Stewardship in the First Commandment
LCMS Stewardship Ministry - Stewardship in the First Commandment
The greatest gift that Martin Luther gave to us was his Small Catechism. The word “enchiridion” is part of the original title of this work. This is the Greek word for “handbook.” The Small Catechism is a handbook of the Bible. All the basic knowledge that a Christian needs to understand the faith and live a godly life has been taken from the Bible and distilled into this beautiful little book of Christian piety.
Luther starts with the Ten Commandments.
The First Commandment: You shall have no other gods.
What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
We have a God above us. He is the Lord God, and we are not. He is almighty and in control. He is righteous and good. Therefore, we should fear Him.
This God is also our heavenly Father. He wants us to be saved. He does not want us to suffer His just wrath. He has provided salvation for us in His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should love Him.
Our heavenly Father will never leave us nor forsake us. He has promised as much, and the Bible shows us that He always keeps His promises. Therefore, we should trust Him.
In the Large Catechism, Luther explains how money and possessions form one of the greatest temptations against the First Commandment:
“This I must unfold somewhat more plainly, that it may be understood and perceived by ordinary examples of the contrary. Many a one thinks that he has God and everything in abundance when he has money and possessions; he trusts in them and boasts of them with such firmness and assurance as to care for no one. Lo, such a man also has a god, Mammon by name, that is, money and possessions, on which he sets all his heart, and which is also the most common idol on earth. He who has money and possessions feels secure, and is joyful and undismayed, as though he were sitting in the midst of Paradise. On the other hand, he who has none doubts and is despondent, as though he knew of no God. For very few are to be found who are of good cheer, and who neither mourn nor complain if they have not Mammon. This care and desire for money sticks and clings to our nature, even to the grave.” Large Catechism I 5–9
These words of Dr. Luther should call us to repentance. Sometimes we live and act as though we do not have a Father in heaven. We seek our comfort and peace outside of His gracious promises. But we do have a Father in heaven. He does love us. All His promises are true. And the Lord will surely provide. If that is our belief, then our outward lives will reflect this belief in our acts of generosity and mercy. We will see money and possessions not as gods, but rather as tools for doing God’s work.