By Chuck Bentley

Luke 16: 11 says, “If then you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”

God’s Word never calls us to financial success. The Bible emphasizes that we are all to strive to become financially faithful. Success is measured by amounts, by what is in our hand. Faithfulness is measured by devotion, by who is in our hearts.

But God’s Word also calls us to be disciplined.

Second Timothy 2:6 says, “It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.”

No garden can maximize its potential without the daily disciplines of the farmer watching over it with skill and knowledge.

In the same way, our stewardship of God’s resources will be evaluated by whether our management was both disciplined and faithful. That means we work hard, rely upon wisdom and knowledge as we make financial choices, and keep our hearts free from serving money by putting God and His Kingdom first.

By doing that, we prepare ourselves to hear those wonderful words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Master.” But it doesn’t end there. If you have been disciplined and faithful, you will be given an eternal job of managing God’s cities. That blows my mind. It also motivates me to be the best steward I can possibly be. So how about you? Grow in your discipline and faithfulness today. Do well now so you will be prepared to hear “well done” then.

Originally posted 7/15/2015.