Talking Points with Pastor Lucas: "Precious to Him" - Through Jesus You Have Eternal Wealth
In 1815, Napoleon was defeated in the battle of Waterloo. The hero of that battle was the Duke of Wellington. Interesting is that one the duke’s more recent biographers claims to have an advantage over all the other previous biographers. His advantage was that he had found an old account ledger that showed how the duke spent his money. This, says the biographer, was a far better clue to whatthe duke thought was truly important, much more than just reading his letters or his speeches. It is a curious claim.
It prompts an interesting thought. What if someone wrote your biography on the basis of your checkbook, credit-card statements and income-tax return? What might they say about you, your loyalties, your priorities in life as well as who or what you serve?
It’s often easy to forget that the money we have in our wallets, checkbooks, credit cards and bank accounts is not our money. As Christians, we are God’s stewards and are therefore care-takers of the money and possessions He has placed into our hands.
What would your checkbook, receipts and credit-card statements say about how you spend your money? Would God and the work of His Holy Chris-tian Church be a consideration in that equation? Often, it’s easy to get lost in what society says about our worth and value. We read it in the headlines all the time. A professional sports player signs a multimillion-dollar contract, a movie star is worth so many millions and Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are worth billions. But how much are you worth?
You could certainly look at your wallet, credit cards, checkbook and bank accounts. But I’d encourage you to read through the biographies of Jesus (the four Gospels), not only to see how Jesus did His spending, but to see how much you are worth. These biographies reveal that you are worth so much that God gave His one and only Son to die for you so that you might have eternal life (John 3:16)!
Luther’s Small Catechism says it this way:
“I believe that Jesus Christ, true God…has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.” (Explanation to the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed)
You are worth more than any amount of money. Forbes may have their list of the wealthiest people in the world. But God has His list. No one surpasses the wealth of God. Nothing is more valuable than the shed blood of Christ.
Our Heavenly Father is happy to give this eternal wealth to you through His Son Jesus. In fact, in a world that’s constantly asking how much you are worth, trusting in Jesus brings tremendous hope. In a culture obsessed with personal value and worth, Jesus provides you abundant comfort.
With Jesus, there is perseverance through life’s challenges and guidance in life’s difficulties. With Jesus, being a steward of God is freeing rather than burdening. He helps us to give out of humble gratitude rather than a jaded, bad attitude.
Through faith in Jesus, He gives His Holy Spirit to nurture in you the desire to be a faithful steward of what God has given you. By faith, Jesus is at work in you. Yet whatever decision you make about your giving, Jesus gives you the ability to live with hope, wisdom and confidence. His love for you does not depend upon how much you give, nor upon how much this world says you are worth. His grace is unconditional and His love irreversible.
Although it cost Jesus His life to give them to you, He gives them free of charge because you are beloved and precious to Him.