Thursday, January 22, 2015

Trust Much

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?  Luke 16:10-11

This morning, pondering Jesus’ teaching (yet again!) on the stewardship of our “stuff,”  (Mammon, or as the NIV translates it, “worldly wealth,” encompasses so much more than income, it the accumulation of all we own.) I was struck in this passage by a question I don’t often hear asked.

What I often hear asked of me and ask of others is the question “Can you trust Jesus with this?” Throughout our lives we will face circumstances and various dynamics that seemingly betray God’s goodness. It is through these times we make a choice to walk obediently in faith, believing God is trustworthy and will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  Believing that God is weaving a tapestry with our lives that most glorifies Him for all eternity.  We have to trust that His providence trumps our agenda, comfort, etc… easier said than done right?

However, today I sensed the Holy Spirit reversing the syntax of my often-asked question, asking of me, “Can Jesus trust you, Gary?” Now please don’t hear what I am not saying.  We are not discussing God’s love here--God loves the world! That is clear.  We are discussing stewardship and if I read the passage above, let alone the whole parable the passage comes from, Jesus seems to be teaching that there is a direct correlation between our stewardship of our “stuff” and God’s entrusting “true riches” to us.  (True riches would be what God deems valuable: what lasts for eternity.)

Can Jesus trust you? It is this very question which is driving us to offer Financial Peace University, and which prompts me to invite every PCC’er to the Bayview Room this Sunday at 8:55am for the free preview of the course. Childcare is provided.

Millions of people around the country have gone through Financial Peace University. They've worked a plan, rewritten their stories, and changed their futures. On average, FPU graduates pay off $5,300 in debt and save $2,700 in only the first 90 days!  This class meets for nine weeks on Sundays at 8:55am. It incorporates small-group discussions that help encourage accountability and discipleship. FPU teaches members how to handle money God's ways, and His ways work!

At the end of our lives, I am sure you want to look back, in the presence of Jesus, and hear this spoken over you, “Well done, good and trustworthy servant. You leveraged all I entrusted to you, in the strength and power that was available to you, for my glory and for the good of people.”  I know no better tool than FPU to help us achieve that end.

I want nothing from you, just something for you--I want for you, what I want for me: A life maximized for eternity. This weekend we will continue in our Generous Living series looking at Jesus’ money advice in Matthew 6:19-24

I love being your pastor!

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