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We've had a number of requests for more "Focus On Finances" from Dean Scott. There seems to be a deep need in our time for Godly counsel on this subject. So, back by popular demand . . .
Focus On Finances
Dean Scott
In a prior article, we studied some of God's principals of financial responsibility. God has given most of us something, at least. Some are wealthy, some are poor, most of us are somewhere in between.
Remember when Jesus taught about responsibility? He said,
Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents (measures of silver), to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, "Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents."
His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master."
Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, "Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents."
His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master."
And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, "Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours."
But his master answered and said to him, "You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. (Matthew 25: 13-31)
A talent was approximately 1,200 ounces of silver. At today's prices, that's somewhere around $6,000.00 (US).
If you were a steward, and the master who gave you that stewardship were to give you $6,000.00 today, what would you do with it? Please give it some serious thought.
If you were to invest it in the stock market, unless you do it wisely, you could lose it all. Or you could take the "safer" route and invest in a bank's Certificate of Deposit (CD), or an interest-bearing savings account. Perhaps a little more profitable, yet relatively safe venture might be an annuity.
Still thinking about it. Two of the stewards in Jesus' parable doubled their master's investment in a short time. The other was afraid of losing it, so he did something quite safe. But, his actions did not please his master.
Take An Inventory
What do you have? With what has your master entrusted you?
An easy start is to inventory what you "own". A house? Land? A car? Two or three cars? A lawn mower? A boat? Animals? Pets?
After counting up all those things, try thinking of intangibles. Income? Savings? Investments? Insurance?
How about other intangibles?
Your spouse. Children? Friends? Relatives?
Please do spend several minutes considering all those things you "own". Then consider that the real owner of those things is not you.
You and I are entrusted by our God with individualized stewardships. Nothing that we "own" is our own. We didn't have it when we came into the world, and we certainly will not take any possessions out of the world when we leave.
Where my wife and I live is a stewardship. Occasionally, we ask, "What are we doing with this stewardship?"
Since I came to realize this is a responsibility, I've been praying differently. Now, I continually ask God, "How can I use and care for these things over which you have made me a steward, to increase them and to use them totally in your service?"
I've finally begun to realize that he really is going to ask me for an accounting of what I've done with what he's given me. I have custody only temporarily. My days are numbered and they are few. Someone else was the steward here before I came. Someone else was steward of this land and this place before I was born. After I am gone, even someone else I may never meet will be given this stewardship.
What will I do with these "things" while he's entrusted me with them?
Pray!
Ask for his help, for his guidance every day to be the best steward you possibly can be over your stewardship. I promise you that your attitude will certainly change about material possessions if you make this a daily quest. If you keep it in your thoughts.
Nothing that I "have" is my own. It belongs to my father. How should I care for it? I dare not waste a moment nor a single asset or possession. After all, it doesn't belong to me. It's my father's. If I don't use it well, he's shown me through the parable of Jesus that he will take it away from me and give it to someone who will care for it, increase it, and make it even more valuable than it is today.
