Luke 16:13-15 CSB "No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." [14] The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him. [15] And he told them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God's sight."
"Trick or Treat" implies I am willing to play tricks to get a treat. Jesus reminds us that we cannot fool God. Luke 16 is about stewardship. God owns the house and everything in it. God entrusts us with money and possessions. How we handle our belongings determines who we love, trust, and worship most. My uncle Rudy used to say, "Look at your checkbook to see who or what you worship the most." Jesus says we cannot serve the gift and the Gifter. We will always love one more than the other. How we manage the resources God has given us reveals how much we love God.
Trusting in our money, possessions, retirement, etc., more than God makes them an idol. An idol is a lifeless false god who always requires the worshiper to give more than he receives. The Living God, on the other hand, always gives better than He gets. Thabiti Anyabwile says the challenge of stewardship is that every money decision reveals who our God is ("Luke," in Christ-centered Exposition, 245). Faithful stewards are concerned with their character, the consequences of their choices in money matters, and trusting God first and foremost.
The Pharisees treated Jesus' teaching on faithful stewards with contempt. Jesus said you might fool people into thinking you love God, but you cannot trick God. What decisions about your money and belongings do you need to adjust to demonstrate that you love and worship God above all else?
Lord Jesus, Jeremiah 17:9 (NASB95) reminds me, “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" 1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB95)
recalls, "the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Lord, how I manage everything you entrust to me reveals my love for You. The unseen motives of giving reveal who I trust. Help me develop the character of a faithful steward. Lord, thank you for reminding me all financial decisions have consequences. Holy Spirit, convict and convince me to put God's honor before all my money and possessions. Lord, I desire to weigh my earthly decisions against the eternal reward that awaits me in heaven. Like the story of "The rich man and Lazarus," how I use God's possessions on earth reveals who I serve on earth and plan to worship throughout eternity (Luke 16:19–31). Lord, I may fool myself and other people, but I never trick You, when I put You in second place. Help me be faithful with earthly things so You can entrust more things of eternal value to me. In Jesus' name, amen.
Daily Devotion
Trick or Treat!
Verse of the Day, September 23, 2021
Luke 16:13-15 CSB "No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." [14] The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him. [15] And he told them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God's sight."
"Trick or Treat" implies I am willing to play tricks to get a treat. Jesus reminds us that we cannot fool God. Luke 16 is about stewardship. God owns the house and everything in it. God entrusts us with money and possessions. How we handle our belongings determines who we love, trust, and worship most. My uncle Rudy used to say, "Look at your checkbook to see who or what you worship the most." Jesus says we cannot serve the gift and the Gifter. We will always love one more than the other. How we manage the resources God has given us reveals how much we love God.
Trusting in our money, possessions, retirement, etc., more than God makes them an idol. An idol is a lifeless false god who always requires the worshiper to give more than he receives. The Living God, on the other hand, always gives better than He gets. Thabiti Anyabwile says the challenge of stewardship is that every money decision reveals who our God is ("Luke," in Christ-centered Exposition, 245). Faithful stewards are concerned with their character, the consequences of their choices in money matters, and trusting God first and foremost.
The Pharisees treated Jesus' teaching on faithful stewards with contempt. Jesus said you might fool people into thinking you love God, but you cannot trick God. What decisions about your money and belongings do you need to adjust to demonstrate that you love and worship God above all else?
Lord Jesus, Jeremiah 17:9 (NASB95) reminds me, “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" 1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB95)
recalls, "the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Lord, how I manage everything you entrust to me reveals my love for You. The unseen motives of giving reveal who I trust. Help me develop the character of a faithful steward. Lord, thank you for reminding me all financial decisions have consequences. Holy Spirit, convict and convince me to put God's honor before all my money and possessions. Lord, I desire to weigh my earthly decisions against the eternal reward that awaits me in heaven. Like the story of "The rich man and Lazarus," how I use God's possessions on earth reveals who I serve on earth and plan to worship throughout eternity (Luke 16:19–31). Lord, I may fool myself and other people, but I never trick You, when I put You in second place. Help me be faithful with earthly things so You can entrust more things of eternal value to me. In Jesus' name, amen.