week of 5/24/11 2nd recorded HighQuest Luke 16:10-15

The passage I read was Luke 16:10-15

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A10-15&version=NIV

My attempt to summarize:

Jesus shares 3 basic concepts here:

1 – If you can’t be trusted with a little, you can’t be trusted with a lot. (and the opposite is true)

2 – You cannot serve God and money. (torn between two masters – chose one)

3 – You cannot justify serving money before the Lord. “What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” (part of vs. 15)

As I reflect:

1 Kings 18:21 (New International Version)

²¹ Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

Self evaluation time:

Can I be trusted with other people’s property, money, confidence; with the money God allows me?

Am I devoted to God or Money?

Do I attempt to justify a love of money before God? Do I highly value Money?

In self reflection I can confirm easily at the surface as well as at the heart, that I do not serve money nor hold it in a value above what I should, and I am trustworthy at even a spiritual level. I am not mastered by money, nor by selfish ambition, but rather I am thankful for and prayerfully consider who the money I am blessed with ought to be responsibly used.

This passage seems to also suggest that in first being faithful in the small things (money, possessions, etc.), the opportunity to be faithful in greater things (someone seeking council from you, being in the right place at the right time to prayerfully lead someone to Christ, being in a position to example a life with Christ) will follow. However, if one can’t even handle spending their money in a Godly manner, how on earth could they be expected to be a proper witness of the greater things (love, compassion, forgiveness, discernment)? “That’s like going to a loser to ask advice about basing your plans on another man’s way of living life” – DCTalk.

My response to the Lord:

Lord, I thank you for discernment. I thank you for any wisdom that is in me and I pray that you will continue to use me in other’s lives and help me to do right by you in my dealings with others. May I set a proper example and may I witness in a way that is useful to your Holy Spirit’s work in others.