Joseph of ArimatheaSample

Stewardship  

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph . . .

- Matthew 27:57 

There is a real responsibility on those who do have possessions to know who possesses whom: do your possessions, your prestige, your finances, your prominence guide you, or do you guide them? If you are gripped by possessions, you will grope purposelessly for meaning. Possessions are subordinate to the great relationships that Jesus calls us to—the relationship with Him, His Father, the Spirit, and the people around us. In relationship with Jesus, we recover a power that is latent and strong—a power that can drive riches into the proper subordinate position in our lives. 

God asks us to be faithful with what we have and trust Him with what He provides, rather than being greedy or stingy. If you and I hoard earthly treasures and not heavenly ones, what does that say about where we put our trust? Money is a rotten ruler. It rusts and it rots. It loses its value and joy. It never satisfies. Selfishness and greed can have a growling, insatiable stomach, hungering for more and more. But feed it, and we risk more than losing what we have. We risk losing purpose. Joseph understood this. He gave his time and efforts to make sure Jesus received an honorable burial. He used his wealth to pay for the borrowed tomb of Jesus. He gave what he had for a greater cause that was other than his own. And he got to participate in an eternal project that was worth more than anything he had in his pocket. 

We are invited to do the same with what we have and with the time we have. As you and I are obedient and faithful to invest our talents, then God will give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:7). You have more on deposit than you know. You are more prosperous than you realize. Let’s emulate Joseph. He didn’t let the itch for acquiring more things or more wealth derail him from using what wealth he had for eternal Kingdom purposes. The investment from Jesus has been made. The currency has been deposited. It is up to us to use it and invest it wisely.