Month: September 2019

5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. 7“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Luke 17:5-10

The disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith, and as we will learn this week, that is up to us. We are created in God’s image, with free will to choose for ourselves. This is the beauty of our relationship with Him.

Rather than being forced to worship the Lord, we are called to do so, chosen to be part of His family…if we so choose. God didn’t want us to worship Him without thinking, without the ability to say yes or no. He created us to be in relationship with Him, but not as robots or beasts who are forced to obey.

Our loving God wants us to choose Him and His plan for us because we want to be connected and to be part of His work. While as our Creator God could make us do His will, He chose to give us a choice, that our faith in Him might be truly ours.

Gracious God, while we don’t always make good choices, we are grateful for the ability to learn from them and to see Your blessings as a free gift. Help us to share our faith and through sharing, increase our connection to You. Amen.

The lesson from Luke 16:19-31 has much to say about how we use our wealth and the gifts God gives us. It’s not wrong to be wealthy, but God has expectations for those of us who are better off than others. We are called to be generous to others because God has been generous to us.

So what does it mean to be generous? Is it just giving a portion of our earnings to the church to “do good things”? That’s a part of it, but God has more for us to do. Are we aware of the issues and needs in our community and the world? We must be willing to get involved, not just write a check to avoid dealing with things personally. Jesus called us to go and do, to be an active part of the spread of God’s kingdom.

How can we be involved effectively? Pray about what God asks of you. Listen to what stirs your heart and go find ways to be useful in His work to help others. While our monetary gifts are important, our personal outreach and being willing to spend our time are also necessary. Jesus told us to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12), and this is one way to obey that command.

Gracious God, we have been blessed extravagantly by Your love. Help us to share that wonderful blessing with all Your children here through the giving of our time as well as our treasure. Amen.

Jesus teaches us through the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) about being aware of the needs of others and caring for them. This lesson has much to say about how our actions here on earth determine our eternal situation. While we know we can’t work our way into Heaven by our own acts, neither can we ignore God and the way He calls us to live and expect a relationship later.

The story tells us that the rich man took no action to help the beggar at his front door. It is unlikely that he was unaware of him, he had to pass him every day, yet he apparently did nothing to help alleviate his suffering. God knows our gifts because He has provided them for us, and expects us to use them appropriately for His glory and the good of His children. When we selfishly withhold our help for others, God sees and is sad at our inaction.

We must listen for the call God places on our lives and obey, using the resources we have been given to share His love with all the world. God expects us to be good stewards of His blessings, using them wisely but without judging other’s situations. We are made to love God and one another individually and personally, and we must each reach out to our brothers and sisters as God reaches out to us.

Loving Lord, help us to see those in need right where we are. Make us bold to go to them, bringing the light of Your love and the Good News to all. Amen.

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Luke 16:29-31

As humans, we are always looking for another reason it isn’t our fault, another opportunity after we fail. Abraham tells the rich man that he and his brothers should have listened to the teaching of Moses and the Prophets in order to avoid the separation he is suffering. The rich man tells Abraham no, they need another lesson, that “if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent” (verse 30).

The sad truth is that the one who rose from the dead is telling us this parable, and there are still those who do not listen to His teaching. Abraham tells the rich man – and us – that we must pay attention to all the lessons we have been given. God has sent many to share His love and truth, but it is up to each of us to accept this gift for ourselves.

Don’t be like the rich man in this story, waiting until it’s too late to be repentant. We must examine our lives, how we care for one another and share the Good News if we are to avoid the fate the rich man suffers in this parable. We must show the love He first gave us to everyone every day.

Loving Lord, we are slow to hear and understand Your lessons. Help us to listen and learn, and go to do as You have taught us. Amen.

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ Luke 16:27-28

The rich man now thinks of his brothers, in what seems to be his only concern for someone else besides himself. He asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn them that they might not suffer his fate. Unfortunately, the lesson is that after we die, our concern for others is expressed too late.

God has called us to care for each other while we are here. After we see the reality of eternity our chance for repentance has passed. Our time to turn our lives around is here and now, and to care for those God has given us. While the rich man’s concern for his family is at least a caring thought, we are charged with caring for all of God’s children, family or stranger.

The rich man’s failure was not in being rich, but failing to notice the need of those around him and using the gifts God had provided to care for them. He focused on himself and not a relationship with God and others. We must be aware of the issues that our brothers and sisters face, as we are responsible to God for their well-being.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we ignore each other when we should be helping. Make us strong in Your love to go to those in need and share the Good News and the gifts You have given us. Amen.

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
Luke 16:25-26

This is the scary part of the lesson, and it should get our attention. Abraham tells the rich man “between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us”. Once our choice has been made, it is set!

This choice is our and ours alone. God gave us free will that we might decide for ourselves and not be forced to worship Him, but to choose Him of our own volition. The rich man chose to live in luxury without showing compassion for the beggar Lazarus who literally lived on his doorstep. Now he must abide by the consequences of that choice.

Wait, isn’t He the God of the Second Chance? Yes indeed – and our second chance is right now. We must make our choice for Him while we are alive and have the opportunity. Once we stand before Him, the choice is made. Choose to be His child, to represent Him and share His love.

Loving Lord, we know we are often ignorant of the needs of others and selfish in our desires. Help us to see all Your children as brothers and sisters, and share Your wonderful gifts with them. May we always choose Your ways over our own. Amen.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
Luke 16:22-24

As in many of His parables, Jesus warns that there will be a reckoning for our lives. We will be judged not by each other, but by God Himself, and we will be called to account for our treatment of each other. Lazarus the beggar is now comforted in Heaven while the rich man suffers.

This leads the rich man to ask Father Abraham to send Lazarus to help him, help he was apparently unwilling to give Lazarus when they lived side by side. He now knows what it is like to need help and not receive it. Jesus warned that “the last shall be first and the first shall be last” (Matthew 20:16).

We should help each other due to our love of God, not merely to avoid punishment, but Jesus says there will be judgement – Matthew 25:32-34 tells us He will separate us according to our obedience to His teaching and our care for each other. May we be obedient and caring as He was.

Heavenly Father, we often miss the opportunity to help those around us because we don’t pay attention. Help us to see the needs of others and use the gifts and resources we have been given for the good of all Your children. Amen.

19 There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Luke 16:19-31

I’m going to post the entire lectionary passage at the beginning of the week from now on so you can see how the lesson goes, but continue discussing only a few verses in the devotional each day. Let me know how this works for you by commenting here or on my FaceBook post or @pastordougolson (Twitter) or doug@pastordougolson.com (email).

Jesus begins a parable that sounds like another rich man – poor man story. In verses 19-21 He mentions the difference in their living conditions, and that Lazarus apparently lives just outside the rich man’s gate. This should give us a clue that the rich man can’t be unaware of Lazarus’s presence or his condition.

Jesus teaches us to be aware of what goes on right outside our gate as well, that we must pay attention to the needs of our brothers and sisters. Sometimes we are more interested in the issues in far off places than in what is happening just down the street. While we must not ignore world issues, we cannot neglect those closest to us.

We have all been gifted differently to care for each other. You have a unique, God-given skill that can benefit those around you. Think about the difference you can make right here, right now.

Loving Lord, we are called to be in ministry to those around us, using Your gifts for the good of all. Help us to see the needs that exist and how we can serve others in Your name. Amen.

In our scripture this week (Luke 16:1-13), Jesus has given us an example not to follow, the story of the dishonest manager. His lesson teaches us about our desire for money and material possessions, and the effect it has on our relationships with others and with God. He tells us plainly “You cannot serve both God and money” (verse 13).

Jesus shows us how worldly people behave, squandering the gifts they have been given and always wanting more than they have. He also warns against the kind of unethical behavior in which the manager and the rich man are engaged. He teaches that our greed comes between us and God, comparing it to trying to serve two masters and warning that we can choose only one.

When we choose to chase earthly wealth, power and success, we focus on these things and neglect our connection to the Lord. God wants us to be happy and successful, but He also want us to see that everything we have is a gift from Him to be used well for the good of His kingdom. When we put ourselves first, we fail to be good stewards of our resources and we miss out on the joy of a loving relationship with God and our brothers and sisters. Don’t let the temporary satisfaction of wealth here keep you from the eternal joy that awaits us as His faithful servants!

Gracious God, we are thankful for all the richness You provide and for the opportunity to be part of Your work in creation. Help us to see that our gifts and wealth are not something to be selfishly kept for ourselves but kingdom treasure to be used for the good of all Your children. Amen.

Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ “‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Luke 16:1-13

This parable can be a little confusing. We have heard about a dishonest manager working for a rich man, who apparent follows the same dishonest business principles. Is this a story where the bad guy is the “hero”?

It certainly isn’t, and Jesus shows us how such people treat each other – “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light” (verse 8). It is a warning against such behavior, that those who follow Jesus are expected to love one another and not take advantage of each other.

The larger lesson is our relationship with wealth and how it can affect our relationship with God. Jesus says “You cannot serve both God and money” (verse 13). He doesn’t say money is evil, He doesn’t say that those who have money are evil – He does say that if money becomes the most important thing in your life, you have a problem. We must always put God and others first, and keep our desires for wealth in check.

Gracious God, all good gifts come from You. Help us to appreciate our many blessings and our connection to You above any earthly thing. Amen.