Leviticus 25:23, “The land must never be sold on a permanent basis, for the land belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me.”
The people would one day possess land in Canaan but in God’s plan, ONLY God’s ownership was absolute. He wanted His people to avoid greed and materialism. If we have the attitude that we are taking care of the Lord’s property, we will make what we have more available to others. This is difficult if our posture and attitude is that of ownership. We would do good to think of ourselves as managers of the things under our care, not owners.
This mornings reading led me to Luke 16: 1-18; The Parable of the Shrewd Manager.
“So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also 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? “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.””
Luke 16:8-13 NKJV
While there are many explanations offered for this difficult story, it stands out to me that how we use our money/possessions is a good test of the depth of our commitment to following Jesus.
When we live by God’s kingdom priorities, we will use our money and resources in a way that:
1. Grows our faith
2. Grows our obedience
3. Is an example to others.
It is wise to use financial opportunities not to earn a ticket to Heaven, but to help others find Jesus. Our earthly investments will bring eternal benefit. When we obey God’s will, unselfishness will follow.
And take note:
The Pharisees in Jesus’s time acted piously to get praise from others BUT God knows what is in all hearts. While some considered their wealth to be a sign of God’s approval – God detested their wealth BECAUSE it caused them to ASSUME they were being blessed by God and they stopped seeking to humbly serve and grow closer to HIM.
Though prosperity may earn people’s praise it must NEVER substitute for devotion and service to God.