“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:14-30)
Jesus teaches in the above parable that God blesses us with what He knows we can handle, to each according to his own ability. Our responsibility it to take what God blesses us with and "invest" it in good works - give to further the teaching and spreading of God's Word (Acts 13), do not create unnecessary debts (Proverbs 22:26-27), help those in need, especially widows and orphans (James 1:27). Then when God sees that He can trust us to do the right thing with what He gives us, He will entrust us with more, because He knows we will be faithful and wise stewards, as Christ explains in the following parable:
And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:42-48)
Personal testimony: This is the first and probably last time I will use the word "I" on this blog. I had tithed most of my adult life, but 1996 was a rough year. I told God He had to prove to me that tithing worked, so I stopped tithing January 1997. Without going into all the details, by October 1997, I was in the worse financial shape of my life. I came to the realization that I couldn't afford not to tithe - that doesn't sound like it would make sense, but it's absolutely true. Since October 1997, I have tithed faithfully all that God gives me, along with giving offerings of money, time, service, assistance or whatever else God allows me to do. I've still had difficult times, but all my bills get paid on time. When emergencies arise, God provides what I need in various ways. And I haven't had a credit card since 1997. God gives us based on our abilities. We just have to be faithful and wise stewards of what He's already blessed us with - if you want more, do and give more, in the name of Jesus! (John 14)
Consider listening to Pastor Erwin Lutzer study "You Can't Redo Life" - Lesson "Getting Investments Right": http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/running-to-win/listen/#You+Can%e2%80%99t+Redo+Life
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