get caught up in the fear of the storm and hesitate to use our power – “What if I trust God and He doesn’t do anything…”, “What if I’m just not that important to Him…”, “What if I go on stage and I forget what to say..”. We think such powerless thoughts and deprive ourselves the opportunity to invest and grow our treasure. Sometimes, a situation comes and we repeat to ourselves “Drama is beneficial, this too shall pass…” but our legs are trembling and we are crying! This is not using or investing the treasure of knowledge!

Brahma Baba had every kind of opposition- from people, from situations, from circumstances- come to him but at no point did he crumble. He was tolerant, forgave those who opposed him as innocent children, he trusted God in the most fearful situations such as when the lives of he/family were threatened or when taken to court or when there wasn’t enough food to feed anyone. He didn’t panic, struggle or run from door to door, He faced it all with faith in the One who is in-charge. He lived each moment of each day with the intoxication of who he was becoming and that rubbed off on others too. They wanted what he had. He loved unconditionally, uplifted those who were hopeless, and helped God rewrite destinies. That is investing and multiplying your treasures. He didn’t become famous by doing what he did, but he forever experienced God’s heart-throne. What’s more, he didn’t need any degrees or permission or opportunities to do it!

So when that teammate who has been leaving me out needs help, rather than think “serves him right!”, let me offer to help out; let me invest. The unexpected act of kindness will yield blessings and respect- that is return on my investment. When that crisis comes, let me choose to be the anchor in the storm- not only will that help me think and act clearly, but my stability becomes the lifeline for everyone around me. That is ROI. Let me smile even if that other person has hurt me in the past, let me let go of grudges, wash away the bitterness and resentment by filling myself with God’s love. Let me stop judging and criticizing and start encouraging and uplifting.

It is only at this confluence time that I receive the treasures and have the opportunity to invest and grow them. Every other time in the cycle is experiencing the fruit of my investment now. This is why it is said: “If not now, then never!” It was never about the talents and skills or the wealth; it is about the imperishable treasures. How well I invest them is reflected in the quality of my life now – am I living a victorious life or am I struggling- which then leads to who I become- Lakshmi and Narayan or a subject. Let me be the worthy child of God who doesn’t just overflow with treasures but helps others become full of treasures as well. “This is how“, Baba says, “you are richest in the world, the holiest in the world.“