Jesus Is Teaching Us The Importance of Handling Money

Last week, we settled the issue of ownership learning everything belongs to God. We also discovered He has entrusted us to manage it all on His behalf. We are His stewards (managers). In Luke 16:11-12, we read, “And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?” The way we manage what He gives us determines whether or not He gives us more. 

How can we be better stewards? In 1 Corinthians 4:2, Paul tells us, “Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.” In Titus 1:7, Paul adds, “A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.” In 1 Peter 4:10, Peter elaborates, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 

God is the owner of all, and as His stewards, we, as believers, have a great responsibility to fulfill. We must have the Holy Spirit at work within us, giving us the strength, character, and wisdom to do our jobs well. Take a minute and read Matthew 25:14-30 which may be the most familiar passage in Scripture on stewardship. Jesus is teaching us, His followers, the importance of handling money well. Two of the servants/stewards in the story expanded the master’s funds in his absence while a third servant/steward did not. As the master settles accounts on his return, the good stewards are given more, and the poor steward loses what He had. 

Creating and keeping to a budget, living within our means, getting out of debt, saving, and investing are ways we can protect and grow the resources God has given us. May we begin afresh today, being faithful with what we have, so that God will entrust us with even more!