Money Well Spent

Money Well Spent

Women Who Supported Jesus’ Ministry

Read: Luke 8:1-3

I put the newspaper down and shook my head. I had occasionally read similar stories, but I still had a hard time believing that someone would live that way. A woman had died alone in a modest, barely furnished home. Although she had lived like a pauper, authorities later discovered that she had a fortune in the bank. How sad that the woman had hoarded her wealth instead of putting it to good use.

The women in today’s Bible passage put their money to the best possible use. When Jesus began traveling through towns and villages to preach, he took his twelve disciples and a group of women along with him. Jesus had healed these women of diseases and demon possession; now, they showed their gratitude by ministering to him and to the disciples. They also helped to support Jesus and his disciples financially out of their own wealth. The arrangement was highly unusual in that culture, but Jesus accepted the women’s service and financial support. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and the others considered it a blessing and a privilege to contribute to the ministry of the One who had given them new life.

In an uncertain world, it’s tempting to concentrate on storing up as much wealth as possible. God wants us to plan wisely for our future; he also expects us to contribute to his work. We can never repay the debt we owe our Savior, but giving back to God demonstrates our gratitude. Our contributions to our local church, outreach ministries, and missions can make a difference in others’ lives and bring new souls into God’s Kingdom. We will be rewarded for our faithfulness in this area. Using our finances for eternal purposes is always money well spent.

Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

Luke 12:33 (NIV)