“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9 ESV
Reflection: what value does money have for you?
In a way, how we invest and spend money is a reflection of what we actually believe. Some focus on building up great wealth, for various reasons. Some use their money to maximize their own pleasure. Some give much money away to those they perceive having greater need than themselves. Some use money without much reflection at all. And while there are as many variations of this as there are people, you can get an idea of what is in the heart of the person simply by tracking their use of and money management.
In the beginning of chapter 16, Jesus tells a story of a shrewd manager, who has been wasting the possessions of the owner. But when called upon to make account for his actions, he uses his position smartly to forgive debts of the owner’s debtors. To “buy” future favors from the debtors. And while he is dishonest, Jesus uses this example, not for us to follow dishonest behavior for sure, but to use the things of this world, money specifically, very wisely. To look at the use of it as a long term investment as opposed to something we should not care about as Christians.
And we see the power of money in this world on center stage these days. How money has corrupted much of our society and systems of government, healthcare, education and so on. Money can also be used for good, as we all know. And it shouldn’t be just giving it to a charity or a church. While that might be well and fine, I believe we should also do something ourselves, to be more targeted, such as simply paying for lunch or dinner. Buying someone an unexpected gift that fills a specific need. Bringing groceries to someone. And, perhaps even forgiving a debt. The point is that we should be involved personally in the use of the money, to be intentional, not just leave it to others to do on our behalf. The truth is that we often don’t know how the money we give is being spent.
Jesus goes on saying ““One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” Luke 16:10 ESV. He is really saying here that the track record of our use of money, our time, our resources, speak for itself. Will judge by itself. Are we intentional with what we have been given, to build the kingdom of God as long term investors, or are we completely separating our responsibilities of how we use wealth in this world from the kingdom of heaven? “If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” Luke 16:11 ESV.
Now, money can also become our master, to which Jesus gives a clear warning. “No servant can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.”” Luke 16:13 ESV. This is not about how much we have, in the eyes of the world, our neighbors or ourselves. It is about how we use what we have.
Let’s be wise investors.