"What Is Money to Me?"

“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).

“There are 3 basic attitudes which a man may take towards money:

(1.) He may regard money as an enemy. He may refuse to have anything to do with it. That is what the hermit monks of the desert did. They absolutely refused to posses anything. But, they depended upon the charity of others! They wouldn’t own “dirty money” themselves—but it was O.K. for others to have it and give it to them to live on!
(2.) He may regard money as a master. That is to say, he may be the slave of money. That is the case of the miser, or the man whose one desire in life is to make money and who does not care how he makes it!
(3.) He may regard money as a friend. He realizes money is a necessary means of livelihood. Jesus was Himself a village carpenter, earning wages to provide for self and family. He no doubt used it wisely and unselfishly. So should we.”

(Wm. Barclay – Adopted)

In “the Parable of the Unjust Steward” Jesus tells of a steward who misused his master’s goods, and when caught, craftily used material possessions to win friends. Of course, Jesus was not condoning the man’s dishonesty in his position; but He did commend his wisdom in using worldly wealth in such a way as to insure future rewards. We are urged by Him to use our money in the same way! May we do so!


Larry Atkin, Preacher