... a biblical perspective on money and possessions in light of eternity

Monday 22 August 2016

Stories about Stewardship

The story of the shrewd manager shows that each of us should carefully invest our financial assets, gifts, and opportunities to have an impact on people for eternity, thereby making preparations for our own eternal future.

The story of the coins shows that we're each entrusted by God with different financial assets, gifts and opportunities and we'll be accountable to God for how we've invested them in this life.

The story of investments shows that those with comparable gifts, assets and opportunities will be judged according to their faithfulness and industriousness in investing them in God's kingdom, and consequently will receive varying positions of authority in heaven.

The master may deal with other servants however they wish.  Each servant must do the job and be prepared to give account to one from whom nothing can be hidden.

The inevitability of consequences for all our actions - the law of the eternal harvest is more certain than the laws of physics --
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. - Galatians 6:7
The meaninglessness of everyone else's evaluation of the steward compared to the judgement of our one and only master --
Who are you to judge the servant of another? Before his own master he stands [approved] or falls [out of favour]. And he [who serves the Master—the Lord] will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. - Romans 14:4
 From the beginning to end, Scripture repeatedly emphasised God's ownership of everything --
Behold, the heavens and the highest of heavens belong to the Lord your God, the earth and all that is in it. - Deuteronomy 10:14
The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; you are [only] foreigners and temporary residents with Me. - Leviticus 25:23
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion and kingdom, O Lord,and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honour come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand is power and might; and it is in Your hands to make great and to give strength to everyone. - 1 Chronicles 29:11-12
"Who has first given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine. [Who can have a claim against Me who made the unmastered beast?] - Job 41:11
The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it, The world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the streams and the rivers. - Psalm 24:1
'The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares the Lord of hosts. - Haggai 2:8
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honour and glorify God with your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Not only does God own everything, but He determines how much of His wealth He will entrust to us --
But you shall remember [with profound respect] the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore (solemnly promised) to your fathers, as it is this day. - Deuteronomy 8:18
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;He brings low and He lifts up. - 1 Samuel 2:7
Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand is power and might; and it is in Your hands to make great and to give strength to everyone. - 1 Chronicles 29:12
When I grasp that I'm a steward, not an owner, it totally changes my perspective.  Suddenly, I'm not asking, "How much of my money shall I, out of the goodness of my heart, give to God?"  Rather, I'm asking, "Since all of 'my' money is really Yours, Lord, how would you like me to invest Your money today?"





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