On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 40: Money – An Entrusted Talent
“For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs…” (1 Timothy 6:10 RSV)
The followers of Christ are not to love money. Neither are they to despise money. Rather, they are to look upon wealth as God’s entrusted talent. By a wise use of His gifts, they may be benefitted eternally (see the parable of the Last Judgment, Matthew 25).
We are to bear in mind, however, that God has not given us riches to use just as we please. We are not to use money to satisfy our impulses, nor to give or withhold as we want to. We are not to use money in a selfish way, simply for our enjoyment.
Granted, the world favors the rich. The world looks upon the rich as of greater value than the honest poor. But rich, or poor, individual character is often formed by the way entrusted gifts are used. Both rich and poor are being “tested” by their use of worldly goods as to whether or not they will be trusted with eternal riches. Both the rich and the poor are deciding their own eternal destiny whether they are fit subjects for the inheritance of the saints in light.
Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:21-23 RSV)
Those who put their riches to selfish use in this world are revealing much about their character. The entirety of the Orthodox spiritual life is to represent while on earth the characteristics of life in eternity with God. After all, one’s eternity begins with one’s life on this earth. Baptized and Chrismated, one is now in the Kingdom of Heaven – yet while still on earth. One then spends a lifetime developing into what God expects of every one of His created beings: “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48 RSV)
Selfishness and misuse of God’s entrusted gifts are not qualities that describe someone ready for the Kingdom of God.
This weekly series of brief thoughts on stewardship and Orthodox life is brought to you by your Diocesan Stewardship Commission.
Related Blog Articles
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 113: Being Contentious (9/25/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 114: Being Lazy (10/02/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 116: Giving (10/16/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 120: Are you a Consumer or Steward? (11/13/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life -Part 149: Joys of Generosity (6/4/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 109: How Are We Judged? (8/28/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 110: Generosity (9/4/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 111: What do I have to Give? (9/11/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 112: Adam and Eve (9/18/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 115: Where Is Your Heart? (10/09/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 117: Why Am I Here? Part 1 (10/23/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 118: Why Am I Here? Part II (10/30/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 119: Why Am I Here? Part III (11/06/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 121: Almsgiving (11/20/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 122: What Are Your Gifts For? (11/27/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 123: A Purposeful Life (12/4/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 124: The Best Thanksgiving is Giving (12/11/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 125: Have We Discovered Our Gifts (12/18/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 126: Do We Suffer From Pleonexia? (12/25/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 127: Self-denial and the Holy Cross (1/1/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 128: Family Holidays (1/8/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 129: Partnering with God (1/15/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 130: Success (1/22/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 131: Spiritual Cowardice (1/29/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 132: Do You Have Enough Chips? (2/5/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 133: Desire (2/12/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 134: Freedom (2/19/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 135: Memory (2/26/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 136: Being in Communion - Part 1 (3/5/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 137: Being in Communion - Part ll (3/12/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 138: Being in Communion - Part lll (3/19/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 139: Laying the Foundation (3/26/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 140: Clericalism (4/02/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 141: Spiritual Education (4/09/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 142: Christ Is Risen! (4/16/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 143: An Inviting Church (4/23/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 144: Gratitude (4/30/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 145: Unimaginable Potential (5/07/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 146: Two Paths (5/14/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 147: The Biblical connotation of Stewardship (5/21/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 148: Why Should I be a Good Steward? (5/28/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 150: Fairness and Credibility (6/11/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 151: Giving Away the Kingdom (6/18/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 152: Bad Excuses (6/25/17)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 108: Well Done! (8/21/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 107: Gifts (8/14/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 106: How Much Do I Owe? (8/7/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 105: DO YOU BELIEVE? (7/31/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 104: Spiritual Hospital (7/24/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 103: Self Love (7/17/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 102: Passions prevent Stewardship (7/10/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 101. Theosis Without Stewardship (7/3/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 100. Saved II (6/26/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 99. Saved I (6/19/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 98. A Kingdom of Priests (6/12/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 97: Wasting on Wearing Wants (6/5/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 96: Children and the Stewardship Life II (5/29/16)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 95: Children and the Stewardship Life I
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 94: Sent
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 93: Self-Denial
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 92: It’s Up to Us
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 91: We Cannot Forgive Enough
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 90: Abraham: The Stewardship of Hospitality
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 89: Abram: One Steward’s Response
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 88: Debt III: Parish Debt
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 87: Debt II: Personal Debt
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 86: Debt I: Everyone’s in Debt
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 85: Do Not Fret
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 84: The Lure of Lottery
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 83: The Gift of Generosity
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 82: Count The Cost
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 81: Giving Without Love
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 80: Looking Back
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 79: The Big Deception
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 78: In Debt to God
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 77: Perfection
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 76: Temptation
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 75: Treasures, Rust and Thieves
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 74: The Love of Money
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 73: Present Wrapping
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 72: Life’s Deserts
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 71: Be Still And Know That I Am God
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 70: Acceptable Offering? (Part 3)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 69: Acceptable Offering? (Part 2)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 68: Acceptable Offering? (Part I)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 67: God's Gift - Our Gift
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 66: Motivation
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 65: Life Lived in Vain
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 64: What is God's?
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 63: Wearing The Right Clothes
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 62: No Other Gods
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 61: Giving Your All: Part 3
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 60: Giving Your All: Part 2
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 59: Giving Your All: Part 1
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 58: Giving Freely
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 57: God-given Talent
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 56: "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29 RSV)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 55: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36 RSV)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 54: Widow and Orphan
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 53: Stewards and the Poor III
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 52: Stewards and the Poor II
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 51: Stewards and the Poor I
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 50: Mammon
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 49: Yours of Your Own
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 48: Do Not Be Afraid
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 47: Squandering God's Gifts
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 46: Decisions
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 45: What Must I Do?
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 44: It’s Your Choice, Part 2
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 43: It’s Your Choice, Part I
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 42: He Became One of Us
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 41: “As Were the Days of Noah…”
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 40: Money – An Entrusted Talent
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 39: The Common Life in The Spirit
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 38: Prove It
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 37: RSVP Please
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 36: Talents II
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 35: Talents I
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 34: The Orthodox Life
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 33: Stewardship Formation
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 32: Jacob's Vow
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 31: For Value Received
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 30: Time and Talent IV
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 29: Time and Talent III
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 28: Time and Talent II
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 27: Time and Talent I
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 26: The First Day – The First Fruits
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 25: Robbery and Blessings
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 24: Proportional Giving
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 23: The Old Tithe – The New Stewardship
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 22: An Infant. Some Shepherds. The Magi.
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 21: The Stewardship of Prayer and Fasting
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 20: The Loyalty Test III
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 20: The Loyalty Test II
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 20: The Loyalty Test I
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 19: “God so loved the world, He gave…” (John 3:16 RSV)
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 18: Timothy to the Rescue
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 17: Standing in the Way
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 16: Whose Will They Be?
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 15: The Least of These
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 14: Baptism and Turning One’s Back on the Church
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 13: Sacrificial Giving
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 12: Receiving To Give.
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 11: Land of Opportunity
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 10: A Simple Plan – Part 3
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 9: A Simple Plan – Part 2
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 8: A Simple Plan – Part I
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 7: On Selfishness
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 6: “You are Not Your Own”
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 5: St. Paul on Selfishness
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 4: Our Bountiful Benefactor
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 3: Stewardship Blessings
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 2: Co-Workers With God
- On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 1: Introduction