God's Property Managers

A friend of mine recently was asked to serve as a driver for a company that manufactures luxury automobiles. Normally he drives a well-worn pickup truck, but for six days he was paid to drive $85,000 sedans and demonstrate them to potential owners. He enjoyed the experience, but two main thoughts filled his mind as he drove: (1) "I'd better not get used to this." (2) "I'd better not scratch or dent this car!"

It's a big responsibility when someone trusts valuable property to another person's care. Unfortunately, we all can think of times when this responsibility has been ignored. A tenant damages his landlord's house. A neighbor borrows your lawnmower and returns it with a dull and dented blade. You lend a book or videotape to a friend and never see it again.

God is the rightful owner of all things. "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1). "The silver is mine and the gold is mine," declares the Lord Almighty (Haggai 2:8). Our money, our homes, our clothing, even our bodies belong to God. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20).

God calls us to be property managers, stewards, careful caretakers of his property. From the beginning, he intended that men and women should "subdue the earth"—not exploit, destroy, or pollute it, but manage it, organize it, and develop its potential.

The apostle Paul wrote, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2). In its context, this passage refers to the apostles who were entrusted with "the secret things of God"—God's revealed truth (1 Corinthians 4:1). But the general principle is true for all of us who have received blessings from God. Stewards must be found faithful.

The Lord wants us to manage every dollar well—not just the dollars we put into the church's collection plate. Nevertheless, giving is an important expression of our love for God. Have we learned to honor the Lord with our wealth and the "firstfruits" of our earnings (Proverbs 3:9, 10)? Have we made it our goal to "excel in this grace of giving" (2 Corinthians 8:7)? Have we learned "to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share" (1 Timothy 6:18)?

If the Lord's work seems underfunded, it's not because there's not enough money. It's because too much of the money is still stuffed into the pockets of God's people! The church has unlimited potential to accomplish great things for God's glory if Christians will manage money well and give generously to support the Lord's work.

In the process givers end up receiving more than they give. As Paul said, it's "more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25). Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you" (Luke 6:38).

The Bible says, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). That's why we give, too—out of gratitude for a gift that money can't buy.