Luke and the Lost
Someone told me a great way to look at what we value most is take a long, evaluative look at our bank ledgers. What does the bank show we spend our hard earned money on month after month? Are we honest in this evaluation? Do we dare look and see? Are we ready to see where our priorities lie? Or do WE just “roll our eyes” at Jesus, too? Do you think He will not understand?
Luke 16, The Message
God Sees Behind Appearances
10-13 Jesus went on to make these comments:
If you’re honest in small things,
you’ll be honest in big things;
If you’re a crook in small things,
you’ll be a crook in big things.
If you’re not honest in small jobs,
who will put you in charge of the store?
No worker can serve two bosses:
He’ll either hate the first and love the second
Or adore the first and despise the second.
You can’t serve both God and the Bank.
14-18 When the Pharisees, a money-obsessed bunch, heard him say these things, they rolled their eyes, dismissing him as hopelessly out of touch. So Jesus spoke to them: “You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what’s behind the appearance.
What society sees and calls monumental,
God sees through and calls monstrous.
God’s Law and the Prophets climaxed in John;
Now it’s all kingdom of God—the glad news
and compelling invitation to every man and woman.
The sky will disintegrate and the earth dissolve
before a single letter of God’s Law wears out.
Using the legalities of divorce
as a cover for lust is adultery;
Using the legalities of marriage
as a cover for lust is adultery.
Who is “hopelessly out of touch” here? Jesus or us? God’s Word, His Law will never dissolve…unlike our bank accounts when we die. The profits will be divided among the living and life will go on a little longer for them. So, who is hopelessly out of touch? We are, if our focus is mostly on our bank accounts. What drives us to get out of bed each morning? The paycheck? Or Jesus?
Dear Heavenly Father, You have given us Your Word to talk things over with us about our priorities once again. We are distracted so easily by the world’s demands of our attention. We are so easily trapped into thinking that our work is only to pay bills. Our work, no matter what we do, comes from You, to glorify You! Use the work You have given us to reach someone else today. Use our restored joyful attitudes to reflect the light of Your love with those we share the work. Help us to lay EVERYTHING before you, including our bank accounts, and seek You over all, above all and in all. May Your Kingdom be found in us. In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 