Luke 16:10-18 speaks volumes to the financial crisis that is plaguing America today and Wright hits the nail on the head when he says, “Wealth is a killer” (196).
In our culture, we are all driven by the need for more, especially at this time of year. Jesus takes a whole new approach to riches and money, much to the disgust of the Pharisees, who viewed wealth as a sign of God’s blessing on a person.
Jesus is speaking to us today when he says “You can’t serve God and money” (v. 13). We work and work and work to have more money to buy more stuff. We want to own more, but eventually our things own us. I see many people working two jobs, not because they have to, but because they want more things. I, myself, was working two jobs at one time, out of necessity to make ends meet. I ended up working both jobs a while longer than I needed to and it was nice not to have some extra cash and not need to worry about money or paying the bills, but by that time I absolutely was miserable because I had no time for the things that mattered—God and my husband. Nobody can serve two masters (v. 13).
I think Wright makes a great point when he says “Money is not a possession, it’s a trust: God entrusts property to people and expects it to be used to his glory and the welfare of his children, not for private glory or glamour” (196). This puts a whole new spin on how a believer should use what money has been bestowed on him or her. Verse 11 of Luke 16 tells that “If you haven’t been faithful with that wicked thing called money, who is going to trust you with true wealth?” Wright says that the true wealth will belong to us in a way that money doesn’t, and we need to learn faithfulness now.
Walvoord and Zuck add: “The disciples’ wise use of wealth would help lead others to believe the message of the kingdom and bring them to accept that message” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary). What a great reminder in our trouble economy, money can’t buy happiness or even one’s way to heaven, but having a proper respect and use of it can bring a greater joy than one could ever buy.
Samantha
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“Money is not a possession, it is a trust.” Every day we are hearing about those who want to be bailed out by the government. In some cases they have a legitimate need and in others they have not been good stewards. What a great illustration of your passage. How can they be entrusted with more when they have not done well with what they have had? As believers we can learn a great principle from what is happening. We want God to bail us out though we have been poor stewards of the time and opportunities He has given us. The American church is struggling maybe it is because we have not been good stewards of what God has entrusted us which includes time, money and opportunity.
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