“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [money]” (vs13).
Our Lord teaches us to plan ahead. We aren't to live for money and this world; we're to use money and this world to serve God, so that we can be saved at the Judgment.
In the parable, the manager finds out that he'll be fired, so he plans ahead. He goes to his bosses debtors and collects partial payment, writing their debts as canceled, so that they'll receive him favorably when he's unemployed. Likewise, the Lord instructs us to use wisdom in preparing for the future. We read, “Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses” (vs3-4).
Thus, if a man heard that he'd be fired, and he buried his head in the sand, acting like it would “take care of itself”, you'd call him foolish. But, when he plans ahead, he is commended, and the people of this world are zealous to prepare for natural disasters and retirement, but they are unwilling to organize their soul's affairs, to die in peace. Our Lord said, “So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), so that when it fails, they [those you have favored] may receive and welcome you into the everlasting habitations.” (vs8-9).
One thing matters, and Jesus CONTINUALLY stresses eternity. He lived for another kingdom, and He calls us to live for the eternal world, rather than the present. He says, by faith in Christ, Prepare for eternity. He teaches us to believe unto obedience of life, using all that we have for Christ, rather than using Christ – so we think – to enjoy this world.
Those who live for this world, for money, for pleasure in sin, will soon realize that they've lost everything eternal for the temporary and perishing. Don't be so foolish. Prepare for meeting God by trusting His Son, following Him by grace, and living that the gospel be glorified in the world.
Don't live for this world and think that you'll make heaven. There can only be one master in your life. It is either Jesus, or you'll perish have served something that can't save you, when the Savior was willing. I spoke to someone about obedience, not just saying, “I'm saved”, but actually obediently living by what the bible says, rather than what we think. This is an opportunity for you, as it was for them. You can have gone the wrong way, lived for self, and be recovered. Or, you can live for nothing. What else is there to live for but the soul's eternal good? What more important lesson can parents give to children? What's the most important thing that you and I can show others?
No comments:
Post a Comment