Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Luke 12:48
John Blasé shared this story that was printed in Our Daily Bread on January 21,2022. A successful businessman spent the last few decades of his life doing all he could to give away his fortune. A multimillionaire, he donated cash to a variety of causes such as bringing peace to Northern Ireland and modernizing Vietnam’s health care system; and not long before he died, he spent $350 million to turn New York City’s Roosevelt Island into a technology hub. The man said, “I believe strongly in giving while living. Besides, it’s a lot more fun to give while you live than to give while you’re dead.” John concluded his devotion with these words, “Give while you live – what an amazing attitude to have.”
Give while you live ought to be the mantra for all Christians. While on earth, this day, this hour, we must be stewards of all the resources that God has entrusted to us. We often center this concept on money, though we know that it is so much more. Our resources include money, yes, but also time and talent. Resources span our emotional sharing, such as compassion, and spiritual sharing, such as being a prayer partner.
Our devotional passage has become somewhat of an idiom in Western culture and is found, paraphrased, in Uncle Ben’s words of wisdom to Peter Parker in the movie Spider-man: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
The idea of “to whom much is given, much will be required” is that we are held responsible for what we have. If we are blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, it is expected that we use these well to glorify God and benefit others.
In context, Jesus had just told a parable about being ready for His return. His disciple Peter asked if the parable was for just them or for everyone. Jesus replied with another parable in which He defines the “faithful and wise manager” as one who gives out food and other allowances “at the proper time.” When the master returns and finds the faithful servant managing his resources well, he “put him in charge of all his possessions” (Luke 12:42–44). We have been entrusted with certain things, and faithfulness requires that we manage those things wisely and unselfishly.
This scriptural passage is one that constantly remains in my thoughts. For me, it is a very sobering passage. We must seriously share all that has been entrusted to us for the benefit of others. As I am autistic and live on a fixed disability income, I often think that my limited financial wealth provides me with an escape clause. It is not possible for me to tithe my income, and shame on any Christian who judges me otherwise, though I can tithe my time. This aside, I can do many things, such as offering people transportation and do yard work for them.
John Arnold in 2002 founded the Houston based company Centaurus Advisors, that specializes in trading energy products. In 2007, at the age of 37, he became the youngest billionaire in the United States. John and his wife Laura where the first billionaires to sign on to the advocacy organization Global Citizen’s “Give While You Live” campaign. The commitment requires an annual minimum donation of 5% of one’s wealth to a philanthropic cause. Arnold provided this thought on his motivation to be a philanthropist, “I had always had this sense of if you have the ability and you have the resources that you should be trying to improve the lives of others.”
Give While You Live!