“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:21
“See how much he sins in the church—he who prefers himself and his children to Christ! Such a person preserves his wealth and does not share his abundant estate to relieve the poverty of the needy.”
Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200-258) as recounted by David Bercot in A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1998) 10.
Our culture celebrates stewards that hoard for themselves. Jesus calls it foolish. Cyprian labels it sin not to share an “abundant estate” following the instructions of Jesus. I believe this is one of the greatest sins in the church today.
God’s design for all of us is to work to have resources to enjoy and share with those who cannot work. How we handle the fruit of labor exhibits our faith. Our generosity, or lack thereof, reveals where our trust has already been placed. Where is your estate?
Don’t store up treasures on earth! Store them up in heaven through giving not because I say so, but because Jesus says so (Matthew 6:19-21). Candidly, letting go of our wealth was not easy, but it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
You don’t realize that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have. Don’t wait! Share your “abundant estate”. In instructing us to live this way, Jesus is not trying to bankrupt us. He’s teaching us how to take hold of life.