The word ‘strive’ is not one of my favourites, because it means to put in great effort towards obtaining or achieving something. However in Matthew 6:33, Jesus admonishes us as His followers to strive after God and righteousness, and indeed to prioritize this ‘striving’ above any other.
One way to avoid judging anyone is to sometimes choose to be a fool for Christ’ sake. If someone creates room to receive feedback or constructive criticism of their actions or lifestyle, take it and deliver your opinion in a most respectful manner. If no such system exists, trust Jesus to handle it.
To trust God is to totally lean on Him. It means to be sure or confident of the Lord’s ability to bring a good end.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.’ I Timothy 6:10 NKJV
“As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labour—this is the gift of God. ‘ Ecclesiastes 5:19 NKJV.
“No one 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 mammon.” Matthew 6:24 NKJV
“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? “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 mammon.” Luke 16:9-11,13 NKJV
From Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:9-11, we can deduce some of Jesus’ thoughts on money…….
In some Bible translations, the word ‘mammon‘ is used interchangeably with money, deceitful riches, possessions. In both verses of Matthew and Luke shared above, Jesus uses the Word mammon in a personified sense; He attributes a personal or human character to it. In both accounts, ‘mammon’ is described as a master and Jesus mentions 2 masters in our texts- God and mammon.
A master is someone who has servants or slaves working for him. According to Jesus, a master demands to be ‘served’ in love and loyalty.
Child of God, here’s the good news; Jesus gave 2 options- God or Money. Meaning, you have a choice. God doesn’t impose Himself on anyone, money doesn’t either. However if you choose to serve God, then you must reduce money to what it is- a tool for intermediating the exchange of goods of services. Don’t let the love of money drive you to ruin.
“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 favoured] may receive and welcome you into the everlasting habitations (dwellings).” Luke 16:9 AMPC
“Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” Luke 16:9 NLT
“I tell you, use the worldly things you have now to make ‘friends’ for later. Then, when those things are gone, you will be welcomed into a home that lasts forever.” Luke 16:9 ERV
Money/riches/possessions don’t last forever. Unfortunately, Luke 16:9 says ‘when’ your possessions are gone‘, not ‘if‘ your possessions are gone‘!
The security that money gives is transient. The list of ‘Top 10 Richest Persons in The World’ has never remained constant.
Money does not satisfy …….
“He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance with gain. This also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!”
Ecclesiastes 5:10 AMPC
See what Proverbs 23:4-5 says…
“‘Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.’ Proverbs 23:4-5 NKJV
Riches CERTAINLY make themselves wings (and fly off).
Inspite of Luke 16:9 and Proverbs 23:4-5, Jesus tells us there is a way to give money an eternal security (see #4 below).
“The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’ “The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. ‘ Luke 16:3-4,8 NLT
………..”I know how to ensure that I’ll have PLENTY OF FRIENDS who will give me a home when I am fired“……..
Jesus’ Parable of The Unjust Steward in Luke 16:1-12 which we have been referencing in this study, narrates the story of a manager who was mismanaging his master’s money. And when his master asked him to give an account of his stewardship, sensing he might be sacked, he decided to first settle himself. He bought influence for himself with his master’s money!
While this man’s action may not totally seem like a good thing, see what Jesus said in verses 8-9;
“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 say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.“
Luke 16:8-9 NKJV
……”make friends for yourself by the unrighteous mammon“…….
Money can buy Influence; use it to kingdom advantage.
Influence is about People.
“Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” Luke 16:9-11 NLT
Money (in itself) has very low significance in Heaven. Jesus referred to money as ‘least’ or ‘little’.
Money is Not True Riches. Heaven’s True Riches are PEOPLE. If Jesus said we should invest money in people, then I choose to believe that people are Heaven’s True Riches.
Investing money in Kingdom work gives it eternal security. The more people we influence and win over to God the richer our heavenly treasure store (Luke 12:33, Matthew 6:19-20).
Little wonder God would give His Son to save PEOPLE.
Jesus put People above Money. Don’t reverse it!
“And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs.”
Luke 12:15 AMPC
………..a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance………..
Don’t reduce your worth to money, riches and possessions. Your worth is not defined by money or your possessions… You were BOUGHT by the PRECIOUS blood of Jesus……
“knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 1:18-19 NLT
Dear friends, we are stewards of God’s possessions in our care. Our possessions are gifts from God. We must learn to enjoy these gifts as well as put them to other good use-especially, Kingdom work.
Greed, Covetousness and the Love of Money are killers. Godliness with Contentment is great gain (Proverbs 1:18-19, 1 Timothy 6:9-10).
Praise God!
Well, thank you for joining me on this very enlightening study.
Remember you can access previous parts of this study as follows; Part 1: Introduction. Part 2 :The Purpose of Money. And Part 3 :Delivered from Poverty. Part 4: Heirs of the Father. 5: How Jesus Met Needs (A). Part 6: How Jesus Met Needs (B). 7: How Jesus Met Needs (C). Part 8: 5 Biblical Principles for Enjoying Financial Sufficiency as a Christian
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Contrary to the above dictionary definition of fight, Ephesians 6:12 tells us that as Christians we are in no physical combat with any human, rather we are in a spiritual warfare.
Starting a new venture can be exciting and doubtless risky. Exciting because it is something new and seemingly promising. Risky because of the fear of failure, resource constraints amongst other uncertainties. Sometimes people handle the uncertainties of new ventures by proactively focusing on project purpose and objectives, ensuring tact and discipline in mobilising and utilizing resources, sticking to proven successful models and practice.
Peter went fishing with an empty boat and empty nets, he returned with an empty boat and empty nets.
Then he went fishing again with an empty boat with empty nets, and this time he returned with 2 boats and nets full of fishes.
You can position yourself to have the same experience Peter had, Find out what happened in the time interval Peter’s first and second fishing trip that made the difference and made this miracle possible.
Do you know that YOU can initiate a miracle? ?First, what is a miracle?
A miracle is a supernatural intervention in the natural course of an event(s).
we can initiate the miracle of provision and abundant supply if we follow and act on scripture.
