You and I know that everything we have belongs to the Lord. He is the owner, and we are the stewards of all the material treasure He has given us.
But there is another important factor to remember when it comes to our material treasure…it’s a test.
God tests our hearts by giving us a measure of resource and then watching what we will do with it.
This includes observing our attitudes toward Him and toward those material things. You see this in the story of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah was one of Judah’s good kings. When he was besieged by foreign armies, God prospered him and caused him to succeed. He had “very great riches and honor” (2 Chronicles 32:27). And then the Bible says…
“However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.” (2 Chronicles 32:31, emphasis mine)
During this time of unprecedented prosperity, Hezekiah had become sick and almost died. But the Lord heard his prayer, healed him, and then allowed Hezekiah to be part of an incredible, universal miracle:
By Hezekiah’s choice, the shadow went back 10 steps on the sundial.
The Babylonians, who were the world’s foremost astronomers, heard this wonder was connected to Hezekiah and that he had been healed. So they sent ambassadors to find out more about this supernatural event.
What an opportunity! Hezekiah could have said, “I got healed by the one true God! He’s the one who made the shadow go backwards. The Lord has done all the good things you see in my life.”
But Hezekiah never once mentioned God to them. All he said was, “Look how much gold I have! Look how great I am!” He failed the test. When God blesses you and me with resources, it’s always a test.
What will your attitude be? Will you keep God the focus of your life? Will you tell others about Him? Will you say the prosperity you have came from Him and that it’s a matter of His grace?
God doesn’t mind you having plenty and even abundant material treasures so you can help others. But He wants to be the focus of your life.
Proverbs 15:6 says, “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure.” God’s plan is that we learn to be wise and faithful stewards of the treasure He gives us.
And of course, life is not about gaining material treasure; there is actually a more important treasure than that. The second treasure in the house of the righteous is spiritual treasure.
God also wants you and me to be faithful in stewarding His Word and the spiritual gifts and opportunities He gives to us.
