WISE USE OF WEALTH

Luke 16:1-13

Tuesday, 10 November 2020

“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” -Luke 16:9

Jesus Christ used parables in His teaching often to drive home certain truths to His disciples and His listeners as well. Sometimes they were simple enough for the laymen to understand and at other times, he had to explain to His disciples what He wanted them to learn. ‘The Parable of the Unjust Steward’ is to be understood for its uncanny truth of using worldly wealth wisely!

Both the rich man and his steward are not examples for us to follow in terms of their making wealth by unrighteous means. The steward who was reported of not doing a good job of managing his master’s resources was asked to give an account of his management. Here is when he decided to try his shrewdness to his own advantage. By giving discounts to the Master’s debtors, it gained him their favour while he was probably just taking away some of the profit his master would get— so he was not discrediting the Master in anyway. The manager was shrewd enough to use the means at his disposal to plan for his future well-being.

It is very clear that Jesus is not endorsing making wealth by unrighteous means or using wealth in an unrighteous manner. For later in Luke 16:13 He says: “You cannot serve God and wealth.”

The Parable teaches us- God’s children, the following truths:

• As long as we are in this world, we are all given stewardship of certain resources for which we are accountable (may not be money always) 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Mismanagement will have its ill effects!

• If our resource/wealth is used in this world to help the less fortunate/those in need, by which they too secure their positions in heaven, we can say it was put to good use. In this way, our resources are used wisely to gain eternal benefit!

• If we have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, how can God entrust us with true riches in His Kingdom? True riches which are of highest value can be given to us only if we have been faithful with the little given on this earth!

Brethren, let us evaluate our lives on the basis of this parable to see where we stand. If we have not been good stewards of what God has entrusted us, let us ask for His forgiveness and then His grace and wisdom to manage it well. Let us understand that the wealth of this world will fade away but if we are wise to invest it for His Kingdom, it will last forever! See Luke 6:9 in NLT: Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.

Think on: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:19-20)

Ref. gotquestions.org