Good Stewards
ICS Daily Devotions
Mark 10:24,26- 28 (NKJV) And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! … “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”… Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
Jesus has made it very clear that money should not be an idol in our lives. God is not against money, people being rich or well-provided for in life but He is against money becoming god to us—when we trust in money more than we trust in Him.
The disciples went from being astonished to greatly astonished when Jesus mentioned “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” They had their reasons because they were not poor people and could identify with the rich young ruler. Peter was a fisherman who had workers working for him—he was a businessman of his day. Likewise, John was also a fisherman who ran his father’s company and had important friends and relatives in the Jewish council. Because they had given up all to follow Jesus, their trust wasn’t in their businesses and possessions but in God.
If we do not look at Scripture in totality, it is easy to draw the wrong conclusion that if someone owns material possessions and is successful in their business or career, then that person is not following God. What is important is that money, material possessions or our corporate positions do not become our god.
Therefore, it is possible to be rich and godly when we are clear that we are a steward of God’s money. If we are convinced that He is the source of our provision, money should have no hold over us and it should be easy for us to part with it too. We need to have a paradigm shift from having money as our security or god to having God as the source of our provision so that we can be a blessing to the ministry and those in need.
God has to channel money through His people for the work of the ministry to be done. The work is supported by the tithe and freewill offering of His people. A test of whether money has a hold over us is whether we struggle to give the tithe and freewill offering. The tithe is 10% of our income and profits.
The proof that money and possessions have no hold over us is in our willingness to give. We need to start giving now and not wait until we have more money, because the more we have, the more difficult it will be. The rich young ruler could not give up his possessions because he was very wealthy. Therefore, it is not about possessing money, but rather if we are able to give it up without it being a stronghold in our lives.
Sermon Series: Seriously?
