When the bible teaches about finances, it isn’t just about tithing, it’s also about the other 90%. How much is enough? How are we living and are we living within our means?
How do you view your wealth? What is its purpose? Where does it come from? All of these questions are addressed in a very interesting story/parable of Jesus where a household manager appears to win the respect of his master by acting dishonestly, found in Luke 16. Today we look at Kingdom Wealth and Stewardship.
The Right Use of
Who are we? Stewards of someone else’s wealth. A steward is someone who manages another’s wealth. He does not own that wealth himself but has the privilege of enjoying it and using it for the profit of his master. The most important thing about a steward is that he serves his master faithfully. He must remember that the wealth belongs to his master, not him personally, and that it must be used in a way that will please and profit the master. This particular steward forgot that he was a steward and began to act as if he were the owner.
How does this affect the way you view yourselves and your stuff?
He is called to give an account, we will as well someday.
V8-9 The master surprisingly commends him- approve or praise. Though he was dishonest (lit. Steward of injustice), he calls him shrewd (prudently, wisely, lit. Intelligent, mindful of one’s interests).
How can he be praised for his dishonesty? He is in no way condoning his behavior or his dishonesty. Jesus seems to be saying that those we would call unbelievers seem to be much sharper than God’s people in the matter of using the world’s wealth.
Jesus’ initial point is to put some thought, use some savvy, to think through and come up with ways to benefit the “sons of light” in this age, so that they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.
Financial Resources Provide an Index to
How you handle the small stuff (money) is a clue to whether you can be trusted with greater responsibility.
Faithful in the little crops up often in scripture. Judas pilfers the money box (Joyn 12) and then betrays Jesus (John 13)
1 Timothy 3:5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church
How does how you handle your wealth, the way you spend your money, the amount of stuff you have and what it means to you reveal how you handle the “small” stuff? Remember, The big stuff is the eternal stuff.
Financial Resources Raise the Possibility of
We cannot love or serve two masters any more than we can walk in two directions at the same time. If we choose to serve money, then we cannot serve God. If we choose to serve God, then we will not serve money. Jesus is demanding integrity, total devotion to God that puts him first in all things.