God gives to each of us different talents and resources in different amounts. We are all called to be faithful and good stewards of what He provides no matter how small or how big. None of us are insignificant to God. He wants us to use what He gives us for His glory.
The parable of the talents Jesus shares in Matthew 25 can be applied directly to money, but also can be extrapolated to include how we wisely use (or foolishly squander) the personal abilities and time on this earth that God has given us. It reminds us both that we should be good stewards of our resources by checking on how effectively they are being invested / utilized and that God will hold us accountable for how we have used the resources (e.g. money, ability, time, etc.) He provided us in this life. Even those to whom He gives seemingly little, are still accountable to use it wisely. Further, they are to use it for His purposes, not their own.
14“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15“To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16“Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17“In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18“But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20“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.’ 21“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.’
22“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.’ 23“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.’
24“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. 25‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26“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. 27‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29“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. 30“Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
God wants us to effectively use what He provides for His kingdom, whether it is financial resources or personal talents and gifts He has given us. This applies directly to every aspect of your personal financial strategy and to all areas of your life, even those not directly linked to financial matters.
- Develop your skills/abilities and work hard to generate income.
- Control spending and debt.
- Invest wisely to grow your financial resources, considering concepts like diversification and seeking wise advice.
- Steward your financial performance / progress in all areas, including reflection on both success and failure.
- Remember that how we pursue our results matters to God. Honor His instruction with your actions for what is right and acceptable. (e.g. ethics)
- Avoid the trap of greed… taking foolish risks to try to get rich quickly or never having enough money to stop pursuing more, even at detriment to other aspects of your life.
- Give and give generously and cheerfully to others in the name of Jesus Christ and in ways that honor God.
Click the following link for more information in our Guiding Framework.
Serve God with all that He has given you, whether big or small! We will one day have to give an account to Him for how we used all that He provided.
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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .