October 03, 2020: SOAP #3957:  Ezra 5-6; Psalm 138; Luke 16

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 “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. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

Observation:  The Bible has much to say about money.  Here Jesus is drawing some conclusions from his story about a rich man and his dishonest manager.  Knowing that he was soon to lose his job, the manager began to work deals with people who owed his master.  He made them good deals hoping that when his job was over, one of them would provide him new employment. 

First lesson:  wealth, available in this life, little or much, can be used to serve people who will be friends when this life is over. 

Second lesson:  how one manages little demonstrates how they will work with much.  Nothing is never too small to use for the Kingdom of God. 

Third lesson:  how one manages the valuable property of someone else reveals how they will manage their own property.

Application:  There is no starting place too small.  If I do not start giving with what I have, what will it take?   If I do not start giving now, when?  The first harvest I reap, may be rather small, but it will be larger than what I sowed.  Then, if I sow what I reap, my next harvest will be greater!  The sooner I start, the faster my harvests will grow.  Now, what do I have that I can invest into my future??? 

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, there is no greater giver than you.  I have benefited from your giving, especially in the giving of your Son, Jesus!  May your giving continue in me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!