Coffee With The Lord

I’m married to a wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, Christian lady… and a scrupulous manager of money! Her husband? Not so much. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m careful… I’m conservative… I don’t throw money around indiscriminately… And I’ve never, as a leader of any organization or entity that I’ve been responsible for, “busted” (or violated) a budget. But Sharon, my wife? There’s only a couple of words to describe her… scrupulous and conservative! It’s because of her carefulness and wisdom with finances that, despite very modest incomes, we’re in a relatively solid financial position as we have entered retirement.

Is it appropriate for a Christian to be “scrupulous” with finances? (Notice that I didn’t say “stingy” – (Christians should NOT be stingy – they should be generous – but they SHOULD be “scrupulous” and wise with possessions and finances.) We are called to be “stewards” (i.e. we are to be wise managers of what belongs to Another – to God!) Authentic believers – Christians, if you please – do not see themselves as “owners” – they “possess” what God has entrusted to them, and are called upon to “steward” it wisely. Here is what the Bible declares… “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” (Psalm 24:1 New Living Translation)

So is “Scrupulous stewardship” an appropriate way to think about how Christians should manage their finances and possessions? This is what I read in the Bible this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”… (See what you think).

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:10–13 ESV)

So today, I honor Sharon, my wife, and her approach to money… And I want to be more like her! “Scrupulous stewardship?” I believe it’s the way to go – I’m not the owner of anything, God is – of everything! I’m to be a careful steward of all He has entrusted to me! I’m to manage what has been entrusted to me in a way that honors Him… God honoring, generous, but scrupulous.

Issues… I had BIG ones, beyond what any underling could solve! These kind of issues demanded the involvement and intervention of “the head guy” – and by that I mean “the person at the top” – and that required approved access! He’s the kind of person who has the power and authority to do ANYTHING – know what I mean? But you don’t just want into his office suite, give your name to the receptionist, and walk into His personal office and start making demands!

Fortunately, I knew His Son… Had been personally introduced to Him by a friend. His Son told me, if I ever needed access – if I ever needed an audience with His Father – He’d be my go between! Believe it or not, He even offered to personally help make my case if my appeal was a legitimate one.

Hey, I’ve got to tell you, I never want to abuse that privilege! I never want take advantage of my relationship with His Son (my friend) in inappropriate ways! But Wow! What a privilege!!! On more than one occasion I’ve approached the Father with the Son being my advocate! Let me tell you, it made all the difference in the world! In fact, the Father told me, because of my relationship with His Son, I could have access anytime I needed to, and He assured me I’d be treated like one of His other children!

Just a parable based upon the clear teaching of Scripture… (If you doubt me check out these Scriptures: Matthew 19:26; Luke 18:27; 1 John 2:1; 5:14-15; Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5; John 14:12-14; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 2:18-19; Hebrews 4:14-16 and many others.)

Hate to bring it up, but there are people who claim to be “born again, Spirit-filled, Christians” who have a bad reputation… They are known as gripers, complainers, and individuals who find fault with everything – they’re hard to get along with, difficult to please, and the entire tone of their life is negative. These “Christians” never saw an argument they didn’t like – they enjoy a “good fight” (especially a “church fight” or an argument over politics or the fine points of Church doctrine).

Hope that isn’t you! It ruins your testimony! People who don’t know the Lord dismiss and reject their witness… They have enough problems! They’re looking for hope!

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read Apostle Paul’s admonition to the Christians who lived in Philippi – a pagan city, filled with people who needed the Lord…

“Do EVERYTHING without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:14-16)

I don’t want to be like that! Instead I want to be a peacemaker, a hope bringer, an encourager, a “joy of the Lord” exhibitor… Don’t you?!