Are We Being Trustworthy with What God Has Given Us?
Author: Ozeme J Bonnette


Financial stewards don't own anything. Rather, we just
manage it. We need to make sure that we properly manage
everything that God has entrusted to us.

In Luke 16:10-12, Jesus said, "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? And
if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's
property, who will give you property of your own?" (NIV)

Parable of the Talents

There are hundreds of Scriptures on finances, but Jesus
gave us a great example in the parable of the talents (Luke
19:11-27). A man gave each of his servants some money and
asked them to put it to work while he was away. When he
returned, he called his servants together to find out what
they accomplished in his absence.

The first servant doubled what he was given. His master
was proud of him, saying, "Well done, my good servant!"
The master gave the servant greater responsibilities.

The second servant also earned a sizable profit for his
master. As a result, he, too, was given more
responsibility.

However, the third servant was afraid of losing what he was
given, so he hid it. He gave his master back exactly what
he was given. The master was furious. He gave the third
servant's portion to the first servant, leaving the "safe"
servant with nothing.

The lesson is clear: those who properly manage that which
they are given will be given more. God has entrusted each
of us with valuable gifts - things that we can do better
than others. Those who waste the talents God has given to
them will end up with nothing.

As Luke mentioned, it is possible that we do not have more
because we have not been faithful with the little that the
Lord has already given to us.

Why should God bless you with a $100,000 annual income if
you don't know how to handle a $30,000 annual income?

To put this in perspective, think about how we respond to
children. Children tend to think that they can handle a
lot more than they really can. For example, an infant may
be curious and want to taste some of your food.

However, without teeth, you know that the child will not be
able to chew and swallow what you are eating. You know the
child can only handle a bottle of milk or maybe some baby
food.

The same thing applies with our relationship with God.
Oftentimes, our curiosity gets the best of us. God knows
what we can handle, and starts us off with that. He's not
going to give us a chicken drumstick if all we can handle
is a bottle of milk.

Full accountability

It is also possible that our hearts are not in the right
place. James told Christians in James 4:3, "When you ask,
you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives,
that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (NIV)

Many of us feel that as long as we are tithing, we are
handling our responsibilities as Christians. But it goes
deeper than that. We are still accountable to God for the
other 90 percent of our increase.

Although God wants us to be happy and to enjoy nice things,
we cannot be selfish in our pursuits. God has plans for
everything that He gives to us. Once we seek God's Kingdom
first, everything else will fall in line naturally.


About the Author:

Ozeme J. Bonnette is a financial coach, speaker, and the
author of Get What Belongs to You: A Christian Guide to
Managing Your Finances. She began her career at Merrill
Lynch, and now works to increase financial literacy. She
teaches and speaks to groups and organizations throughout
the U.S. She earned 3 Bachelor's degrees at Fresno State
and an MBA at UCLA's Anderson School. Find her online at
http://www.thechristianmoneycoach.com .