Owned or Loaned?

When it comes  to the desired attitude towards riches, it boils down to if one considers earthly riches as owned or loaned. It does not matter if one has a little or a lot, the mindset behind the acquisition is the key and every thing else stems from there. If it is yours because you have worked hard for it and earned it all by yourself: a) you will use it without any accountability to anyone; b)you will be consumed by worry- if rich, how to secure and keep it growing, whether your friends like you or your money; if poor-how to get enough and more. Both scenarios have their unique temptations and in neither case does one care that earthly wealth is only useful on earth, and becomes useless at one’s last breath.

If one acknowledges earthly wealth as a loan or blessing from God, one feels accountable to God as to how it is spent. If it is not yours, it cannot be used solely for your needs and desires. Such a person understands that earthly riches are just one of the many tests from God to assess our tendency to idolatry. Such a person, while acknowledging the power and reach of said loaned money, places a higher priority on attaining spiritual riches. He realizes that these are the true riches which are never loaned and are attached to the soul; therefore do not end with the last breath. He owns them outright and they will go with him into the next life.

Owned or loaned? That is the bottom-line question. One’s attitude to life and manner of living stems from the answer to that question.

10 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. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? – Luke 16:10-11