Dear Members and Friends of our ELS:

Consider the difference between a person who claims to follow Christianity but is controlled by material and earthly desires and a person who truly is controlled by love for the Savior. Illustrating this difference a pastor once said: “If mammon or money controls a person it is similar to a person looking through binoculars backwards and therefore seeing heavenly goals and promises far away. If God controls the person’s heart, then it is as if a person were using the binoculars correctly and seeing God first and foremost and the closeness of His promises.”

What perspective do we carry about life? Contemplate how blessed we are! We have had the privilege of hearing the good news about our Savior. The Holy Spirit has touched our spiritually dead hearts with His life-creating energy given us through water and His Word at the baptismal font. Once our sins consigned us to the spiritual poor-house and the threatening eternal flames. Now by faith God made us heirs of the mansions in heaven! We are truly rich because of God’s grace to us sinners through the saving work of Christ. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Our riches are even greater than only looking ahead towards heaven. Christ’s riches also mean enjoying life now—yes, even the material items God gives us—in light of the preeminent blessing of possessing the mercy of Christ. This means we can have a Gospel perspective as we look through the binoculars. We are living for heaven and therefore we can use the resources God gives us on this earth for the primary purpose of directing others to the Savior.

Does the way that we use our money and earthly assets reflect that proper view of life through the binoculars? It is so easy to become attached to the things of this world, even if what we have been given to manage for a time is small in comparison to the portfolio of others.

Jesus Christ has blessed us with treasures that money could never buy: forgiveness, life and salvation! Like the man given five talents, we have good reason to be diligent managers of all the items God has placed under our care! God entrusts His resources to our management—such as money, abilities, and time—in order that Christ’s saving work be proclaimed in the world. Isn’t His grace amazing? May we, through the love of our Savior, bring our offerings to further this work to the glory and honor of His name.

John A. Moldstad is President of the ELS.