… “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)
By David Mazanowski
I have learned more through my mistakes than through my successes—a truth I wish weren’t so, but one that God has used to shape me.
My understanding of stewardship versus ownership is one of the most painful examples of missing the mark. Thankfully, Jesus is in the redemption business—and he never stops redeeming me.
There was a season when God entrusted me with abundance—and I handled it like a fool. I am not proud of that. I wasn’t truly stewarding what God had given me. I even wore the word stewardship like a badge of honor, while in reality, I was treating God’s gifts as my own personal sandbox.
Money serves two purposes: to build God’s Kingdom and to provide for our needs. But our “needs” can so easily expand—blinding us to the needs of the Kingdom. Early in my walk with Christ, I heard a phrase that sounded like something Jesus might say: “We should give away more and live on less.” At the time, I had very little, and those words inspired me. But as my wealth grew, I found myself resenting that phrase.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.” Those words pierce my rationalizations and remind me that generosity is meant to cost us something.
The parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21) has never been more relevant than it is today. Rationalization is one of the enemy’s favorite tools. If your wealth is growing and life is getting more comfortable, I urge you to read the entire parable and let it set you free.
Pray
Lord, help us steer away from a life as a “rich fool,” and to share our generous gifts to give beyond our means.
Reflect
How are you using your stewardship gifts at work? Are you squandering them, or giving them out freely?
Discuss
What does it mean to “give more than you can spare” at work? Share how you can give more to your coworkers by using the gifts God has given you.
Dave Mazanowski is a board member of WorkLight. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with his wife, Donna. He is the co-founder of Mainscape Inc., a commercial landscape maintenance firm, and he can be reached at damazanowski@mainscape.com.