Stewardship Jesus' Way - question 1
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 4:39PM Why did Jesus talk so much about money?
One doesn’t have to look very far in the gospels to see a reference to money. Jesus doesn’t shy away from this topic. In fact, He talks about it often, which causes me to ask: “Why?” In a nutshell I believe Jesus talks about it so much because He knew the heart of humanity. He knew that material wealth would uncover the human bent of greed and selfishness; a tremendous obstacle to personal growth and harmful to others if left unchecked. But he also knew God’s intention for material wealth to be such a wonderful tool if handled by the right heart; a heart directed by the hand of God.
On the surface it seems that the issue Jesus is preoccupied with is money or material wealth, but in reality those things are irrelevant compared to the obsession Jesus has for our hearts and a relationship with Him. That is the driving passion of God. God doesn’t care about how much money we give. He is not poised as some kind of killjoy, not wanting us to have fun with things. He does care whether those things stand in the way of a deeper relationship with Him and a fuller life He purchased for us to enjoy (in Him).
God knows that you and I are bombarded each day by messages that tell us what we deserve and how we’re to look out for “number one.” The way of the world often leads us slowly, with deliberate subtlety from the way of Jesus. We live in broken systems that are contrary to God’s economy. When we learn about God’s way it seems impossible and contrary to the world’s way. This should not surprise us and even cause a measure of frustration and anxiety. It leaves us with many questions, such as: How are we to actually apply the way of Jesus to our immediate context? Is it even possible to live out what Jesus teaches about stewardship in our modern context? I believe we can, though it will require a certain amount of surrender, “unlearning” some of what we’ve been taught and a fierce determination to trust the goodness of God when it doesn’t seem to make sense.
Join me this week as I blog each day about Jesus’ way of stewardship in a modern economy. In the wrestling we find a closer relationship.
Reader Comments (1)
Yesterday, friends of mine who are foster parents told me they received a brother and sister into their home last week. My friends said it was interesting to watch these two eat. They are only elementary age yet they eat twice as much as he does. They not only eat a lot of food they eat fast. What they discovered is that the home they came from was always low on food. These children have learn to eat as much as the can because who knows when the next meal is going to be. Its not that they are starving any more, they have been in the foster home for over a week with plenty of food available. They still believe that there might not be enough.
I hope you see the connection to stewardship. How much of my trusting God to take care of my needs looks like a foster child and how much looks like I am an adapted child of a God who loves me and will always make sure I have enough food and everything else I need.