God is looking to see how well you are stewarding what he has given you. Whatever you have does not belong to you, it belongs to him. As a Christian you are part of a family business; you drive a company car, and you are responsible for company funds. Everything belongs to the company, that is, the Kingdom of God. It’s important that we think like this lest our wealth and possessions serve to empower our autonomy and independence. If your wealth makes you feel less dependent on God, then you have a dependency problem. Your life is shaped by what you depend on. If your faith does not radically affect how you handle your finances, then you have reason to question whether it is real faith. It is not only your wealth and possessions that you should steward wisely. You must also steward your relationships well. There are people in your life for whom you are responsible; people God wants you to love and bless. People are not commodities for our pleasure or advantage. The Old Testament law was focused on relationships and Jesus was always adamant that it be interpreted as such. As an example, in this section of teaching, Jesus uses the divorce loophole that the Pharisees were using to abandon their wives. He reprimands those who would discard people when they are no longer attractive or useful or if they become too much trouble. Don’t throw away what God has given you. Don’t squander his gifts for your own advantage. Life is about other people.
Reflect on how well you are stewarding the relationships and the resources that God has put in your life.
Read Luke 16:10-18
