Week 10 Day 1 Devotions
The Use of Money
“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9
The New Living Translation of the Bible translates this verse as follows and is included here in an attempt to get a better understanding of the meaning of the text: “I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven.”
There is a wise way and a foolish way to deal with money. The wise way is always the better although not always the easier way to follow and it goes without saying that if we have the responsibility of teaching others how to use money, that we teach them to use it wisely. Wesley suggests the following: earn as much as you can, save as much as you can and give as much as you can.
Earn as much money as you can but never at the expense of life nor at the expense of your health. Do not engage in business which is sinful or which is perhaps harmless but requires you to cheat or lie or to do things not consistent with a good conscience. Earn all you can without hurting your neighbour and don't set out to ruin somebody else's business in order to advance your own. Don't earn a living by selling that which is harmful to your neighbour. In earning as much as you can, whether you work for yourself or for someone else, work as hard as you can, as well as you can and as soon as you can.
Save all you can. One of the best ways to save is to not spend in the first place. Don't waste your money. Don't spend anything purely to gratify a desire of the flesh, a desire of the eye or the pride of life. Don't spend money just to get the praise of other people but rather be content with the praise and honour that comes from God.
Give all you can. It is not enough however to earn all we can and save all we can. That makes us no better than the person who does nothing other than bury his or her money in the ground; that is not good stewardship and God has in His wisdom placed us on earth not as proprietors but as stewards and called us to be good stewards. Out of your earnings give to yourself and your family that which is necessary for preserving the body in health and strength. Give to your wider household according to their needs. Set aside what is needed for the good stewardship of your business. Use what is left to do all the good you can, wherever you can and whenever you can, to whoever you can.
Earn as much as you can, save as much as you can, give as much as you can.
Father, please help me to earn as much as I can, save as much as I can and give as much as I can.
