Man as a Trustee.--There is no truth more clearly brought out and
stated in many ways in the Bible than that man is in the position of a
trustee. Jesus used the parable of the talents to illustrate this
great truth (Matthew 25:14-30). It is plainly taught in this parable
that man is under obligations to God. No man ever brought himself into
the world. No man ever originated his own talent; some men have been
endowed with what seems to be greater possibilities than others. To
one man has been given the talent for administration, to another that
of a ministering spirit, to another mechanical genius, to another that
of wealth and to another the power of song or speech. But whatever
the talent given, great or small, it is distinctly set forth in the
New Testament that it is given in trust and is to be used in the
service of Him who has bestowed it.
The business man is expected, by his Lord, to buy and sell, not for
himself alone, but as a trustee. In this office it is of great
importance that a man be found faithful to the confidence reposed in
him (1 Corinthians 4:1,2; Luke 16:2,11; Romans 14:12; Luke 19:11, 27).
A man in a trusteeship, if he is honest, will not waste or squander
the property entrusted to his care. He will treat fairly and honestly
all men who work for him. The men working for him will feel that they
are also trustees seeking to use their skill and time, so that the
best interests of God and man may be served.
Man's Right to Hold Property and Do Business is recognized by
Christ. In the parable of the pounds (Luke 19:12-26) He commends those
who used the money in trading to gain more and were ready when "the
nobleman" returned to render a good account. He condemns the man who
having received one pound made no effort to increase it. He says, "If
ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit
to your trust the true riches" (Luke 16:11). He made no demand of His
disciples, so far as the record shows, to give up their property. The
case of the young man of great wealth (Mark 10:17-27), who would
follow Christ, and of whom Jesus required that he should divest
himself of his property, is fully in accord with Jesus' teaching
concerning wealth and the holding of property. The key to the whole
matter, on this point, is found in what Jesus says of this very case,
"How hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the
kingdom of God" (Mark 10:24). This young man did not possess his
wealth but his wealth possessed him, he was the servant of his money.
Jesus' teaching is that a man should hold money in trust. Jesus warned
men of the risk of possessing property, lest it become their
master. Money, considered simply as money, is a hardening influence
and in the restive desire to get more the best things in men are quite
sure to be eliminated (Matthew 13:22). "The danger lies in the power
of money to gather affection and to absorb trust, thus displacing God"
(Matthew 6:19,20,24; Luke 18:24; 12:15).
The Reckoning.--There comes a time when every trustee is called upon
to render an account of how he has administered the business entrusted
to his care (Matthew 25:19; Luke 19:15). This time may be long
delayed, and in the meantime many abuses may grow up, and it may
appear that no accounting will ever be demanded; these conditions are
plainly pointed out by Jesus in the parables of the vineyard (Luke 20:
9-16) and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30), but it is also made equally
clear that in the end every man's work shall be judged.
In this reckoning there can be no making of things appear as they are
not. There can be no juggling with the accounts. Every business man
must show his books (Revelation 20:12) and how he has dealt with that
which was entrusted to his care (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Romans 2:16;
Matthew 25:31-46).
It is the looking forward to the time of reckoning which makes men,
who are in offices of earthly trust, pay careful attention to the
investment of funds and painstakingly investigate the security
offered. Jesus would have every man equally careful in the investment
of his time, labour, talent and money for he will surely be called
upon to give an account of his stewardship.
In the uncertainty of the time of reckoning every business man is
expected to be ready for an investigation at any time when the
examiner shall appear (Matthew 24:42-51; Mark 13:34-37; 1
Thessalonians 5:6).
The Profit of business done, as a service in the sight of God, is
declared to be sure and large. Whatever sacrifices may have to be made
will be more than amply repaid (Matthew 19:27,29; Luke 19: 16-19).
It is a well-known fact that, in the business world at large, there is
a very great percentage of failures and too many mark not only wrecks
of business, but of characters. The reason often given is that the eye
is fixed too frequently and earnestly on immediate and large profits
for self. But no man ever yet made a failure who openly and honestly
sought in his business to be of service to God and his fellow
men. Real failure in business is a failure in character. A business
man may be carried down by unexpected circumstances or the fall of
other firms but, if he keeps his character intact, he is no failure;
on the other hand a man who has taken a selfish advantage of others
may be made rich in goods, but he is a rank failure in character. The
standard of character in business is after all that by which the small
or the large dealer in any kind of goods is judged, and by business
men themselves; business transactions are constantly being raised to a
higher level by the enforcement of this standard.