Money Part 2: What God Expects: BRINGING UP SARA 1.8
Read Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27 and see what Jesus says when the servants are called to account for what they have done with the talents given to them (in Greek, a talent was equivalent to 75 pounds or 34 kilograms of silver).
The Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:20-30 (emphasis mine):
“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Be Diligent and Multiply or Suffer For It
He praised the servants who doubled the master’s investment of 2 and 5 talents given to them. The servant who buried the money he described as lazy and wicked, and the one talent given to him was forfeited.
In Luke 19, the servant who produced five more talents out of the talent given to him was given five cities, and the servant who produced 10 received 10 cities! Not only that, the highest achiever was given the 1 talent forfeited from the wicked servant!
Let me reiterate - what Jesus is saying is that God expects us to give an account of what we did with money and resources He has put in our hands. When we work hard and make good money with it, we cannot be accused of loving money and not loving God, as some people preach. On the contrary, this is what God expects us to do.
GOD EXPECTS US TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT WE DID WITH MONEY AND RESOURCES HE HAS PUT IN OUR HANDS
When we produce more from what we are given, not only will we be recognised by God for it but we will also be well rewarded. More will be added.
On the other hand, If we do not, we'll get on the wrong side with God. In fact, we are severely punished for it. The punishment sounds rather harsh and scary but I guess the Lord is trying to drive the point home.
This is how the reward and punishment system over money in the kingdom works!
Assuming Mastership Over Money
So, for me, if God tells me to go and make money at some place or venture, I make as much as I can using honest and intelligent means, and make no apologies for it. I do not presume anything nor become complacent nor make any excuses.
When He tells me to give it away, I give freely. When He says “Don’t”, I do not. When He says to walk away from any investment, I walk away.
Nor do I let myself become obsessed with making money. At times when my husband tells me about missing a money making opportunity, my response is always this: “Not all the money there is to make is for us to make.”
So, even as I work hard, my life does not revolve around making money. My only desire in life is for the Lord to be in the centre of it.
Thus, money has no hold on me but I have my hold on it.
MONEY HAS NO HOLD ON ME BUT I HAVE MY HOLD ON IT
My attitude towards money is this:
Money is my slave, not my master.
It does not control my life but I decide what I want with it,
At my time and in my pleasure, and the Lord’s.
Learning from Mistakes
For the few investments or projects that have not managed to produce the desired return, I don’t ask God why but what? What did I do wrong? What are you telling me through this? Did I hear wrongly? What do I do with the situation? How can I turn it around?
Sometimes I consult with a friend with the relevant knowledge for an independent perspective. Or ask a mentor for prayer or thoughts about it.
If after all that and there is nothing I can do about it, then I just surrender it to God because He is my Almighty God, My Provider. I find that, when I do that, He will teach me or show me something about myself and I am thankful for lessons learnt. And if it is the enemy has stolen from me, God never fails to add more back. Seven times at least.
Investment does not involve just knowledge, it plays on our emotions and that can cloud our judgment. But with God watching my back, I know I have it covered. On occasions He tells me to exit, I put aside any fear or pain, cut my losses and get out. I have also helped people let go of investments that have gone bad as well. It is so liberating for them and their families. When we trust God even for our failure, He will always provide a fresh start and help us learn from our mistakes. I have always managed to close each year net up, profitably.
Evaluate Yourself
Take a self examination:
Have you been a good master over the money and resources God has given you?
If you suffer lack or have failed in any venture or have messed up your finances, what did you learn from it? What is God telling you about yourself through it?
If you have been unfortunate enough to be the wicked and lazy servant, I urge you to repent and ask God for help. If you have not been very wise or disciplined with the resources given you, or have allowed the devil to rob you, turn to God in humility and pray!
He, our Father, is merciful and kind, a God of second and third chances. He will always extend His help when you are ready to listen. The Holy Spirit is ever ready to teach and guide you when you are teachable..
In the next post, I will share how my husband and I took our leap of faith that set us on the journey to acquire the wealth that God has stored up for us.
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