American people live in the most affluent nation in history. What an amazing statement to ponder! North American Christians control 70% of the world’s wealth that is in the hands of Christians. Though there are many more Christians in other nations of the world, American Christians have been entrusted to steward 70% of the world’s wealth that is in the hands of Christians. This wealth is to get the get the gospel to every tribe and nation, care for the needy and hungry, and help the dying and broken.
Have you ever considered how wealthy you might be according to the world’s wealth? You can now know by going to Globalrichlist.com and typing in your annual income. It will then tell you where you are according to the worlds current wealth. Consider, if you make:
- $30k a year: you’re in the top 1.23% richest people in the world.
- $60k a year: you’re in the top 0.19% of people in the world.
- $100k a year: you’re in the top 0.08% of people in the world.
- $12k a year: you’re in the top 14.45% richest people in the world.
When scripture talks about rich people, it is talking to us. Jesus shares a truth in Luke 12:48 that every American Christian should memorize. It says, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more, will be required.” People who have been entrusted by God with many abilities and resources will be held to a higher standard on the last day. We will also be rewarded with additional opportunities to serve and invest when we steward His money and possessions His ways.
True stewardship is managing the assets of someone else. Stewardship is simply declaring the Lord is the owner and we are a channel of God’s wealth. Jesus draws a direct cause and effect comparison between how we manage our earthly wealth and how we will spend eternity. What we do with the cross determines where we are going to spend eternity. The way we live as believers determines how we are going to spend eternity. Luke 16:10–13 says, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
In Randy Alcorn’s book, The Treasure Principle, he shares that you can’t take your money and possessions with you, but you can send them ahead. Matthews 6:20 says, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” He shares six Biblical keys that we should all take very seriously.
6 Keys to Send It Ahead:
God owns everything; I’m His money manager.
We are the managers of the assets God has entrusted—not given—to us.
My heart always goes where I put God’s money.
Watch what happens when you reallocate your money from temporal things to eternal things.
Heaven—the New Earth, not the present one—is my home.
We are citizens of “a better country—a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16).
I should live today not for the dot, but for the line.
From the dot—our present life on earth—extends a line that goes on forever, which is eternity in Heaven.
Giving is the only antidote to materialism.
Giving is a joyful surrender to a greater person and a greater agenda. It dethrones me and exalts Him.
God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.
God gives us more money than we need so we can give—generously.