Are You a Good Steward of Your Money?
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God has blessed you with resources; are you a good steward?
The Bible provides a variety of opportunities to learn about just about anything we could wish to know. This includes Christian money management practices. And one of the most applicable stories is the parable Jesus told about the master and his stewards. You can find the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, but here is the summary:
The parable of the talents
A master gave three different stewards some money (money weight was called a talent--approximately equal to about $1,000). They were to manage it while he was gone. The first servant (steward) received the most. He worked hard, made wise decisions, and doubled the property. The second steward received less money, but he too worked hard and made wide decisions to double what he was given. The third steward took the money and buried, achieving nothing with it. He did not make wise decisions with his talent. The master was happy with the first two, and they received increased responsibility and blessings. The third was chastised for his laziness.
What sort of steward am I?
The parable of the talents is directly relatable to money today. No matter how much or how little we are given in terms of money, the Lord expects us to make wise financial decisions and do what we can with what we have. The steward who was given less, and didn't make as much money as the first steward still received the same praise. The important thing to remember is that Christian finances are about being good stewards of what God has provided, whether that is a lot or a little.
Being a good steward is grounded in the idea that God owns everything, and that He has blessed you with a portion of His bounty. The size of the portion does not matter. What matters is what you do with it. Do you use it to help others? Is the money you have used to help your family obtain the things that it needs (as opposed to what it wants)? Do you carefully consider the items you go into debt for? Are you making plans for the future, such as providing for your own retirment? All of these questions are essential to figuring out what kind of steward you are, and then making a plan to put what God has given you to better use.
If you make wise decisions with your money, God will help you obtain what you need. And, you will receive your reward, either in this life, or in the next.
More on Christian Finances
- The Parable of the Talents
A look at the parable of talents, and its meanings. - Christian Financial Ministries
Being a good steward. - Finding Special Financial Services
Getting Christian money management help.
Thanks for your comment, and for sharing your hub. It's amazing how much better off Christians are when they apply their faith to their money management!
Nice information.
Nice information.
Its interesting subject for this new era of christian workers
It's a parable; it has nothing to do with money. It has to do with how we treat salvation. It has no exegetical significance to our finances.
My comment is in response to Mike, GOD bless you brother.
Much like all other parable's we most open or minds and hearts to the overall theme of the one writing it in order to reach the deep’s of the writer and not limit ourselves to ourselves. In other word’s open up a tried to hear in your spirit the heart of GOD ready to provide for every need with and answer that you can manage. (GOD meets each of us where we are and if we are willing, He will take us to where He IS)
My pray is that of Ephesians 1:17-18 (Amplified Bible)
17[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,
18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),
The man in the parable is Jesus himself, who “went abroad” when he ascended to heaven in the year 33 C.E. But before his ascension, Jesus committed “his belongings” to his faithful disciples.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus began to prepare a large field of activity by preaching the good news of the Kingdom throughout the land of Israel. Before he “went abroad,” he entrusted that field to his faithful disciples. Not all first-century Christians had equal circumstances or possibilities. How each steward managed the masters’ belongings came as a challenge to all who profess to be Christian. What's the challenge:
“Who really is the faithful and discreet slave (steward) whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?
(Matthew 24:45)
Love your post I linked it with mine. jghn
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The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.It show that those who faithful in small thing are faithful in great thing also. It is just worthy for His stewardship.
Pastor Joseph.
www.emmanuelministriesmyanmar.ning.com
Thank you, I stopped by because I won the website http://www.savingmyfamilymoney.com I am a christian trying to use what God has given me to bless others.
Wehzo 4 years ago
Great hub. We as Christian need to take 'Stewardship' more seriously in all areas of our lives. Thank you for sharing this much needed information with us.
I would like to invite you to visit one of my hubs:
http://hubpages.com/hub/THE-FINGERPRINTS-OF-GOD