“And if you are not faithful with other people’s money, why should you be trusted with money of your own?” (Jesus speaking, Luke 16:12, NLT).
In order to understand this passage, we have to look at it in the Light of eternity – you’d do well to read Matthew 25:1-30. As believers here on earth, we should understand the truth of First Corinthians 6:19b-20a which addresses every believer: “You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (NIV). When we don’t even have ownership of our own lives, we certainly can’t claim ownership over the “stuff” associated with earthly living. No, the money and other material possessions we lay claim to actually belong to the One who paid the ultimate “price” for our eternal pardon.
If you know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you’re managing His money. That life of yours means you’re also managing His time. He’s entrusted you with a specific amount of each – time and money – and He’s watching to see just how much or how little you can be trusted.
I’ve used this example many times, but allow me to once more ask you to picture a 3-year-old. You place a dollar in this little angel’s hand and she immediately toddles off down the hallway. Within moments you hear a familiar flushing sound and she returns to you empty-handed, palm out, expectant.
“What did you do with the dollar I just gave you?” you ask her. She smiles sweetly, shrugs her shoulders and continues to hold out the palm of her hand, waiting for you to hand over more money for her to play with.
Knowing what she did with the previous money you entrusted to her, how eager are you to give her more? Knowing how you’re managing what the Lord’s already entrusted to you, how eager should He be to trust you with more?
“We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God.” (Dwight L. Moody)
No comments:
Post a Comment