On Being Good Stewards

The story is told of a man who spent $200,000 on his own funeral. Because he was estranged from his wife and children, the bitter man squandered all his money on his own burial and left them with absolutely nothing.

Because the casket and other expenses added up to only $100,000, he ordered that the remaining $100,000 be spent on orchids! Not surprising, was the fact that only three people attended his memorial service.

What a warped sense of values this man had! What a waste of money that could have been used to help the needy, support missionaries, or promote the teaching of the gospel here at home. As God’s people, are we are squandering the resources God has entrusted to us on temporary and worthless things?

If so, we need to heed the wisdom of Jesus in Luke 16:9 NIV: “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (cf. 1 Timothy 6:17-19).

When we use our resources to benefit others, especially to communicate the gospel to them, we reap eternal dividends (Ecclesiastes 11:1 ESV; cf. Proverbs 19:17; Deuteronomy 15:7-10). Just think. The folks we teach God’s word to may be at heaven’s door to greet us, therefore, let’s be good stewards of what God has given us (1 Corinthians 4:1-2; cf. Luke 12:42-44; Titus 1:7,9).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets