Using Worldly Wealth
“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9
Did today’s focal verse arouse your curiosity? It did mine. Why did Jesus say this to His disciples? It becomes clearer as we look at the context in which it appears.
This verse immediately follows a passage of scripture generally referred to as “The parable of the shrewd manager.” It’s a story told by Jesus to make a point. It starts like this: “Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’” (Luke 16:1-2)
Upon hearing this the manager acted quickly. He negotiated settlements with several debtors of the rich man, thereby gaining favor with many in the community and assuring himself that there would be opportunity for him after he was fired.
Jesus does not commend the manager’s dishonesty but uses the story to point out the effectiveness of the manager in using the resources available to him. How much more, Jesus was saying, should His followers use the worldly wealth God provides to produce eternal impact.
Then Bible says that we are God’s ambassadors. When we use our worldly wealth to send Bibles to those who don’t have access to the word of God; when we establish programs to send needy children to Christian summer camps; when we provide Christian relief organizations with much needed funds, we are investing with eternal results.
Most of the people who benefit from this generosity we will not meet on this side of heaven, but they will welcome us with gratitude when we meet them there. Remember, when it comes to worldly wealth, you can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.
How are you using your worldly wealth?
Having begun as a guest speaker in 2005, Dan was appointed Interim Pastor in 2008 and has been serving Maple Root Baptist ever since. As a small group leader and Chaplin for the Connecticut Tigers, Dan has a heart for the lost and the God that saves them.