Focal passages: Luke 16:1-12
Just as we are accountable to the way we love our neighbors, God also cares about how we use our resources and opportunities.
Jesus shared a parable about a man who was given the responsibility over a rich man’s possessions.
The rich man hears that his steward is not being responsible, so he calls upon him to give an account as to why he is being wasteful. The master warns the steward that his wastefulness will cost him his stewardship.
“Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me … I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses’” (Luke 16:3-4).
The steward gathers those who owe his master and asks them how much they owe. He then tells each debtor to pay a fraction of what they owe immediately, so that when he is found guilty he will at least have friends among the debtors.
Although his actions were unjust, the steward was dedicated to having his way. Are we as persistent in serving God with our resources and opportunities as this steward was in serving himself?
Regardless of the amount, size or capacity of our skills, resources and opportunities, we are simply stewards of what first belongs to our Lord.
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is also unjust in much. Therefore, if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16:10-12).
Let us be faithful when we have little and when we’re afraid of running out.
And let us be faithful when our cup overflows so that Christ will always be our true confidence and security.