Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Right Way to Use Money
This sermon is famous for Wesley’s three simple rules: 1. Earn all you can; 2. Save all you can; and 3. Give all you can.
There is no shame in making money. In fact, Wesley earned a lot of money—one article states that in today’s money value, Wesley earned over $30,000,000 in his life from his books, articles, and inventions. He died with only a handful of personal items, having given away virtually everything.
According to Wesley, when God created us and brought us into the world, he intended us to be stewards and managers and not owners of the financial resources entrusted to us—that our wealth was to be used in such a way as to be an acceptable offering to God through Jesus.
Wesley’s instructions are to use our “worldly goods” first to provide for our needs and the needs of our family; second if there is any money left over, then to do good to those who belong to our family in faith; and third, with what is left over, to do good to everyone.
Wesley was not an advocate of giving God a tenth or even a third or half of our wealth. Wesley said to give God “everything you have, whether it is much or little, by spending it on yourself, your fellow Christians, and the rest of mankind, in that order, in such a way that when your life is over you may look back to see your trust from God faithfully discharged.”
We should all pray for the right way to use money.
Prayer: Gracious and loving God, help us to always use Your gifts wisely and teach us to share them generously. May your Holy Spirit work through us and may our faithful stewardship bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. Amen.
This devotion was written by:
Ron Harnden
East Heights United Methodist Church
www.ehumc.org
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