“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. (Luke 16:8–9) Jesus told a parable about a dishonest steward whose master confronted him about his money and he slashed the amount required for full payment. In Jesus’ story, the master commended the steward for using the opportunity to “gain friends” to help him in his dilemma of pending unemployment. suggesting that true disciples will be generous with the resources God entrusts to them. I have a friend who is a faithful steward of the vast resources God has entrusted to him. His overarching commitment is to God’s Kingdom. I never have to explain why discipling every man in America is a good idea. He already understands that. And he also knows that ministries need money to support a God-given vision. In giving, he sees the opportunity for a joint ministry venture. He can provide resources, and we can provide labor. This friend understands his calling to be a faithful steward of the resources God has entrusted to him. WEEK Week 3 26 Wednesday—October 25•Be Generous management practices. In response, the steward went to all the people who owed money, The steward represents those of us who work for the ultimate Master, God. Jesus was How does generosity reflect the principles that guide God’s Kingdom? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 48:1–49:22, 2 Timothy 4:1–22, Psalm 95:1–96:13, Proverbs 26:9–12 Thursday—October 26•True Riches “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? (Luke 16:10–12) When you see that someone has chosen a beautiful beach scene with azure water for their computer background, do you think that represents their ultimate goal? No, they don’t want the heat and the bugs and the sand in their shoes. What they really want is the feeling that scene represents. In a similar way, many of us think we want money, but in reality we really want the feelings associated with money. We think we want earthly possessions, but God’s Word calls us to look beyond the temporal world. In today’s passage, Jesus simply asks, “If you will not be honest and trustworthy with earthly things, like money and possessions, then who would trust you with the things that really matter?” He clearly distinguishes between worldly wealth and true riches. Throughout Scripture, God promises to provide for us and meet our earthly needs. But a person who is truly rich in God’s eyes possesses the things that money cannot buy, like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. (See Galatians 5:22.) WEEK Week 3 In your own words, describe the distinction between temporal wealth and true riches. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 49:23–50:46, Titus 1:1–16, Psalm 97:1–98:9, Proverbs 26:13–16
20514 Man in Mirror
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