Good Morning Friends,
Yesterday we asked a question about accountability and now today we ask about investing our time and talent and treasure shrewdly. Today we look at the story of the unjust steward which is often called the story of the shrewd steward. The scripture compares the children of light and the children of the world. We also look at some encouraging last words of Paul about having a missionary heart. And the scripture got me to thinking about how we prepare financially and spiritually to use the gifts we have been given to glorify God. But then thinking about the story of the Good Samaritan, which has been on my mind, I had to face up to the fact that I am often too busy to help others and instead focus on my own comfort levels and in the process often not risk enough to even share the Gospel. The message here is a bit messy but so are the relationships of this world when money is involved. Regardless it is clear that there is a proper and improper use of resources. For God’s sake, we cannot take it with us. So, Do You Understand The Proper Use Of Wealth?
Scripture: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NRSV)
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
Philippians 3:17—4:1 (NRSV)
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.
Luke 16:1-8 (NRSV)
I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”
Romans 15:14-21 (NRSV)
Message: It was not out of pride or with an arrogant attitude that Paul called people to look to him as an example of what it means to be a Christian. Our ultimate example of the way we are to be is Jesus Christ yet what is clear is this: when you see another Christian living for Christ we need to learn from their example and follow them in their obedience to Christ. We need to keep our eyes open for such people, tested people, mature Christians who are always striving forward in their walk with Christ. And this is especially true when we are talking about business and money and community. Many places of worship are engaging in stewardship campaigns this time of year, so it is appropriate for us to contemplate our own giving and whether it is really from the heart. But we are also to face the fact that our efforts cannot be our savior. Every person must someday give account of the life they have lived. Death is the judgement of life and when we do die, all the money in the world will be of no value to us at all. Money is indeed a foreign currency for those with citizenship in heaven. Therefore, as stewards now we should use wealth and talent and influence for our Lord’s good and not solely for our own pleasure and comfort. Sure, we should enjoy life. But really, complete comfort is a bit boring. That is why God wants us to risk using the gifts we have been given and moreover, God wants us to use them wisely for the Kingdom’s purpose of making disciples of the next generation as well as people around the world. And that means risking in ways that are not comfortable. We are to embrace the mess and realize that people can be a burden but also a great joy. So, if we are honest, we will admit that even though we are struggling with this generational transition of faith, if we invest some money wisely it might just make a difference. So, do not withhold the Good News when it is in your power to share it. Do not be selfish. Be helpful. Be honest. Be truthful. Be humble. Be a good neighbor to the next generation. Invest in relationships.
And So, we are to learn from today’s parable that Jesus is not praising the unjust methods of the steward but his foresight. We are to learn to give with wisdom. What follows today’s parable from Luke is a listing of the proper use of money. Here we hopefully learn that what makes a gift great is not its size but the nobility of the results it produces for the Glory of God in relationships. So, let’s not misconstrue the message in today’s parable. Luke is writing about the problems of the early church and to some extent the problems of the church today. Jesus is telling us that earthly wealth is fleeting. He is also telling us that earthly wealth is on loan. But what we do is heavenly wealth. Paul realized that and asked us to imitate him when it comes to becoming more Christlike in generosity.
Pray that we realize that we cannot serve two masters. Pray we have Godly examples of how to handle money. Pray we act with prompt foresight like the rogue in today’s parable but unlike the rogue steward do so with noble efforts. Pray we commit ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in stewardship realizing that we will be held accountable. Pray we devote ourselves to the pursuit of the Great Commission both near and far. Pray we have an active dialogue with those who need to hear the Gospel. Pray we be advocates. Pray we are not apathetic toward helping those in need. Pray we are not so busy that we fail to have time for Jesus. Pray we serve the common good within the will of God. Pray we use money on loan to us for a righteous purpose. Pray we invest in relationships that glorify God. Pray we are faithful for the things we have been entrusted with not so much out of obligation but because we love God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 