MY MONEY? I DON'T THINK SO

You might have heard lot of sermons on money in Church. Why do we talk more about money? Because

• Jesus talked more about money


• God rewards those who earnestly seek Him and faithfully follow Him


• God owns everything


• Heart is where your money is

In the parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-13), there was a rich man who had a servant to manage his property shows he had lots of money and he believed his servant. But the servant was wasting his master's money. Here God is compared to a rich man and we are His servants and he has entrusted His money to us.

How are we utilizing His money?
* Helping the poor and needy with food shelter and clothing
or
* Helping to build churches or sponsoring a missionary
or
* Sponsoring a child in his/her studies or meeting his/her health needs
or
* Buying things to beautify ourselves
or
* Spending money in casinos / races / drinks / drugs

God always wants us to use His money in the way He likes because it is His money. We get from Him and we can't pay Him back in anyway.

There are many ways God encourages to handle His money. He says

1. Sell all your riches and give it to the poor (Mark 10:17-29)


2. Appreciates the poor widow who put the last coins she had (Mark 12:41-44)


3. Visits Zaccheaus house who gave half his belongings to the poor and paid 4 times to whom he had cheated (Luke 19:1-9)


4. Give it in such a way that not even your closest friend standing next to you will not know (Mat 6:1-4)


5. Appreciates the Samaritan who poured the oil and wine and also paid the inn keeper 2 silver coins to take care of an unknown man (Luke 10:2-37)


6. He encourages to pay due taxes (Luke 20:19-26)

There are lots of parables that speak about money and how God wants us to utilize it.

Here in the parable of shrewd manager He says

• Be faithful in small matters and God will make you charge over large ones


• Should be faithful in what belongs to others than what belongs to us


• Nobody can serve two masters (money & God). He should hate one and love another


• We are all accountable for the money we receive from God on the judgement day.

Money gives joy. So spend the money the way He teaches you to spend and receive eternal joy.

Always remember - IT IS HIS MONEY HE HAS ENTRUSTED YOU WITH.

Christobel Rajesh