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10. Money Comes with Accountability

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In Your Bible Read This Out Loud 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Memorise This Verse: Romans 14:12 ‘Each of us will give an account of himself to God’

Afterwards Talk About This How will Jesus hold us accountable for our financial dealings on judgment day?

Something To Do Before Next Time  Seek out on the types of people Jesus calls his brothers in Matthew 25:31-46 (the hungry, the sick, the prisoner) and give something to them

Written Diploma Work Write one page on what distinguishes a sheep from a goat in Matthew 25:31-46

Meditate Word By Word On This Verse Hebrews 9:27

In 2 Corinthians 5:10 Paul speaks of the 2 universal appointments that everyone has, namely death and judgement and as believers we shall give account to Jesus for the way that we have lived our Christian lives. In fact Jesus spoke several parables of this day of judgement and reveals that one of the major areas that we will have to give an account to him is the way that we have handled money.

This section seeks to unfold the fact that along with prosperity comes increased accountability perhaps if this truth was better understood in the body of Christ then a flood of money would move from bulging personal and church bank accounts and into the work of God.

The one of the major parables that Jesus spoke of regarding money and judgement day is the parable of the faithful servant in Matthew 25:14-30. Here, the two servants who had been diligent and faithful with the money that had been entrusted to them were commended for their faithfulness but the person who hadn’t be active in seeking to put to work the money that had been entrusted to him was condemned on the day of accounting.

Does this mean that Christians who have entered into God’s prosperity will automatically receive a ‘Well done good and faithful servant’, or is there more to it than that? Well, if we read on to the next verse (Matthew 25:31) Jesus speaks a further parable about judgement day and gives further insight into the role of accountability and money.

Those who were justified were those who had actually done something about using their time, money and abilities to help the lost, the last and the least of society those who were condemned were those who did nothing.

Is it unreasonable to suggest that a major part of the ministry to the under privileged is that people spent money on food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, hospitality for the stranger, clothing for naked, medicines for the sick and gifts for the prisoner?

In fact, will not Jesus justify and commend those who have been faithful in investing money in outreach work such as that described in Matthew 25:34-36 whilst condemning those who claimed to know him but didn’t prove their devotion to him by investing their money in his work on the earth?

These two parables in Matthew chapter 25 about judgement day and money therefore seems to show that money is a major area of accountability. God is expecting his people to be diligent and faithful in the money they have so that they increase what has been given to them, and God is further expecting his people to use their money to invest in the lives of those on the margins of society and bring the Kingdom of God to them.

In fact, Jesus tells a further parable in Luke 19:12-27 which is very similar to the parable of the faithful servant the same theme runs through this parable in that people are charged with the task of putting money to work (verse13) and are eventually judged accordingly.

James also gives a stinging rebuke to rich ‘Christians’ who do nothing with their wealth and declares that they have a dead faith (in much the same way that Jesus exposes the hypocrites in Matthew 25:40-43).

James 2:15 says ‘Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him “Go, I wish you well keep warm and well fed”, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions is dead’. In his first letter, the apostle John joins with James in his rebuke to rich ‘Christians’ who do not invest their money in hurting and needy people and asks where the love of God is in their lives 1 John 3:17 ‘If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?’

The verses in James 2:15 and 1 John 3:17 are sadly very applicable to millions of rich Christians today they hear reports from the mission field and see on their televisions a world of need, especially amongst their fellow believers and do absolutely nothing about it. Judgement day is coming and the rich have an increased accountability towards the risen Son of God, those who have invested in the King and his Kingdom will be called ‘Good an faithful servants’ (Matthew 25:23). Those who haven’t will be declared to have a dead faith and without the love of God in their hearts.

It will surely be a spectacular sight on judgement day when many Christians who have exhibited all the external trappings of religiosity and respectability come before the throne of King Jesus. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, ‘Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’ many respectable church members who haven’t cared about the poor, widows and orphans are going to be exposed and are in for a rude awakening.

What would happen if you died tonight and you had to give account to Jesus for your financial dealings – are you prepared for his all-knowing judgement to come against your finances? would he say ‘Well done good and faithful servant’ to you for the way you have handled your money?

Every last penny that we have had in our possession we will give an account for both how we earned and how we spent it. This should cause us to think very carefully about what we spend our money on and the way we handle our financial dealings. Many Christians on judgement day will regret ever having large amounts of money, as due to the fact they were unfaithful in their financial dealings, all it will bring will be an increased accountability and loss of heavenly reward on judgement day.

The bible warns that if we seek the blessings of God we must do so in the sure knowledge of death, judgement and heavenly rewards and use our money with these facts in mind.

Romans 14:10 ‘For we will all stand before God’s judgement seat…..So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God

Hebrews 9:27 ‘Man is destined to die once and after that face judgement’

A House of Prayer for the Poorer Nations

Pray for Benin

11,109,357 people, Islam & Christianity competing with traditional ethnic religion

The President is a believer & church is growing  but bible translation is in great need.


This study contains the personal beliefs and practices of of the author who recommends them to the reader. The author takes no credit for their success where applied and likewise takes no responsibility for any failure or disappointment.

The House of Prayer for the Poorer Nations at the end of each section is based on Operation World 21st Century Edition © Patrick Johnstone, Jason Mandryk. Published by Paternoster. All scriptures are NIV © Hodder & Stoughton.

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