Jan 16 2009
It’s My Money!
In what the media is calling, “challenging economic times” an increasing number are seeking ways to tighten their financial belt. As a result, non-profit organizations and ministries are feeling the pinch.
As Americans, in general, we have been very loose with our money. If we want it, we buy it. It doesn’t matter if we have the money. If we have the credit, that is all we need. However, this is an excellent example of where we, as Christians, have often been sucked, to our peril, into the world’s way of looking at life.
While many Christians may be wondering where God is in all of this, especially if they are feeling pinched by the economic downturn, we need to examine our lifestyle and see if we aren’t receiving a little well-earned discipline. DO NOT misunderstand that statement. I am NOT saying every Christian (you, me or those we know) who is effected by what we perceive as hard times, is being disciplined for sin in their lives.
I AM saying many of us have been living a very good, very easy life. In some cases we have been using very worldly standards to direct our financial choices and decisions. If so, this is a good time to step back, look at where we are headed, and reevaluate our priorities.
Scripture gives us a couple of clear directives on money management. A good self-test is to see if our personal financial practices fall close to these place-markers.
We are told to be good stewards. Remember the parable of the talents? The master puts his possessions in his servants’ care (some with large responsibilities, some with moderate, some with low) and takes an extended journey. While he is gone, his servants do something with those possessions. Two use them wisely to increase their value. One squanders the opportunity.
When the master returns, he evaluates his servants’ stewardship. He praises the two who used the opportunity to increase what had been entrusted to their care. He condemns and punishes the one who failed to do so.
While this parable can certainly be applied to our natural abilities, its principles also apply to our physical gifts. Our master has given us ‘things’. Granted you may have worked hard for what you own, but your abilities are, ultimately, God given. Furthermore, unless He blessed your labor, it could have turned out completely different.
Our master, too, is returning. Will He find us faithful? Have we used what are ultimately His possessions to further His kingdom? To achieve His goals?
This leads to the second directive. Are we generous? Do you tithe regularly? Do you know how much you tithe? Is it a generous amount? Is it more than you spend on toys or dinners out and entertainment? What is your baseline?
‘God loves a cheerful giver.’ We’ve all heard that from the pulpit or the TV preacher. And, quite frankly they have often given us reason to hang on to our wallets. However, tithing is a command - not an option. We must support our church community. And, we should look for other ministries to assist.
While, as a general rule, the Christian community is made up of people much more generous than those in the world, right now, we, as Christians, need to seek to be especially good stewards of what we have been given so we are better able to also be especially generous to those who are truly in need.
Dear Lord, give me wisdom in dealing with the financial resources you have given me. May my first thought not be what I want but what You want. Further, dear Lord, give me a generous heart. May I not cling to what I have, but may I seek ways to help those who have real needs. And, Lord, in a world of scam artists and thieves dressed in pauper’s clothes, give me the wisdom to see the real needs. Protect my heart from becoming hard and my thoughts deluded. Help me to be generous in ways which promote Your kingdom and bring You glory.
