One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Luke 12:48, which says, “Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.” I feel like I have been given much, and perhaps even more than that. Chances are you are in the same boat as I am. I’ve referenced the site before, but in case you are a new reader, check out the Global Rich List web site. Simply type in your income to see where you rank among the rest of the world. My guess is you will see that you have indeed been given much.
What exactly did Jesus mean when He said that much would be expected of those who were given much? I believe it means that we are to use the blessings He has given to us and in turn bless the world. If we have been blessed with money, then it is our responsibility to give as much of that money away as possible. If we have been blessed with a specific talent, then we must use that talent to further the mission and Kingdom of Christ. No matter what it is with which we have been blessed, we must never hoard it for ourselves but rather share it with the world.
It is easy to become prideful and content in the midst of all our blessings. We like to own all the nice things that money can buy. Our reasoning is that we work hard for what we have, so we deserve it. The reality is that the reason you have been blessed is not because of your hard work, but rather because God has work for you to do with those blessings. If you want to be a true follower of Jesus, you will recognize that all you have is His; it came to you as direct result if His blessing and it must flow from you into those He wishes for you to help. Nothing belongs to us, it is all His.
While money is the simplest subject to talk about in regards to the verse above, the same principle applies to every area of your life in which you’ve been blessed. If you are fortunate enough to live in a free Country, then use that freedom to distribute the message of Christ into places that are not so free. Perhaps you have been blessed with extraordinary health; go into places of sickness, care for their needs and teach them ways they can be healthier. If you are a carpenter, build for those without shelter. If you are a plumber, provide sanitation and clean water to those without. Maybe you don’t feel you have any measurable skills, but you are a good thinker. Your job is then to come up with ways that others can better and more effectively further the Kingdom.
Regardless of what you have been given, God has richly blessed you for the purpose of doing the work He gave you to do (Ephesians 2:10). We have all been given much in one form or another. Our instinct is to find our worth in that blessing, but true riches are found when we give it away (Luke 17:33). Jesus told us plainly that He expects much from us, in accordance to how He has blessed us (Luke 12:48). Are you holding up your end of the bargain? Whatever it is you have, give it all to further the mission of Christ. Much has been given to you; how much are you giving back?