TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 18:4-20
In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin! - Revelation 18:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
The prophet Ezekiel brought an oracle of judgment against the cities of Tyre and Sidon (Ezekiel 26-28). These were important cities in the kingdom of Phoenicia (modern Lebanon), an economically prosperous country to the north of Israel. The Phoenicians had become wealthy by trading throughout the known world, using their impressive fleet of ships to carry goods and earning a healthy profit. The financial success wasn’t inherently the problem, but their riches had led to pride and disrespect for the Lord. They pursued worldly pleasures and made arrogant business plans to get even richer. The Phoenicians trusted in their wealth and success, but God condemned them for their sinfulness.

As today’s reading shows, material prosperity can be a barrier to godliness and righteousness. From God’s point of view, righteousness is far more valuable than wealth. This is another foundational principle or perspective that must guide how we handle money as followers of Christ. In John’s apocalyptic vision, “Babylon” is a rich and powerful city that opposes God and that’s why is doomed to fall. “Her sins are piled up to heaven” (v. 5) and include pride, self-indulgence, and injustice. Wealth is one factor behind these sins. Though Babylon reveled in its own glory and luxury, and believed it was secure because of its power and prosperity, it would be repaid by the mighty Judge with grief and pain (vv. 7-8).

Verses 9 through 20 are modeled on the lament for Tyre (Phoenicia) in Ezekiel 27. In both cases, the destruction is sudden, complete, terrifying, and just. The mourners include those who had profited by the system—the powerful (kings), the rich (merchants), and the opportunistic (sailors). But the system was rotten to the core—the kings had “committed adultery” by reveling in Babylon’s luxury (v. 9), the merchants had slave-traded in the “bodies and souls of men” (v. 13), and the sailors had been involved in all this as well. They recognized the justice of the city’s ruin (v. 20). Those who trust in God and pursue righteousness must heed the call: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins” (v. 4).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like Jesus’ disciples (Mark 10:23-26), we, too, can fall into the trap of interpreting material wealth as God’s blessing. Many sinful people achieve financial success and prosperity, but it’s no sign of favor with God! His blessing and provision may come in material forms, but we should consider more important factors, like wisdom and righteousness, as evidence of God’s work.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 13
He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. - Hebrews 11:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
As a huge crowd gathered outside a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, New York, on Black Friday in 2008, the mood was ugly. People had come for holiday bargains, but it seemed they would have to struggle to get what they wanted. They shoved forward, the glass doors shattered, and a mob of desperate shoppers rushed into the store. In the process, they trampled worker Jdimytai Damour to death, despite the best efforts of his co-workers and emergency personnel to rescue him. When an announcement was made that a person had been killed and the store would have to be cleared, people protested that they had been waiting a long time and deserved to keep shopping!

Greed is ugly and has tragic results, as Lot’s choice in today’s reading also demonstrates. Abram and his nephew had both become quite wealthy, creating a practical need to move to separate lands in order to sustain their large flocks and herds. As a peacemaker, Abraham initiated the conversation. Though it was countercultural to defer to the younger man, he gave Lot first choice because he wasn’t anxious about the future (v. 9). When our eyes are fixed on the Lord, circumstances and others’ actions don’t seem so threatening. God is the one in control, our true “insurance policy.” Abram kept his word even when Lot chose greedily and selfishly, picking the best for himself—the thriving Jordan Valley would surely provide opportunities to increase his wealth. Lot showed no concern about either the well being of Abram or his own spiritual well being when he chose the sinfulness of Sodom.

As the book of Heb-rews confirms, Abraham’s wealth was not the result of a self-centered plan, as was Lot’s. It was because he lived by faith (11:8-10). People are more likely to prosper in familiar places, but trusting in God’s promise, Abraham journeyed to an unknown land. People are more likely to prosper in cities than as nomadic tent-dwellers, but Abraham was content to live without a permanent home. In all situations, he continued to worship (vv. 3-4, 18). As today’s verse shows, he chose God’s promises as the best investment for his life (vv. 14-17).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Does the story of Lot mean we should never choose anything to our financial advantage? Not at all—it means that we should test all financial decisions by the rule of faith. Are we choosing something out of greed or self-centered opportunism? Are we putting hope in the material and the temporal? Discerning what is wise or prudent, as opposed to what is selfish or self-indulgent, is not always easy. But for faith-filled worshipers of God this is one of the daily responsibilities.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 4:13-17
If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. - James 4:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
A single mother named Kelly was preparing to head out to the laundromat when a friend stopped by. She had no money, she said, and her kids had no clean clothes. Could she borrow some laundry money? What should Kelly do? If she loaned her friend the money, she herself would be broke. Nonetheless, trusting God to provide, she gave her friend what she had. Later that afternoon, the phone rang. “Do you know anyone who could use a free washer and dryer?” her pastor asked. He had been praying and her name had come to mind. “I sure do!” she answered. “Me!” God had provided above and beyond—not just laundry money but a washer and dryer!

Kelly submitted her finances and plans to God’s will, and He richly blessed her for it. Being a good steward means that we don’t have to obsessively try to control every detail or make plans for every contingency. Kelly, like Abram in yesterday’s reading, kept her eyes on the Lord and followed His call to be generous. When our plans are submitted to God’s

will, the topic of today’s reading, we acknowledge and depend upon Him as the Provider who cares for us.

James used business people’s plans as his example (v. 13). The point here is not that we shouldn’t make plans—the point is not to have faith in those plans, and by extension our own brilliant strategy or competent execution. Nothing is certain except that God is in control. To be frank, we don’t even know what tomorrow will bring (v. 14). Our knowledge is limited, our lives are but a vapor (cf. Ps. 90:10), and many factors could disrupt our plans.

We should plan for the future with a humble spirit—our finiteness makes speaking with certainty a prideful thing to do. To talk as if a plan has already come to pass is empty bragging (v. 16). Perhaps the business people were previously unaware of the sinfulness of this attitude, but now that James had taught them they had to change (v. 17). For all of us, the bottom line is that all our plans should be made in submission to God’s will (v. 15).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we’ve seen, wisdom and faith must go hand in hand in financial matters, just as in every other area of the Christian life. Wisdom or intelligence without faith turns all too quickly into pride or selfishness. Faith or confidence without wisdom turns all too quickly into foolishness or irresponsibility. How we deal with our financial resources can very easily fall into these twin traps. We can steer between them by making sure our plans and actions are done in submission to the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 19:1-10
The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. - Luke 19:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some people see “market morality” as an empty phrase. In the market, they say, what’s “right” is what works. “Sex sells,” so immorality is promoted and human bodies are degraded to sell a product. “Fame sells,” so we are urged to buy something as an act of near-worship of an athlete or entertainer. Dignity and self-respect are assaulted—people are told their bodies, minds, desires, and lifestyles are hopeless, unless they purchase certain items. Envy and covetousness are promoted—happiness and contentment are impossible without the latest gadgets.

In God’s eyes, however, the bottom line of sales and profit margins is not the bottom line of morality. As followers of Christ, we cannot use such reasoning in our handling of money. Zacchaeus had done so, but when he trusted Christ his financial attitudes and actions changed dramatically. As a chief tax collector, he had reasoned and acted in worldly ways. He had used his position and power for personal gain. All the Roman collaborators did so, and since he was in a position of authority he must have been good at it! But God worked in his life, and one momentous day this short man climbed a sycamore tree in order to be able to see Jesus. Shockingly, the Son of God invited Himself to dinner at the house of this notoriously corrupt official (vv. 5-7; cf. Luke 5:27-32; 15:1-7).

Zacchaeus believed in Jesus that day (vv. 9-10). He repented of his sins and showed it by his words and actions. He gladly welcomed Jesus into his home, even though his guest knew all about him. His life would never be the same. He not only returned his ill-gotten gains, he repaid his thievery four times over, far beyond the Law’s normal provision for restitution of paying back the amount plus 20 percent (Num. 5:5-7). Furthermore, Zacchaeus generously gave half of what remained to the poor, demonstrating once and for all that his heart no longer served Money (Luke 16:13). In the end, money was transformed from a sign of corruption, dishonesty, and oppression into a sign of repentance, freedom, and spiritual rebirth.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Introducing his Gospel, the apostle John said of Jesus: “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (1:12-13). Repenting of sin and believing in Jesus, as Zacchaeus did in today’s reading, is the key to becoming a child of God. If you haven’t done so already, we encourage you to take this step today!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 14:3-9
Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told. - Mark 14:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Almost 90 percent of Americans identify with a religion, including 75 percent who say they’re Christian. But according to a survey by the Barna Group, only 12 percent identify faith as the top priority in their life. Faith is outranked by family (45%); by health, leisure, and a balanced lifestyle (20%); and by wealth, money-making, and career success (17%). Among those who go to church regularly, the number is still just one in five. Among evangelicals, only 39 percent say faith is their highest priority in life. The president of the Barna Group commented: “When it comes to why so much of American religion seems merely skin-deep, this gap between what people call themselves and what they prioritize is perhaps most telling.”

The woman in our reading had her priorities in the right order. From John 12:1-8, we know the woman was Jesus’ friend, Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus. Just before Passion Week, while Jesus was in their home, she anointed Him with a very expensive perfume. Her act was a sign of respect and devotion and was motivated by both friendship and worship. The disciples, however, did not understand. They complained that the perfume, probably pure nard from India, could have been sold for the equivalent of a year’s pay and the money given to the poor. Setting aside the dishonest motives of Judas (revealed in John’s account), what was wrong with their complaint? After all, their statement was true. Wouldn’t it have been more efficient and beneficial to use the money as they suggested? Wouldn’t this have been better stewardship?

Jesus’ response indicated that good stewardship is not necessarily governed by pragmatic concerns, even well-intentioned ones. In this case, honor and worship of Jesus trumped all other considerations (vv. 6-9). His earthly ministry was drawing to a close. Soon He would be crucified and buried, and within God’s plan Mary’s anointing was a foreshadowing of and a preparation for these events. What she had done was not wasteful but “a beautiful thing” and would become part of the proclamation of the gospel throughout the world.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Just as Jesus observed, the poor still need our help (v. 7). Christ showed compassion for the poor throughout His earthly ministry. Holidays are often seen as a time of special giving in this regard, including distributing food baskets at Thanksgiving and putting money into Salvation Army buckets outside stores at Christmas. But after the holidays, the poor still need help from God’s people. Consider volunteering at a soup kitchen, or see if a homeless shelter needs blankets or coats this month.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 8:10-18
Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. - Deuteronomy 8:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Like Jacob, his father-in-law Laban liked to manipulate and deceive (Genesis 29-31). While Jacob was an accomplished trickster and dealmaker himself, Laban beat him at his own game, first deceiving him into working fourteen years for the right to marry Rachel, then paying him “wages” of only the spotted and speckled sheep from his flocks. Nonetheless, God blessed Jacob with wealth and prosperity to such an extent that Laban and his family became jealous. Jacob gave full credit to the Lord for his success: “The God of my father has been with me . . . God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me” (Gen. 31:5, 9).

Giving credit to the Lord is one of the key principles of godly financial stewardship. After all, God is in charge of our financial destinies: “The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts” (1 Sam. 2:7). Or in the words of today’s verse: “It is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (v. 18).

The Mosaic covenant included God’s promise of blessing on obedience. The corresponding temptation, however, was that once the people had received blessings they would forget the Source and take the glory for themselves. The human tendency is to blame other people or circumstances for bad things, but to take full credit for good things! Moses, after presenting an appealing portrait of peace and prosperity, forcefully warned them of the temptation of pride (v. 14). By focusing on self, pride forgets who God is. The Israelites could not afford to forget the One who had freed them from slavery in Egypt, led them through the desert, provided for their needs, and would bring them to the Promised Land. When that day came, they would need to resist the inevitable temptation to pat themselves on the back (v. 17).

We, too, must acknowledge the Lord as the real Provider and the One who controls our financial situations. In light of this, we, too, should reject pride and focus instead on a response of praise (v. 10) and a habit of obedience (v. 11).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As both wage earners and business people, we face the temptation to give ourselves credit for any success. We would do well to heed God’s words: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight” (Jer. 9:23-24).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Proverbs 10:4-5
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. - Proverbs 10:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent Nielsen study revealed that the average American watches four hours and 49 minutes of television per day. That’s 20 percent more than a decade ago. In an average American household, someone is watching TV eight hours and 21 minutes of every day. In 1991, that number was only one hour and 50 minutes. Experts attribute this increase to expanded television programming, competing leisure options, and varying economic conditions.

Perhaps they should also consider laziness and an addiction to entertainment as contributing factors! By contrast, both the book of Proverbs and common sense recommend diligence and hard work as essential elements of successful stewardship. Good stewards understand that they are stewards, not owners. All the resources they manage belong to the Lord. Good stewards further understand that their ability to acquire and manage these resources also comes from the Lord. Whether in terms of external factors such as money and material goods, or in terms of internal factors such as abilities and effort, we have no reason for pride. Good stewards give all the glory to God.

This is not an excuse for not working diligently (cf. Eph. 4:28). Believers do not “put it on cruise control” and call it “trusting the Lord to provide.” God’s will is for us to be diligent and hard-working with the responsibilities He’s given us, including those related to wage-earning and finances. This is clear in today’s reading. These two proverbs are built around contrast. In verse 4, the contrast is about results—laziness leads to poverty, but diligence leads to wealth. In verse 5, the contrast is about character—hard work indicates wisdom, whereas slothfulness indicates foolishness.

Proverbs are general truths or principles. They are not promises, certainties, or explanations for all situations. For example, there are causes for poverty other than laziness. Even so, the principle that one reaps what one sows in terms of diligence versus laziness is confirmed many times in Proverbs (see 14:23; 24:30-34; and 28:19).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Throughout Proverbs, hard work and diligence are associated with wisdom, understanding, and humility; while laziness or slothfulness are associated with foolishness, ignorance, and pride. The diligent get it done—the lazy are empty talkers. Or in modern terms, the hard workers walk the walk, while others are merely couch potatoes. This makes biblical stewardship a countercultural idea. Others might be obsessed with entertainment and pleasure, but Christians strive to please God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 41:41-57
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! - Proverbs 6:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In one of Aesop’s fables, an ant met a grasshopper. The grasshopper was hopping about, singing and chirping in the bright summer sunshine, while the ant was toiling away at its task of gathering food. “Why not take a break?” said the grasshopper. “Come play with me and enjoy yourself.” “I’m preparing for the coming winter,” the ant responded, “and you should do the same.” The grasshopper ignored this advice and continued on his merry way. But when winter came, the grasshopper found himself starving while the ants were well fed. Too late, he understood the virtue of planning ahead (cf. Prov. 6:6-11).

Thinking ahead is another dimension of effective stewardship, and Joseph provides one of the best biblical models of this in today’s reading. He used his administrative gifts to glorify God where he was put—and where he was put, amazingly enough, was second-in-command over all Egypt! Sovereignly and suddenly elevated from imprisoned slave to powerful ruler, Joseph had advance warning of a severe crisis. By means of his God-given ability to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, he knew a famine was coming. He had faith that God was the source of the dream—that is to say, he knew the dream was true and must be taken seriously.

Having been warned, he acted. He diligently collected and stored grain during the seven years of plenty, even when the accountants could not keep up. Then, when the seven years of famine began, there was enough food to save the lives of both Egyptians and foreigners, including Joseph’s father, Jacob, and his extended family (vv. 53-57).

The fulfillment of Pharaoh’s dream may have surprised some, but it didn’t surprise Joseph. He knew it was a merciful warning from God, and that God had placed him in a position to do something about it. His planning ahead and good stewardship saved lives throughout the civilized world of that day. Though his brothers had attempted to destroy him out of spite and envy, Joseph understood in faith that God had turned their evil into good (Gen. 45:5-8; cf. Prov. 21:30).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Thinking and planning ahead is a good thing, but sometimes life deals us unexpected blows—a lost job, an expensive medical need, bills that grow faster than income. While we know God is in control, struggling from day to day is hard. If that describes you, this encouraging verse is especially for you: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jer. 29:11).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 24:10-22
It will be regarded as a righteous act in the sight of the LORD your God. - Deuteronomy 24:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Pastor Cole Huffman wrote in Discipleship Journal: “Whether our money stories are shaped by our families, culture, or innate preferences, a new chapter gets written when we are reborn into Jesus’ kingdom.” If we follow in Christ’s footsteps, “Our checkbook ledgers should tell a story of Jesus’ ongoing transformation of us. We keep and spend not just for personal necessities like food and utilities, but also to do beautiful things for those we love or feel compelled to help.”

One kingdom principle guiding our financial stewardship is that money must be handled with justice and respect. As mentioned on January 6, profits and material benefits are not the bottom-line justification for our financial choices. Instead, godliness and moral concerns must govern our handling of money. Two such concerns, justice and respect, are identified in today’s reading. Both are based on the doctrine of creation—the fact that people are intrinsically valuable to God as beings made in His image (Gen. 1:27). Each person carries individual responsibility in this matter (v. 16).

Three examples get the point across. In the first example, the fact that one person is giving another a loan does not give the first person the right to show disrespect to the other (vv. 10-13). When the loan collateral is the borrower’s personal clothing, the man’s needs and dignity are more important considerations than money.

In the second example, the fact that one person is another’s employer does not give the first person the right to pay wages when it’s convenient (vv. 14-15). Not paying wages promptly amounts to exploiting one’s workers (cf. Mal. 3:5). In fact, all who are socially vulnerable should be treated fairly (vv. 17-18). In the third and final example, the fact that one person owns a field while another is a poor gleaner does not give the first the right to maximize his harvest by leaving nothing to be gathered (vv. 19-22). In that culture, it would have been cruel to be overly thorough and efficient with the harvesting. People made in God’s image deserve better treatment from their fellow human beings.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Money must be handled in ways that show respect and practice justice in order to please the Lord. What might this principle mean for you in your context? Do you allocate some of your resources to share with the needy? Do you treat others, especially those in need, with dignity and respect? We still need to apply this lesson within the context of the stewardship responsibilities God has given us. If we’re not sure how, He has promised to give us wisdom when we ask (James 1:5).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 25:14-27
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. - Matthew 25:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a recent report, the U.S. healthcare system is plagued by inefficiency, mistakes, and fraud. For example, antibiotics are over-prescribed and unnecessary laboratory tests are ordered in order to protect physicians from malpractice suits. Fraud accounts for about 22 percent of the total waste, including false Medicare claims. Other significant problems include administrative inefficiency, redundant paperwork, and medical errors. According to the report, “The average U.S. hospital spends one-quarter of its budget on billing and administration, nearly twice the average in Canada.” The report found that up to $850 billion is lost annually.

Those responsible will one day be held accountable for this colossal waste. In the end, as the Parable of the Talents reveals, we will all be held accountable for our stewardship of the resources, including money, with which God has entrusted us.

The basis for our accountability lies in our identity as a steward or servant (v. 14). A 21st-century American might say, “I’ve earned it. It’s mine. I can do with it what I like.” But Christians understand this is false. All we are and all we have belongs to the Lord, and one of our life goals should be to do with ourselves and our resources not what we like but what He likes. If we invest in attitudes and actions that please Him, He will bless our stewardship with multiplied resources and a good “return on investment”—in kingdom terms this can include material things, but ultimately it’s about spiritual blessings. “Profit” for the kingdom is ultimately about God’s glory—good stewardship is about making choices that bring Him more glory.

The reward for faithful stewardship is God’s commendation, some kind of additional responsibility, and best of all, the blessing of His presence for eternity. In the words of the master in the story: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (v. 21). When we understand that the Master is God, we understand what an incredible invitation this is!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What about the servant who failed? In the parable, the third servant buried his one talent in a hole and gave it back to the master when he returned. He justified this laziness in terms of fear, and was condemned for it. Stewardship is never about fear. It’s not about taking the “safe way.” What responsibility has God given you? What talents and resources do you have? Are you using them boldly for the glory of God? He calls us to serve, and He will bring the increase.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 5:3-10, 17-20
The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God. - 1 Timothy 5:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Many Asian cultures, especially those influenced by Confucian values, are characterized by a deep love for elders and respect for parents, especially mothers. Parents tend to be strong authority figures who have earned their authority by faithfully raising their children. Unsubmissive children are often viewed not as independent or self-confident but as ungrateful and self-centered. Because they gave children life, mothers in particular are owed a debt that can never be repaid. In northeast China, for example, one Christian English teacher was amazed to find that on their birthdays, her students would telephone their mothers to thank them for giving birth to them!

These family relationships and obligations compare well with the cultural background in today’s reading. The apostle Paul dealt here with two stewardship responsibilities that applied to the church as a whole. The first is to take care of widows and, by extension, any fellow believers in serious need. The second is to pay pastors a decent wage. Many churches have embraced this second duty, understanding that elders who teach are “worthy of double honor” (v. 17). With regard to the first duty, however, we have perhaps grown careless. We’re conditioned to think that it’s the government’s responsibility, not ours, to offer social services and a “safety net” for the poor.

But whatever the government does or does not do, Paul’s command remains. If a believing widow or other person is truly in need—and examples are given of stringent circumstantial and spiritual standards that must be met to determine whether this is so—then the church is to offer material support. This is first a family obligation (vv. 4, 8), but also a family-of-God obligation.

The point of today’s passage is simple: Pay pastors a decent salary, and make sure deserving widows and other needy believers get help from the body of Christ. We talk about loving others, and here are two specific ways to put our money where our mouth is.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul’s command regarding pastors’ pay is given in the context of the local church, where the Spirit has gifted some for leadership and teaching. Today, this often means one or more pastors on a church staff, and perhaps includes missionaries supported by the church as well. While other ministries might at times seem more glamorous, our first priority for our financial giving should always be the local church with whom God has called us to serve and worship.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 16:1-15
If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? - Luke 16:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his sermon, “The Use of Money,” John Wesley spoke of the virtue of prudence. The first rule: “Gain all you can, without hurting either yourself or your neighbor, in soul or body, by [working diligently] and with all the understanding which God has given you.” What next? “Having gained all you can, by honest wisdom and unwearied diligence, the second rule of Christian prudence is, ‘Save all you can.’” In particular, Wesley exhorted believers, “Expend no part of [your money] merely to gratify the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, or the pride of life.” Finally, the third rule is: “Give all you can, or, in other words, give all you have to God.”

Prudence is perhaps the concept closest to the word translated “shrewd” in today’s text. This parable presents us with several puzzles. The first is that Jesus seems to be encouraging us to follow a bad example. Some have sought to explain the manager’s actions as culturally appropriate or even indicating a change of heart, but this seems to be reading in quite a bit. Jesus Himself called the man “dishonest” (v. 8), and the manager explicitly stated his motive as self-preservation (v. 4).

A second puzzle is why the rich man in the story commends the manager. “Because he had acted shrewdly.” What does this mean? An additional puzzle is what Jesus meant by recommending shrewdness and why He linked it to trustworthiness and integrity (vv. 10-12). The Greek word at the center of these puzzles is phronimos, also translated as “prudent,” “sensible,” or “wise” in the sense of being mindful of one’s own interests. For example, the man who built his house on a rock was phronimos (Matt. 7:24), as were the bridesmaids who brought oil for their lamps (Matt. 25:2).

In light of all this, the parable gives us a valuable lesson. In the same way that the manager used the resources available to him for temporal personal gain, so we should use the resources available to us for eternal personal (but not self-centered) gain. To use worldly wealth for heavenly purposes (v. 9) is a very shrewd investment!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Before spending money, Wesley recommended this prayer, slightly modified here: “Lord, you see I am going to expend this sum on that food, apparel, or furniture. And you know I act in this matter with a single eye as a steward of your goods. . . . You know I do this in obedience to the Lord, as you command, and because you command it. Let this, I pray, be a holy sacrifice, acceptable through Jesus Christ. Let my conscience bear witness in the Holy Spirit that this plan is well-pleasing to God.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 2:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
The day after former French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile in 1821 on the island of St. Helena, someone cut a lock of hair from his head. That lock of hair landed in the collection of Denzil Ibbetson, a British official who served on St. Helena during the six years Napoleon lived there after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. Ibbetson later emigrated to New Zealand. Last year, his descendants there auctioned off his collection, including the famous lock of hair. A collector in London paid $13,000 for the unusual artifact.

Thousands of dollars for a bit of centuries-dead hair from a defeated dictator? It would seem that this collector didn’t get much of true value for his money. For the next six days we’ll consider what Scripture has to say about wealth, values, and money. While it’s true that wealth can be a blessing, the fact is that Scripture has mostly words of warning about riches and their danger as a spiritual temptation.

The book of Ecclesiastes is a record of Solomon’s search for meaning and purpose in life. In today’s reading, he experimented with various pleasures, all of which required money to enjoy. During his initial fling with shallow pleasures such as wine, he “wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do” (v. 3). He next engaged in deeper pleasures, including building projects and the accumulation of material wealth. In summary, he did whatever he wanted, indulged in every pleasure he could find, and found some happiness in his success (v. 10). Yet ultimately it was all “meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (v. 11).

Without God, pleasure and wealth cannot bring purpose or meaning to life. Pleasure, work, and money all have their proper places, but only within a larger worldview that has God and His glory at the center. Little wonder, then, that Solomon advised: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” (Prov. 23:4-5).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
These days, individual goals in American society are often about career advancement and the accumulation of material wealth—get a degree so you can get a good job so you can earn a high salary so you can live a comfortable life. It’s all about climbing the ladder of success. But God’s standards for success are rather different from the world’s. Are we living by His truth? Or are we pursuing things that will one day lead us to admit, “Nothing was gained under the sun”?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 52
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love. - Psalm 52:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
One day, a man asked Jesus to settle a family financial dispute: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Instead, Jesus warned His listeners: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” He then told a parable about a rich man who was anticipating a profitable harvest, making plans to build bigger barns, and relaxing in the “security” of his wealth. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.’ . . . This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:13-21).

As Jesus so dramatically emphasized, trusting in money is folly. His ancestor David taught the same lesson in Psalm 52. This psalm was written during a low point in his feud with King Saul, during the years he was waiting for God to put him on the throne of Israel.

The psalm begins with a portrait of a wicked man (vv. 1-4). He is boastful, destructive, and deceitful, with a tongue like a “sharpened razor.” As a “disgrace in the eyes of God,” such a person is marked for divine judgment (vv. 5-7). The righteous will rejoice when justice is done on such a person. What was the man’s key mistake? Why did he “love evil rather than good”? Why did he do the things he did? He “did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth” (cf. Job 27:13-23).

In contrast, David trusted not in his money but in “God’s unfailing love for ever and ever” (vv. 8-9). Pride did not govern his actions—instead he was motivated to praise and worship the Lord. As a result, he was “like an olive tree, flourishing in the house of God.” Olive trees—this is one of only two in all the psalms (the other is Ps. 128:3)—are particularly long-lived and fruitful. This image thus clearly expresses David’s faith and hope in God (cf. Ps. 1:1-3).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We are also vulnerable to the temptation to trust in money. We might see it as security in retirement, for example, when our true security is God. We might see it as a source of freedom, when our true freedom is found in Christ. We might see it as an indication of ability or success, but the Lord has very different ways of using our abilities and measuring our successes. For some, money is a source of self-confidence and self-worth. We must resist temptations to think in these ungodly ways!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:1-6
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. - James 5:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Nehemiah investigated the situation among the Jewish returnees from exile, he was appalled to find economic injustices (Nehemiah 5). Some had been forced to mortgage their fields to buy food. Others had no financial option but to have family members work in a kind of slavery. Worst of all, the people were being squeezed by their own countrymen! Furious, Nehemiah summoned the leaders and forcefully reminded them of their responsibilities: “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them” (Neh. 5:9-11). The leaders did respond to Nehemiah’s rebuke and promised to do better.

Money and spirituality go hand-in-hand, and using money to exploit or oppress others is wrong and will be judged by God. In his epistle, James warned unbelieving rich people about the “misery that is coming upon you” (v. 1). We know they are unbelievers because they are told to “weep and wail,” that is, to repent and turn to the Lord. The priorities, purposes, and actions of wealthy believers, as we know, should look very different. James’s warning included vivid images of riches rotting away or becoming corroded, showing how fleeting and worthless they are (vv. 2-3a). The “corrosion” is not only physical but also spiritual, which is why it “will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire.”

These financial resources would testify that the wealthy have “hoarded” money for themselves instead of paying what they owed to their laborers (vv. 3b-4; cf. Jer. 22:13). These rich people are guilty of self-indulgence or living in luxury (v. 5), while at the same time they withhold wages and in effect murder innocent men by stealing their livelihoods (v. 6). They put self ahead of others, luxury ahead of integrity, selfishnessahead of justice, and money ahead of God. He will judge them severely for their sinful priorities and actions.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich, presents the financial challenges faced by the working poor in our country. The author recounted trying to make ends meet by working minimum wage jobs. Her stories of what happened are funny, shocking, and insightful. This secular book has sold over 1.5 million copies and has done much to help people understand and empathize with those near the bottom of the financial pecking order.