Our scripture this morning is Luke 16:10-13.
Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
While Jesus is speaking about money in this passage, He is really teaching us about our character and the gifts we are given. We need to view all our gifts together as resources for God’s work and not focus on the amount of wealth we can collect. God doesn’t care about how much we have, but He is keenly interested in what we do with what we have.
Using the things we have – wealth, skills and time – are important to God and to the call He places in our lives. God has given us everything and He wants us to use these gifts to honor Him and help our brothers and sisters to know Him. We can always find a way to bring His love to others using what we have.
Having wealth isn’t a sin, but what we are willing to do in order to get it and what we use it for can distract us from God’s plan. Jesus says plainly “You cannot serve God and wealth”. Our resources are given by Him and we are charged with using them well in His world.
Loving Lord, help us to see the needs we can fill with the gifts You give us. May we love people and use resources to Your glory. Amen.
