![]() The eighth commandment teaches that we are to protect our personal property and that of others. One of the most important economic principles regarding money and possessions in Scripture is that of the right and responsibility of private property. However, as society developed, the trade of physical goods in every transaction became cumbersome and complex, so currency became the normative mode of economic exchange. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were to enjoy the fruit of their labor even as they lived as stewards in a world that belonged to God.īefore the use of currency, individuals engaged in trade through a barter system to secure the goods and necessities of life. ![]() The Lord also commanded them to “subdue the earth,” thereby teaching them that by their labor the earth would yield its produce for them to enjoy (v. After creating human beings, God told them, “I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food” (Gen. Out of His overflowing goodness, God has determined to share the good things of the world with His image bearers. Since God is the Creator of all, He owns the world and all that is in it (Ps. Scripture reminds us that the triune God is the Creator over all the earth (Gen. Clearly, there are eternal implications for what we do with what God has given us in the present. Jesus taught about money and stewardship more than almost any other subject during His earthly ministry. Scripture calls us to manage our material gifts, as well as our time, to God’s glory. A biblical call to stewardship involves wisely managing the good things God has given us. The Bible frequently warns against the sin of greed and wastefulness. However, as with everything else in this fallen world we can sinfully misuse money. It also serves as a tool for helping others in their times of need. Money enables people to secure for themselves the necessities and goods of life. Many of the resources He gives us are represented by money, a medium of exchange that allows us to save, invest, and share the goods and services the Lord provides. In so doing, God requires us to make use of His resources in a way that is pleasing to Him. As the Creator of all, He is free to disperse goods in whatever way He wills. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.In His goodness, God has chosen to share the good things of creation with mankind. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. 28 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. ![]() 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents see, I have gained two more.' 23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22 "The man with the two talents also came. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things I will put you in charge of many things. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. 14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
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