Jesus in Luke 16 teaches that we are to give as stewards of our material blessings. First, Jesus taught the parable of the unjust steward (vv. 1-13). When this steward saw that he must soon answer his master on the charge of wasting his possessions, he discounted the debts owed by his master’s debtors. The debtors were pleased to be relieved of their debts and the master was pleased to have an income windfall. The steward thus used his role wisely in lifting the debtors’ heavy load so that his benefactors would gladly receive him when his master dismissed him.
If we use money to bless our brethren, they will welcome us “into everlasting habitations” prepared by God for his faithful stewards (vs. 9). God intended his people to share the material possessions he gave them with their brethren who were in need.
The parable has a sharp point. The Jews and their leaders for the most part had failed in their stewardship. God gave them a promised land and made them a great nation to prepare for the coming of their Savior, but they used these blessings selfishly and resisted the Savior sent by God. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (vs. 10). Men with such selfish hearts would not be faithful stewards of the greater riches of the kingdom of God (vs. 11). Therefore, these unjust stewards would not become citizens and possessors of the new kingdom (vs. 12). They had served the wrong master: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” or material possessions (vs. 13). (Ron Halbrook, GIVING MONEY TO OTHERS: “It Is More Blessed to Give than to Receive”)
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Dad, Siamen D. Tumandan a gospel preacher of our Lord and now working as preacher in Balunto church of Christ, Labangal, General Santos City has received 1,000.00 pesos as financial assistance from Brother Ron Halbrook and US saints.
Dad has been preaching the gospel since 1998.
Thank you so much and God bless.
Men Mark Tumandan
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