You Cannot Serve God and Money

 PRAYER PRACTICE

Breath Prayer – Take 2-3 minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with His presence, grace, love, peace, etc. Consider using the list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc. Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, and then begin reading today’s Scripture.

DAILY READING

Luke 16:1-31

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

The Stewardship Test

by Judy Webb

The reading for today is another one I have read numerous times before, but never read it like I did today. Perhaps it is because as I write these devotions I always pray that God would show up, that He would lead me to share something all who read this, can pull into their hearts and benefit from. 

“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—" (Luke 16:4)

Not strong enough to dig and ashamed to beg. This is the phrase that stopped me. Knowing so many have lost their jobs recently I wonder how many have similar feelings. I know that at my age, there are many jobs I could not do because of physical limitations. The line, and ashamed to beg is also where I would also falter. My pride would not allow me to ask for help.

But the man in this story is ingenious. At first read, I felt he was dishonest and underhanded, (and that may be true), but his master saw his actions as shrewd. Shrewd, according to the dictionary is: astute or sharp in practical matters. I understand he can be commended for his foresight, not his crooked method of doing it.

The shrewd manager decided that by forgiving some of the debts owed by his master's debtors, he could ingratiate himself to them. They would in turn remember his actions when at a later date the manager needed help.

Many times, I have read or heard of a brilliant con someone has pulled off on an unsuspecting victim and wondered to myself why they don't put their gifts and cunning talents to better use. If they can come up with these ingenious ideas, they could also create honest and legitimate work. Imagine how successful they could be.

There are many different take-aways from these verses in Luke. One of them brought back a memory of years ago, following my husband's death, when money was tighter than I ever imagined. I would not reach out for help, but a few folks must have been prompted by God to help (not knowing how much it was needed), and in at least 4 instances funds appeared in my mailbox. Sometimes with an anonymous note, other times with no words at all.

The rich man questioned his manager's handling of his possessions. Will God also question our handling of His possessions? "For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it." 1 Timothy 6:7. 

One's stewardship is a valid test of one's relationship to God.

You Can't Serve God and Money

PRAYER PRACTICE

Breath Prayer – Take 2-3 minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with His presence, grace, love, peace, etc. Consider using the list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc. Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, and then begin reading today’s Scripture.

DAILY READING

Luke 16:1-31

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

You Can't Serve God and Money

by Diane Ward

It is hard to be dispassionate about money, it challenges our emotions of scarcity and abundance. I have often thought of wealth as a burden, its tentacles easily wrap around our hearts and minds. We betray ourselves as did Judas when we give over the sacred place of our spirits. As we make our way back to Jesus’ lordship, we see the signposts of compromise along the way, the distractions that stole our peace. I have been there, and I know the playing field is larger than money.

Jesus warned of the seductive power of money. He used an example of a shrewd manager who knew how to make money work for him to compensate for mismanagement and breech of employer’s trust. Jesus used a powerful example, the scenes vividly pictured of a rich man with everything and poor man with nothing. The rich man failed to remember the words of the prophets asking that Abraham might forewarn his family of the penalty of “money before God.” Jesus said to him, “if they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:29-31.)

Are we listening or silent to Jesus’ command to love the Lord with all our heart, soul mind and strength and our neighbors as ourselves? (Luke 10:27.) “And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made, and the sign flashed out its warning in the words that it was forming, and the sign said; The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls and whispered in the sound of silence.” (Paul Simon)

Are we investing in Kingdom currency? “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So, let each one give.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7.) John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) traveled throughout the Midwest planting seeds 45 years. It is estimated he spread more than 300,000 seeds. He understood the principle of sowing and reaping.

Lord Jesus your last request on earth was for us to feed your sheep, to be harvesters, to be like You!