Two Masters
Jesus had a way of teaching through parables that taught, enlightened, convicted, and brought revelation better than any direct quote. Those whose minds were against God were often unable to understand the lesson but those who had pure hearts toward God were able to hear and understand.
In this portion of Scripture, Jesus was presenting parables to the people concerning money and righteousness – in the hearing of the Pharisees:
Luke 16:10-13 (AMPC)
10 He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little thing is dishonest and unjust also in much.
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the case of unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches?
12 And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another (whether God or man), who will give you that which is your own (that is, true riches)?
13 No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by one and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely).
I get it. We all need money to survive. This is not what Jesus is talking about here. He’s talking about the love of money. He’s asking if we love money or earthly things more than Him and His kingdom. The true riches described here include our eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by His grace, and His eternal kingdom.
He’s also letting us know that small deviations in our faithfulness toward God and mankind reflect a condition of the heart that enables us to have large deviations in our faithfulness.
Also, if we choose to love and serve mammon over loving and serving God, we effectively put ourselves in a position to despise God! We may not even be aware of what we’ve done. Over time, we make choices that reinforce our decisions.
See how the Pharisees responded:
Luke 16:14-15
14 Now the Pharisees, who were covetous and lovers of money, heard all these things (taken together), and they began to sneer at and ridicule and scoff at Him.
15 But He said to them, You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is detestable and abhorrent in the sight of God.
The questions for us today:
Prayer:
Lord! I am in great need of Your forgiveness and Your cleansing power. I repent for worshiping something other than You. I ask for Your grace, Your power and Your forgiveness. I ask for cleansing and healing.
I ask for your help as I choose to follow You and to remain faithful and devoted to You. I need your grace to move forward in making decisions that honor You. Lead me in your way. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
In this portion of Scripture, Jesus was presenting parables to the people concerning money and righteousness – in the hearing of the Pharisees:
Luke 16:10-13 (AMPC)
10 He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little thing is dishonest and unjust also in much.
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the case of unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches?
12 And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another (whether God or man), who will give you that which is your own (that is, true riches)?
13 No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by one and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely).
I get it. We all need money to survive. This is not what Jesus is talking about here. He’s talking about the love of money. He’s asking if we love money or earthly things more than Him and His kingdom. The true riches described here include our eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by His grace, and His eternal kingdom.
He’s also letting us know that small deviations in our faithfulness toward God and mankind reflect a condition of the heart that enables us to have large deviations in our faithfulness.
Also, if we choose to love and serve mammon over loving and serving God, we effectively put ourselves in a position to despise God! We may not even be aware of what we’ve done. Over time, we make choices that reinforce our decisions.
See how the Pharisees responded:
Luke 16:14-15
14 Now the Pharisees, who were covetous and lovers of money, heard all these things (taken together), and they began to sneer at and ridicule and scoff at Him.
15 But He said to them, You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is detestable and abhorrent in the sight of God.
The questions for us today:
- What might I love and cherish more than God?
- Have I “cut corners” in my faithfulness toward God or others?
- How can my heart be healed in this area?
Prayer:
Lord! I am in great need of Your forgiveness and Your cleansing power. I repent for worshiping something other than You. I ask for Your grace, Your power and Your forgiveness. I ask for cleansing and healing.
I ask for your help as I choose to follow You and to remain faithful and devoted to You. I need your grace to move forward in making decisions that honor You. Lead me in your way. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.