Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Genesis 25-26
     New Testament Reading: Luke 16

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings. Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much (Luke 16:9-10).

Jesus tells a parable that seems very confusing to us. This manager was lazy and did not do his job. Accusations of fraud were made against him and he was fired. He then took his master’s accounts receivables and discounted two of the overdue accounts. Selling overdue accounts to a collection agency for 50 or 60 cents on the dollar or discounting them yourself is a common business practice today and in Jesus’ time. However, instead of doing it to generate cash flow for his master, his attitude was to make friends with these other businessmen at his master’s expense. Jesus then surprises us all by commending the manager’s motive!

Jesus is teaching us that as Christians, we should use our earthly resources to “make friends” who one day will welcome us into heaven. A day will come that our wealth and opportunities will end. All our possessions, all that we build for ourselves here on earth will be left behind. Instead, it is far better to use those resources to evangelize and disciple others we can then spend eternity with them and enjoy their fellowship forever.

All of us should want to meet people in heaven who trusted Christ because we help to pay the bill for the Gospel to be spread at home and around the world. How wonderful it will be to have someone come to us in heaven and say, “I’m here because you gave to a mission work.” Or “I’m here because you taught my Sunday School class.” Or “I’m here because someone from the church you help support witnessed to me.”

It doesn’t matter how much or how little you have. You cannot say that if only I had more money as some others do, then I would give more. Jesus said, “whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much”. It’s about the attitude of the heart. Someone who is stingy when they have only a little will also be stingy with having more.

New Testament giving is not about the percentages. It’s not I give 10% to God and 90% is mine to do with as I please. It all belongs to God. If Jesus is our Lord and Master, then it all belongs to Him and it is only ours to manage. The question is never, how much of my money should I give to God? But how much of God’s money should I keep for myself?

We are to use all that we are, all that we have, to make friends that will share eternity with us. Ray Boltz said it so well in his classic song Thank You.

“One by one they came far as the eyes could see. Each life somehow touched by your generosity. Little things that you had done, sacrifices made. Unnoticed on the earth, in heaven, now proclaimed. As Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord. He said, my child, look around you, for great is your reward. Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am so glad you gave.”