Use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves

.... in order that when you expire, they may receive you into an everlasting home (Luke 16:9). Bill Prankard tells of a dream he had. Bill was called to go to the unreached people groups at the very top of the world in northern Russia. These trips were very expensive and difficult as there were no roads and they had to go on all terrain vehicles. In his dream he is in heaven and the people the Lord used him to reach are running towards him with great joy. And they run right past him to the people who had supported Bill both financially and prayerfully. The point of course is to imagine the joy of meeting someone is in heaven because you were obedient in either going or praying or giving.

The title phrase from the lips of Jesus follow immediately upon the heals of the parable of the unjust steward, and the saying that the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light (verse 8). It is important to note that the master did not commended the steward for his dishonesty, but for his being shrewd. The dictionary defines shrewd as having or showing a clever awareness or resourcefulness, especially in practical matters. So what Jesus is saying, is that often those in the world exhibit more skill, use more energy, are more creative, are more bold in pursuit of their own goals that Christians are in promoting the kingdom. And this seems to be true more generally than with finances, I am thinking about such things as the pursuit of power, or influence, or fame as well as fortune. Jesus however is zeroing in here on the financial aspect of stewardship (but see also 1 Peter 4:10).

Instead of “worldly wealth” in the title verse other translations have “unrighteous mammon.” It is however the love of money that is the root of all evil not money itself. The same verse (1 Timothy 6:10) goes on to say “for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Our culture does not help with its constant seductive advertising, and its over emphasis on materialism. I have even heard “The one who has the most toys when he dies, wins.” We must not be conformed to the world, and as the Apostles advocated in the early church we need to remember the poor (Galatians 2:10). But also we must not be naive, there is much that disguises itself as charity that is riddled with corruption. We are to be generous, but we should also be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves – in other words shrewd in our giving (Matthew 10:16). There is also such a thing as toxic charity, in famine, for example, well meaning charities have flooded the marked with food, and it put the local farmers out of business. We do indeed need to be shrewd.

Father, we do need to be generous with our money, our time and our resources. You have promised that if we seek first your Kingdom and Your righteousness all that we truly need will be supplied. And help us Lord within the seduction of our culture, to see the difference between our needs and our wants. And help us to indeed be generous and shrewd to use the unrighteous mammon for Your the glory in Jesus Name Amen