Month: September 2019

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 16:13

Jesus closes this lesson with the main point – God must be first and foremost in our lives. Our love of earthly things distracts us from loving our God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Money and the power and possessions it can bring is an idol we must not worship.

When we allow our desire for anything to become more important than our relationship with God and others, we turn our backs on the blessings we have been promised. God wants so much to love and care for us, but only if we are willing to love and obey in return. Following our own selfish ways can never give the satisfaction that an eternal connection to God provides.

Are we chasing temporary rewards at the cost of our salvation? The things of earth shall pass away, but God’s plan is forever. Let go of the things that seem attractive now to hold on to the gifts God has reserved for you.

Loving Lord, we are often slow to see the blessings You have in store for us. Help us to renounce our love of worldly riches that we may inherit the heavenly treasure prepared for us. Amen.

“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?”
Luke 16:10-12

Jesus points out a very important fact about human behavior – “whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (verse 10). It’s a sad truth, but a truth none the less. I say to myself “it’s just a little thing, I would never do anything largely dishonest!” Unfortunately that’s our failing, we don’t see the little things as the first steps on the wrong path.

Perhaps each of these little things are relatively unimportant by themselves, no one is harmed and life goes on. The problem is a pattern of repeated behavior, and humans are creatures of habit. Each of these acts are like a grain of sand and many grains of sand will eventually be a truckload!

Jesus warns us that being dishonest, even a little, can lead to a life of dishonesty. The manager in this parable probably didn’t start the job saying “I can’t wait to start acting dishonestly!” As with many of our sins, it happens little by little, step by step. Don’t take that next step! Turn and step confidently into His forgiveness and love.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry when we fail to act honestly, behaving in ways that shame us and separate us from Your purpose for our lives. Help us to be strong in the face of temptation and always rely on Your strength and wisdom, not our own. Amen.

“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.”
Luke 16:7-8

There should be a kind of shock to us in verse 8 – the master commended the dishonest manager for committing the very acts which were going to cost him his job! How does one accused of a crime avoid the consequences by recommitting the same crime? The world often applauds those who find ways to succeed, even when the means are less than honorable.

Jesus holds up this example to warn us that the world is not always fair and we must keep our earthly desires in check lest we slip into their acceptance of this behavior. He warns that “the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” This is an indication that those who follow Him must continue to be children of light in a dark world, sharing God’s love even with those who are “shrewd”.

Do we allow, or worse applaud, successful endeavors even if they use questionable methods? We must be careful to examine ourselves and not merely point out the poor behavior of others. We must love the Lord more than any possession and know that only through Him can we hope to gain those things that have eternal value.

Gracious God, it is Your love reaching for us that keeps us aware of Your promise. Help us to be more concerned with our relationship with You and others than human success or wealth. Amen.

“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.’
Luke 16:3-6

Jesus continues the story of the accused manager, detailing the plan this man makes to be able to survive after he loses his job. He conspires with those who owe money to his boss to lessen their debt so that they will be generous to him later. This seems to indicate that he was in fact mishandling the accounts with which he had been entrusted.

We all understand the issues that come with a financial setback or loss of employment. It is frightening to be without the means of supporting ourselves and those we love. However, this man immediately turns to unethical means to resolve the problem, without calling on God for help and using the gifts given us to find a solution that does not compromise our relationship with God and others.

How do we react when we are faced with difficult situations? Are we tempted to take the easy way out, rather than admitting we may have been wrong or being humble enough to ask for help? God has given us the means and the responsibility to deal with the problems of our lives. Turning to Him is always the first step.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the gifts You give to enable us to live and work in our world. Help us to see our problems in the light of Your love and work to solve them in connection with You. 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.’
Luke 16:1-2

The beginning of this parable leads us in several directions – our concern for and engagement with wealth, and the possibility of losing it. We all need to be gainfully employed, not only to provide for our families but because it is our nature to feel useful and needed. No matter what we are doing, most people want to be productive.

This story introduces us to a man who is about to lose his job, whether by false accusation or due to his own mismanagement. It certainly gives us pause to think of ourselves in such a situation. The loss of income is a primary concern, but the accompanying emotions of being unemployed or underemployed can be just as damaging.

As the rest of this parable unfolds, we will learn more about our relationship with wealth and with others. Are we more concerned with our income and status than caring for others? Does our money or our possessions cause us to neglect our connection to God? Jesus has more to teach us about this – we must be careful to love God and people more than things.

Loving Lord, we are blessed by Your gifts that enable us to support ourselves and our families. Help us to value Your creation above earthly things, sharing our blessings with those who are in need. Amen.

In our scripture lesson this week (Luke 15:1-10), Jesus has taught about repentance, acceptance and our obligation to help those who are lost make the choice to return to God. He gave us the example of fellowship with those who may not be part of our circle or even our society. We are called to welcome all God’s children who need to be reconnected.

He showed in His parables the importance of going out to find those that are lost. We can’t just sit back and wait for them to wander past. He said to go and make disciples, a command to engage others, an active ministry which seeks those who are separated and shares God’s love.

Be the model of His love today and every day. Show others the joy of a relationship with God and how He continues to change our lives. God works through us and we are blessed by our obedience to His call.

Gracious God, we are thankful for the gift of ministry, our charge to engage and love the world. Help us to seek those who need to be found and give them hope. May our efforts in Your name bring them back to You. Amen.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:1-10

These two parables, plus the introduction about “tax collectors and sinners gathering to hear him” (verse 1) make up a lesson about our need for repentance and the welcoming forgiveness God offers. Jesus shares these to bring our attention to a relatively common occurrence of something important being lost and then found, and how much larger should be the concern over our brothers and sisters who may be lost.

Too often we focus on the what and how much, valuing our possessions more than our connection with God and others. Jesus uses these examples to show us that if we are so diligent in our search for lost things, how much more diligent should we be in saving those people who are wandering lost. (And if you want a deep lesson on this, continue to Luke 15:11-32).

There is also a subtle lesson for us all in verse 2 where there are complaints against Jesus for welcoming sinners and eating with them. He shows through this teaching that when we act this way, we become the lost sinners in need of forgiveness. Jesus tells us to welcome everyone, share God’s love and not to worry about associating with those who, like us, need to repent and be found.

Loving Lord, we are all sinners in need of repentance and acceptance. Help us to see each other with Your eyes and Your love, bringing back the lost. Amen.

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10

Once again Jesus tell us the happiness God feels when a sinner turns to Him. Our repentance and salvation are important to God. We were created to be related, a unique and eternal connection.

In addition, we are made to be related to each other. That’s why we feel so deeply about the issues we face, and the way we react to them. God calls us to be aware of our feelings but also to remember we are all brothers and sisters. How we treat each other matters a lot to Him.

Who might we have ignored or wronged? Our repair of that relationship can restore our relationship with God. It can serve as an example to others as well, that our connection to Him is the most important thing we have.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful that we are meant to be in relationship with You, and that You forgive us when we repent. Help us to show others that they can return to Your love as well. Amen.

Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’
Luke 15:8-9

Jesus continues His lesson about seeking that which is lost with this story of a woman searching for a lost coin. While a single coin may not seem important to us, it was to her. It was worth a days wages according to scholars, and may have been part of a wedding gift or dowry. In any case, she makes a diligent effort, looking for it until it is located, and then celebrates its return.

The point Jesus is making to us is this: if we exert such effort to seek after lost sheep and lost coins, how much more should we seek our brothers and sisters, the last, least and lost that He points us to find? We are to be more concerned for others than for things. Those who do not know a relationship with the Lord are lost indeed.

Jesus calls us to be connected to God and to help others make that connection as well. Our Great Commission from Him is to “go make disciples of all the world” (Matthew 28:19), sharing His truth and His love with everyone. May we be faithful in our task.

Gracious God, we are humbled that You call us to be part of Your work. Help us to seek those who are lost as Jesus did, and show them the joy of a relationship with You. Amen.

Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:6-7

What makes God happy? In a word, us. How often do we consider that? God made us in His image that we could be in relationship with Him. What makes God sad? Again, it’s us. I doubt there is anything that hurts God worse then the way we sometimes treat Him and our brothers and sisters.

In this story we hear of a shepherd finding a lost sheep, and upon returning home he calls his friends together to celebrate his happiness. Jesus then tells us that God feels this way when one of us, His wayward sheep, accepts the relationship He offers and gives up sinful ways. God wants to bring all of us home to Him.

Part of the meaning for this parable is to explain why Jesus seeks the last, the least and the lost. He tells those who are already connected to God that they make God happy every day with their faithfulness, but when one who was not previously faithful accepts that relationship, God rejoices. We are all called to help those who are lost find their way back.

Loving Lord, forgive us for the pain we cause by the way we treat You and others. May we turn from our foolish ways and once again be the reason that You rejoice. Amen.