The key to all giving and sharing is faithfulness. Money is not a possession; it is a trust. God entrusts property to people to be used to his glory and the welfare of all his children. That is what ‘the children of light’ ought to do. We should not use money and wealth for private glory or glamour.
If we do not use
money and wealth properly, we will find ourselves torn between trying to serve two masters—God and the masters of this world. Like today, poverty was particularly acute in Jesus’ time. As in most peasant societies, there was a small number of wealthy people and a large number of impoverished people. The rich included the chief priests (some of whose opulent houses in Jerusalem have been discovered by archaeologists). The religious authorities were more of a populist movement, but the danger they
faced was that they regarded possession of land and the wealth it brought as God’s blessing. Here, Jesus insists starkly that God’s standards are not just subtly different from human ones but that they are the exact opposite.
Many societies today still encourage people to think that possessions are a sign of God’s favour. So, people spend most of their time and energy on accumulating and enjoying their wealth. Jesus, of
course, takes the opposite view. Generosity and hospitality in taking care of the poor and needy are God’s way. Those on whom God’s favour actually rests are those who focus on helping others and sharing with them all that God enables them to gather by way of worldly riches.
How can you help others and share more of God’s gifts?
Reflections by Reggie Venter
