Because materialism was a danger for everyone with whom Jesus associated, He taught pointedly against allowing materialism to control their decisions and lives. As it was with Jesus, so it is with ministers today. Because of the dangers of materialism, they must warn those God has placed under their spiritual care about becoming slaves to materialism.

Ministers know and most of them teach that the quality of life does not depend on the abundance of possessions. But what should they teach in regard to what to do with possessions?

Stewards
What is to be done with material possessions? Jesus told the rich young ruler to give them away. The good Samaritan paid for the care of one that was hurting and was in need. Various women gave to support Jesus' ministry. Jesus told His disciples to give to the poor and needy. All of His followers are to lay up treasures in heaven.

We are all stewards of what God has entrusted to us—talents, possessions, income, gifts, family, and jobs—and we must be prepared to give an account of how well we managed all that He has provided. “It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4:2).

All that we classify as “our possessions” are in reality God's possessions, and we are merely stewards of His possessions. If we are to live our lives pleasing to God, we must treat our lives and all that He has given as trusts from the Lord. If we are His servants, He owns us and all that we have. We therefore are expected to be wise stewards of His possessions, managing in a way that we know would be pleasing to Him.

As teachers of the Scriptures, ministers must teach these truths to those who are under their spiritual care. If they do not teach these truths, they are, in reality, neglectful in fulfilling their God-given responsibilities to teach God's people all that He has instructed.

Teach giving
Ministers must teach stewards how to manage both by example and instruction. Also, ministers need to present to those they are teaching opportunities for giving, so that they can learn how to effectively lay up treasures in heaven and to actively be involved with managing the possessions given to them by God.

The concept of teaching believers stewardship by instructing them how and where to give was one of the essential spiritual principles taught by the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 9:3-7; 1 Timothy 6:17-19). Its importance has not diminished in today's world. Christians still have to be taught that an indispensable element of stewardship is giving to the work of the Lord and to those in need.

Conclusion
Ministers need to identify areas in which God's stewards can give. Since the only things that are eternal are God, God's Word, and people, we must be more concerned with giving for the benefit of eternal things than we are for temporal things.

The first area of giving should naturally be the local church and the ministries and outreaches to people sponsored by the local church. This can be followed by other local or area ministries or efforts associated with and/or supported by the local church. These could include benevolent programs, such as food and housing for the hungry and needy, homes for unwed mothers, orphanages, homes for the elderly, and so on.

The third area would be domestic and worldwide ministries. These might include domestic helps and benevolent programs and ministries to the peoples of the world. The last area of concentration would be giving to enhance temporal things, such as buildings, parking lots, gymnasiums, and basketball courts. Although these can well be justifiable needs, they should never take the place of or be given preference to giving for things eternal.