Responsibility

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 12:48

My friend and I were talking about responsibility the other day. Specifically, how great wealth carries great responsibility, and with that thought, no matter how much having a great deal of money may appeal to us, the fact that we don't may be God's way of protecting us from a difficult life. The Message puts it this way,

Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities! Luke 12:48

Sometimes we wish for things that we really wouldn't want, or know how to handle! We've all seen those woeful tales of lottery winners who end up being broke, disillusioned, or with some area of their life falling apart. It's not true of everyone, of course.

And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24

And we all think we would be the ones that would 'handle it differently' but the truth is that great wealth, like great power, comes with lures and temptations that tumble the strongest of hearts. Look at King Solomon, or his father David.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; Mt 6:19

If we aren't careful we will be like the rich man in Luke 12 who failed to learn the lesson of greed and life being more than our possessions. Remember him? He made bigger barns to store his wealth and wanted to 'eat, drink, and be merry'. Jesus called him a 'fool' because his concern was only for the riches he would gain here on earth. He died that night before he had a chance to enjoy all he had gathered for himself.

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Mt 6:20

Most of us do not consider ourselves 'rich' - but by the rest of the world's standards we have great material wealth, and those of us who know Christ are certainly abundantly wealthy in spiritual blessings! Whatever we have is the Lord's, not our own. What will we do with the blessings the Lord has given us?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

Have you taken a heart-check lately? Where are your treasures stored?

All for Him,

Missy