Living In The Light

May 26, Faithfulness In Earthly Possessions

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.”
—Luke 16:10 LL 156.1

He that is faithful in his earthly possessions, which are least, making a judicious use of what God has lent him here, will be true to his profession. “He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” He that will withhold from God that which He has lent him, will be unfaithful in the things of God in every respect. “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” If we prove unfaithful in the management of what God lends us here, He will never give us the immortal inheritance. “And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” Jesus has purchased redemption for us. It is ours; but we are placed here on probation to see if we will prove worthy of eternal life. God proves us by trusting us with earthly possessions. If we are faithful to impart freely of what He has lent us, to advance His cause, God can entrust to us the immortal inheritance. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” LL 156.2

God is displeased with the slack, loose manner in which many of His professed people conduct their worldly business. They seem to have lost all sense of the fact that the property they are using belongs to God, and that they must render to Him an account of their stewardship. Some leave their worldly business in perfect confusion. Satan has his eye on it all, and he strikes at a favorable opportunity, and by his management takes much means out of the ranks of Sabbathkeepers. And this means goes into his ranks. Some who are aged are unwilling to make any settlement of their worldly business, and in an unexpected moment they sicken and die. Their children who have no interest in the truth, take the property. Satan has managed it as suited him. . . . LL 156.3

I was shown the awful fact that Satan and his angels have had more to do with the management of the property of God’s professed people than the Lord has. . . . I saw that the stewards of God can by faithful, judicious management keep their business in this world square, exact, and straight.— Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, pp. 198—200. LL 156.4

Further Reflection: : How do you handle the resources that God has entrusted to you? How can you be more careful and intentional in the management of blessings given you by God? LL 156.5