Generous, Day 19 - A Tool, A Test and a Trademark

Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ ‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’ “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ” ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 
“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Luke 16:1-14

This story begins with a manager who has cheated an owner.  The owner finds out and gives the man a few days to pack up his things and leave.  The deceitful manager knows that he has little time before he is out on his own with no support from the owner.  But he also knows that with the little time he also has a little opportunity.  So he takes advantage of his situation by going to those who owe his boss and makes deals to ensure his future.  

“You are going to cut my bill in half?”
“Yep.”
“Do you have the authority to do that?”
(He looks at his watch) “Right now I do.”
And as the debtor leaves he looks back and says “Listen, you really helped me.  If there is ever anything I can do for you, please let me know.”

The deceitful manager says “Thanks.  Right now everything is good…but you never know what will happen tomorrow.” But the manager did.  He had a little bit of time and a little bit of opportunity to sure up his future. And he did.

As the crowd is disgusted at this display of self-promotion at the expense of the owner, Jesus shocks the crowd by saying that the owner commends the deceitful manager.  He then comments that “the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

We have a little bit of time and a little bit of opportunity in this world.  We know that in the end we will be taken from here into eternity.  But not everyone on this earth will go.  Jesus speaks to the Christian (people of the light) and begs them to “Use worldly wealth” as a tool to help people gain eternal life.  Our greatest investment, according to Jesus, is not in a college fund or in a 401K or in even in an inheritance or trust for our kids.  Our greatest investment is in the eternal destiny of those around us.

He goes on to say that not only is money a tool for Kingdom growth, it is also a test.
Money is a test of our understanding of God as owner and ourselves as managers.  To the one who passes the test, they will be given responsibility of true (eternal) riches. But the one who fails the money test will have little reward in heaven.

Finally, money is not only a tool and a test, but it is also a trademark.  How we use our money is like brand on our clothing that declares our allegiance. If it is used to for God’s purposes, it declares that we belong to God and focus our lives on him.  If the focus of our financial decisions excludes the things of God, we are sending a clear message to all around us that we serve a different master.

You have a little bit of time and a little opportunity.  How are you using God’s money as a tool for ministry?  Are you passing the test?  What is the brand of your life? Money makes a terrible master but a great servant. It was meant to be a tool, not to rule.

Generosity Challenge (Day 19) – Involving your family in giving decisions is one of the wisest things we can do.  Set up a family meeting to talk about your generosity as a family (if single, do this with a friend.)  Ask for family input as to where you should give.  If you have kids, figure out a way for them to be involved.