What Is Money For?

Reference: Luke 16:9-13 "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.  10 If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? 13 No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Observation: What are our resources for? It is a pretty radical thought to think that all we have in this world is supposed to be for the purpose of benefiting others and influencing them for the Kingdom of God.

On the other hand, it makes sense if we really believe that we are only here temporarily and that, therefore, riches in heaven make a lot more sense than riches here.

It makes sense if we realize that God, the one who will reward us for eternity, is watching to see how we are "investing" His stuff.

It makes sense if we understand the power money has to enslave and destroy us.

 Jesus tells us clearly; "you can’t serve both". If you love money, it will become your master instead of your servant.

Application/Confession: I have never really considered before that my earthly resources are to bless and influence others for the Kingdom of God. I pay tithes and support ministries but I am going to have to think again about how I use my money.

PRAYER: Lord, let me see my resources from your point of view. Help me to be slave only to you. Forgive me for the debt I have and help me to pay it off so that I can beholden only to your purposes.