|
CHALLENGES IN LIVING
TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY
.
Riches and
Investments that Really Matter
.
by Tom
Caballes
“And I
tell you, make friends for yourselves
by means of unrighteous wealth,
so that when it fails they may receive
you into the eternal dwellings.”
- Luke
16:9
Do you consider yourself good with handling money
or investments? If yes, that is great. We are
called to be good stewards of our time, talent and
resources. But the truth is, no matter how rich we
become in this life, we will leave them behind. Do
you know who the best businessmen truly are? They
are the ones who mainly invests on eternal
riches. Why? Their riches and treasures will
never rot, get stolen or fade away. It is theirs
forever – eternal! - to keep. That is why the
Bible is encouraging us to use ‘unrighteous
wealth’ here on earth sensibly, so that it will
earn for us eternal dividends. So, if you have
Christ in your life, you are rich beyond compare!
In due time, you will earn your rewards. Are you
looking forward to enjoying your eternal riches?
So How Do You Invest in
Things that Really Matter for the
Kingdom?
- Use your money, time, talent and resources
well. You don’t have to be involved with
everything, but you are called to do well
where God has called you into. Love your
spouse well, bring up your children in God’s
ways, and do well as an employee, and wherever
else God has called you to – and live out your
call in the community well. You are called to
invest your resources in loving and serving
God and His people.
- Decide on things with eternal perspective.
Do not be like the foolish rich man in Luke
12, who did not know what to do with his
overflowing crops. At the end, he wasted his
life acquiring wealth he cannot keep. When you
make big life changing decisions, you should
be mindful of how that decision will affect
you eternally. When you make huge financial
decisions, you should remember that you will
leave everything behind.
- You need to learn to be content. Do not let
your heart be focused on earthly wealth. You
need to be careful with your eyes, mind and
heart from the allures of the latest gadgets
and gizmos. Rather than amassing worldly
wealth, you should store eternal riches, which
brings us to the next point - about being
generous.
- Practice generosity – you are called to be
generous to those around you, including the
poor and the needy. Galatians 6 calls us
especially to grab opportunities to be
generous, especially to the ‘household of
faith.’
- You are called to support your church and
community – because you get spiritual support
from them. In order for your church and
community to work well, you are called to
‘invest’ your resources with them well.
- If you find a real hidden treasure, wouldn’t
you share it with your friends and families?
You might be tempted not to share your earthly
wealth with others because it runs out – but
not with God’s Kingdom. I believe that the
more we share our heavenly wealth by
witnessing to and evangelising others, the
richer we will become eternally. Sharing Jesus
to others is a great strategy to earn greater
eternal returns.
- There are two clear ways you can be in
danger of ‘losing them all’ – first is by
living in sin; second is by not forgiving
those who offended you in the past. You need
to continuously repent and live under God’s
mercy and grace. Get rid of all anger and
bitterness in your life and live in freedom to
love and serve your eternally rich and
generous God, who keeps your eternal rewards
safe with Him which you will enjoy in due
time.
Other Scripture
passages:
- And he said to them, "Take care, and be on
your guard against all covetousness, for one's
life does not consist in the abundance of his
possessions." [Luke 12:15]
- … for whatever one sows, that will he also
reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh
will from the flesh reap corruption, but the
one who sows to the Spirit will from the
Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow
weary of doing good, for in due season we will
reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we
have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,
and especially to those who are of the
household of faith. [Galatians 6:7-10]
- If then you have not been faithful in the
unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you
the true riches? If you have not been faithful
in that which is another's, who will give you
that which is your own? [Luke 16:11-12]
- Other references: Luke 12:16-21; 1 Timothy
6:6-12; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; and Hebrews 13:5.
For personal reflection or
group sharing
Are you a good eternal investor? In
what ways can you improve? Are you in any danger
of ‘losing them all?’
 |
Tom Caballes is the National
Senior Administrator and a National
Coordinator of the Lamb
of
God, a community of the Sword of
the Spirit with 7 branches located
throughout New Zealand. Tom also leads
Kairos
New
Zealand, an outreach program for
high school, university, and
post-university aged people.
Tom and his wife Mhel and
their two daughters live in
Wellington, New Zealand.
|
.l |
