Jesus, Your Financial Planner

This excerpt explores how Jesus addressed financial stewardship and investment through His parables—especially the Parable of the Talents. By viewing “Jesus, your financial planner,” we gain insight into God’s expectations for wisely managing the resources He entrusts to us, living by faith rather than fear, and unlocking supernatural provision through biblical principles.

Another bit of evidence that Jesus valued wealth and free enterprise is in His parables. Did you know more than half of them had something to do with stewardship or money?

The Parable of the Talents, in particular, shows the master’s displeasure when we bury our resources instead of investing them so that they increase in size (Matthew 25:14-30). Like us, the men described in the parable received differing degrees of material resources – but the master expected each of them to gain a return and increase his investment.

Instead of playing it safe, like the “wicked and lazy servant” did (Matthew 25:26), Jesus makes clear that the Father wants us to take a step of faith and be entrepreneurial with the resources He’s entrusted to us – no matter their size or amount.

In the Contemporary English Version, this servant is called “lazy and good-for-nothing” (v. 26). The Message paraphrase helps us see the depth of the master’s anger at this servant’s timid lifestyle and failure to see the importance of investing the money. The master was furious.

That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest (Matthew 25:26-27 MSG).

You can see even believers are cursed if they are living this kind of fearful, overly cautious life. Not only is this a terrible way to live, but the ultimate consequences we unleash are quite perilous. In this parable, what does Jesus say to do with the unprofitable servant who hid his talent and had no return or increase? He says to cast him into “outer darkness,” where “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v. 30)!

In numerous other passages – such as Matthew 6:1–4; Matthew 13:44-46; Luke 12:13-21; Luke 16:1-15 – Jesus addresses a wide range of financial topics like giving, receiving, generosity, tithing, investing, giving alms to the poor, and long-term financial planning.

So the evidence is overwhelming. Our Lord never shied away from discussing money maters, and neither should we. Rather than discouraging wealth, He expects a return on His investment!

Instead of being timid in addressing financial issues, every true Bible teacher and minister of the Gospel has an obligation to teach God’s people about what His Word has to say about financial giving and their tithes and offerings. You need to understand the Lord’s desire is for you to prosper and then be a good steward of your increase.

Faithful in Little Things

Not only does the Lord expect our financial assets to increase, but He also wants to give us increased responsibility as stewards of those assets. The master in the Parable of the Talents says to the two servants who increased his investment:

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” He also who had received two talents came and said, “Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.” His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21-23).

When we prove ourselves faithful in a few things, God will entrust us with many things – a principle Jesus reaffirms in Luke 16:10-11, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”

Remember, everything your Father owns is yours! As you are faithful to Him and His Word, He has promised to provide whatever you lack, as Paul wrote: “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

You want this inheritance and these incredible blessings, don’t you? But maybe you have some practical questions about God’s provision or just how to unlock these supernatural promises. Well, keep reading.

…

Excerpt taken from Simple Steps to Financial Blessings by Inspiration Ministries

Every gift matters. Every seed sown in faith bears fruit – in you and around the world.