What I believe to be God's View on Money

Matthew 25:14-30

For those of you who have attended church with any regularity, you may remember the parable Jesus told about the master who left the country and how he gave talents (money) to 3 of his servants.  One got 5 talents, the next, 2, and the last, 1, each according to their ability.  The one who got 5 worked and got 5 more and the one with 2 got 2 more.  The last one buried the talent and returned it to his master.  The master was mad at that servant and took it away and gave it to the one who got 5 talents.

I’m learning to trust God more with finances and it has been a long, slow road.  Doing mission trips to Costa Rica has helped my faith a lot.  We must understand that God owns everything.  Everything we have is on loan from Him.  He wants us to give Him the first fruits of all we have/get.  Think of it this way: Parents give more freedom and responsibility to their children as they prove faithful to handle it.  A boss gives more difficult or demanding work to the employees who are able to complete the task.  They don’t give the new guy the most important account.  The more importance something holds, the more trusted the person must be to handle it.  Have we proved our trustworthiness to God?  Does He trust us/me enough to give more to us/me?

When we are faithful to do so, He will give more because we first proved to be faithful with a little.  Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  ‘Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’”

Remember the last part of the parable?  The master took away from the unfaithful servant and gave it to the one with 5 talents.  God will withhold from us when we are unfaithful.  Therefore, He tests us with our finances.  When we do get a little extra or even the minimum, what do we do?  Do we seek His will regarding it?  If you get a bonus at work, is your first thought to take a dream vacation or buy a new car/computer/TV?  Do you give God His due first?  Do you ask what He wants done with the remainder?  He gave it to you but maybe He wants to bless you by you blessing someone else.

This is what has gradually become clear to me:  When we are faithful to handle finances the way God wants us to, He will give us more and more.  He wants us to use that extra for His kingdom. One of the main reasons so many people are in need is due to the lack of individuals who will use their finances in the manner in which God wants it used.  

Rather than think of ourselves with our money, ask the Lord, “How should I use what You have given me?

#tithe #faithfulness