What's Money Got To Do With It??

Luke 16:1-15


What's Money Got to do With It??

Martin Luther said, "There are three conversions a person needs to experience:  the conversion of the head, the conversion of the heart, and the conversion of the pocketbook." (emphasis added)

Jesus talked more about money than heaven and hell combined.  Jesus talked more about money than anything else except the kingdom of God.

The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer.  It offers fewer than 500 verses on faith. 

And.....
The Bible offers more than 2,000 verses on money!!!

Money has a powerful hold on us.  This parable of the shrewd manager is a wonderful illustration of how we can use money for God's purposes.  The manager's job was on the line, because the master had heard that he was not handling his finances well.  In a fight for his job, he wisely reduced debts of the owner's creditors, ensuring that the owner would receive at least some of what he was owed. 

The Pharisees, the religious elite of Jesus' day, are in the audience as Jesus tells this parable, and they
'sneer at Jesus' (verse 14).  Jesus knows that they have not experienced what Luther calls the 'conversion of the heart' OR the 'conversion of the pocketbook.'  He calmly says to them, "God knows your hearts.  What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. (verse 15)"

So, dear Bible Blast readers, where is your heart when it comes to money?  How do you view your money?  Is it yours to keep?  Is it your creditors?  Or is it God's, and you are the manager for time being?   Jesus challenges you to experience the conversion of your pocketbook to God's glory!

Lord, I confess that it is hard for me to want to completely trust you with my money. Give me a heart that joyfully uses my money for the Kingdom. Amen.