$hrewd, Part 5, CANNOT! @imagechurch Dumfires, Va
Remember that this manager was one who was stealing from the master, taking what he thought was his but was really stealing what never belonged to him. After he was caught, he got een more shrewd by stealing again from the master by reducing the debt of those who owed the master. The master was impressed by the shrewdness of the dishonest manager.
How much more shrewd should those who have the truth and life through Jesus, be with that truth as those who love money.
Remember that in our lives we spend what God has never given us to pay for it with the things He did give us. Money is a tool, not a sin, God created money but it is what we have done with that money that causes sin.
Our hearts can only serve one master, it comes down to what we devote our lives to.
Jesus was taking the time to speak directly to people then and now, He knew what was in the hearts of those that were surrounding him and needed to speak to those hearts directly. Instead of using money to reach people, religious crowds use people to reach money.
Jesus was not speaking about money, that it was intrinsically evil, but that it becomes evil when we make it our master, our idol. What it really comes down to is who do we live for, ourselves or for Jesus.
2 things that we CANNOT DO:
- We cannot live a life of divided devotion
Jesus is not saying that it is difficult to be devoted to more than one thing, He is saying that it is completely IMPOSSIBLE. In marriage, you can either be selfish or not, you can love your spouse or love yourself.
Our hearts have only one space in them, either God will fill that space, or we will. You love self or God. Everything else is details.
In every season of our live, the driving force should be to magnify Jesus. In this life, we have some free will, to choose who we serve: self or God. EVERY decision we make is a reflection of who we serve, God or self.
God doesn't ask for much, just our lives.
5 T's that we devote ourselves to as a church: time, treasure, talent, tongue, & teaching. This encompasses us giving our whole lives to Jesus and His mission.
We are saved by good works. Not our works, but the perfect works of Jesus who lived, died, and rose again to save us.
- We cannot live by what we say and not by what we do.
The religious leaders said that they loved God, but they wanted more money. They loved self and never loved God and their actions proved that.
We do not do what we have to do or want to do, we do what we love.
The biggest investment that we can make in the lives of our children or anyone that we meet, is to lead them to Jesus and live them to Jesus.
Jesus said He loved us, and traded His crown for a cross.
If we say that we love Jesus, but then He calls us to give of ourselves (time, talent, & treasure) & we say no, we do not love Him. If we do not want to be a slave to our finances, then tell them where to go, do not let them control our actions.
If you say that you love Jesus, then LIVE LIKE IT! Simple and True.
Imagine this... Imagine my entire life being devoted to one goal... Magnifying Jesus with all He has give to me.
Created over 1 year ago
