“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. “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 16:9-11 NIV (emphasis added)
I see so much of Jesus‘ character in those words. If you read the entire chapter you’ll see that He rebuked the religious people, not the people from the world that He actually came to save. He was very mad with the ones from Abraham’s family because having the means to help others they didn’t (Mr.9.19).
If He would like to destroy the entire system and the Roman imperial governance at the moment He would just do it (Mt.26.53-54). But instead, He chose the path of patient compassion, the way of the Father, the way of love (1Cor.13.4).
The word for “it is gone” is translated from the original greek ekleipó that means “to come to an end”, “to fail“. If you read the Bible end-to-end, you’ll see that there is a timer for this system to work the way it works today. Don’t be discouraged when you see this economic system failing. Because it is written two thousand years ago this was going happen. That is going to eventually end and the ones that remain at fleet will be the ones that put their trust in Him, rather than the government or the stock market. They will be secured by the rules of the Kingdom of God. Lets be honest and faithful with what we have now, so when it fails, we can be entrusted true and eternal riches.
““Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right —using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”Luke 16:8-9 MSG (emphasis added)
During this pandemic season, many people are getting unemployed, and the rates are increasing at an overwhelming pace. Governments are having a hard time to help the economy to stand in the midst of this COVID-19 landscape. My recommendation to you, if you have been economically afflicted too - I’m telling you this because I’ve been there and He have helped me so I can help others now - Use the gifts, talents, and what you have in your hands and put it in the hands of the Father. The widow from Zarephath only needed a handful of oil in a jar and a little olive oil to provide food for her family and Elijah (1 King 17:15). The disciples only needed what they had in their hands and the blessing from God to feed five thousand people (Mt.14:18). You’ll see, when you partner with God, what you have in your hand is all you need. And soon you will be more concerned about giving and helping others and a lot less about lacking.
““Don’t keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value. For your heart will always pursue what you esteem as your treasure. “The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light to enter into your being. If your heart is unclouded, the light floods in! But if your eyes are focused on money, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place. How profound will be the darkness within you if the light of truth cannot enter! “How could you worship two gods at the same time? You will have to hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t worship the true God while enslaved to the god of money!” “This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing—everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing? “Consider the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they? So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life? “And why would you worry about your clothing? Look at all the beautiful flowers of the field. They don’t work or toil, and yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was robed in beauty like one of these! So if God has clothed the meadow with hay, which is here for such a short time and then dried up and burned, won’t he provide for you the clothes you need—you of little faith? “So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require? “So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”” Matthew 6:19-34 TPT (emphasis added)
You see? There is another economic system that can secure us everything on this world. A King doesn’t give small, He gave His only son to us. How can He deny the other things from us? There might be people than could give their live for a good person but He shows His mercy at giving it for a bunch of wicked people, you and me included. So if you are a child of God, don’t worry about those things, but worry about the desires of the Father. He will take care of the rest for you. Abundantly...