"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Once we know that all the wealth we “possess” actually belongs to God, and that we are merely stewards (managers), what should we do with what He has placed in our hands? The simple answer is to use what belongs to God in the way He wants it used. Why? Because we will give an account to Him for what we do with what is His. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 is particularly instructive.
Everything the stewards had belonged to the master who entrusted his wealth to the them (v.14). The lesson is obvious.
Each steward was given a different amount to manage, as determined (a) by the master’s will, and (b) by the master’s knowledge of each servant’s ability (v.15). From this, learn that (a) it is not God’s will that everyone have the same amount entrusted to them, and (b) not all are equally proficient as managers.
The first two stewards invested their master’s wealth and gained more (v.16-17). The third steward put his master’s wealth in a hole in the ground and earned nothing (v.18).
When the master returned, he demanded an accounting (v.19).
The master rewarded the two stewards who invested their master’s wealth proportionally with more wealth, and commended them (v.20-23).
The master scolded the third steward for not investing his master’s wealth (v.24). He chided the third steward for not at least putting the money in the bank and getting at least a minimal interest (v.27). And in v.28, the master took everything the man had and gave it to the first steward. This instructs us that we need to invest what God has given us, and it is obviously important to the master, instead of doing what we think is best.
Don’t miss that the parable deals with money but the lessons go beyond money, teaching us that everything we have belongs to God and we are responsible to invest ourselves and all that we possess in the Lord’s kingdom, by which we will please the Lord, receiving His commendation and reward.
As a hypothetical footnote: What if there were a fourth steward who thought what he was given was his to spend on himself and his pleasure? If the third steward was in trouble, how much more would this hypothetical fourth steward have been in? And how many of us would be like the fourth steward?
Next time: A few thoughts about the relationship between the heart and treasure.