Reflecting on Luke 16:13-15“You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts.” (Luke 16:15)
Jesus is challenging peoples’ love for and commitment to money.
Living in relative wealth compared to the rest of the world, does this mean me too?
We tend to justify how much money we need, how much we save, and how we spend it.
As christians in the wealthy west, we’re convinced our use is justified.
We’re OK with giving 10% because we keep 90% for ourselves, and still feel good.
Somehow we can be religious and rich, and make it work.
We hear Jesus’s words about not serving God and money, and think we’re ok.
These words challenge me and my own heart attachment to money.
Why am I hesitant to be more generous with what I have?
Why can I spend money easier on myself than give it to help others?
Given how little the majority of the world lives on, I do need to question this.
God has made us stewards of the world’s wealth, and there is plenty for all.
If everyone was generous and caring, there would be no poor or hungry.
Yet I need to start with me, to stop justifying and to start challenging myself.
What steps can I take today to be more generous than yesterday?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I am not generous, I know that about myself. Instead of justifying myself, help me to start stretching myself to every day being a little more generous, and a little less stingy.
As God has blessed me I need to be a blessing unto others. The resources I have need to be used for kingdom service. And that is not only money but also my talents. Many who retire also retire from active duty serving God in kingdom service. One can never retire from that as long as he is able. For God’s people there is no word like retirement in sering Him with all that I am.