Title: Did I pass the Test?/ Topic: Spiritual Maturity

Today’s Reading: Ezra 5; Ezra 6; Psalm 138; Luke 16

Scripture: Luke 16:10-12
10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

Observation: Jesus tests people with money. Money is a little thing. The world strives so hard to get it, lusts after it, and will compromise principles to get it. But Jesus says it's a little thing. If we can be trusted with the "little" thing of money, handling it with integrity, then we can be trusted with "true" riches; spiritual truths. The implication in all these verses is that if we don't steward worldly wealth well, God will never give us the true riches of deep spiritual truths. This is one of the reasons why I believe people who don't tithe or who "love" money get stuck spiritually. They plateau in their relationship with God and don't understand why. Money isn't the only test God uses to see if we're ready for more of His power but it is a big stumbling block to many.

Application: I need to make sure I understand that everything in this world belongs to God and I am only a steward of it. If I steward His property well (money and other things too) He will give me "property" (spiritual wealth) of my own. He will also give me more to steward here on earth of all His resources if I prove myself to be responsible with what He is giving me now.

Prayer: Father, I want to be a trustworthy steward who handles all the responsibilities and worldly wealth that you give me well. There have been times in my life when I ran from responsibility thinking that by doing so my life would be more carefree. But as I've matured I realize that handling the things that you give me to do draws me closer to you. The more I depend on you to help me do a great job, the more I get to know you and the more I become like you. That is my joy and my greatest desire.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.