What Jesus Did! 'Know What Is Important and Who to Serve' — Luke 16:12-13

Friday, September 22, 2023

A Year with Jesus - Holy Week

Spend some time with Jesus this week preparing for Resurrection Sunday.

Read More
[Jesus continued,] "And if you are not faithful with other people's things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money."

— Luke 16:12-13 NLT

Key Thought

Money can be our master, but we must not let it. If we aren't careful, we can covet money, sell our virtue for money, be manipulated for money, and even risk our lives for money. Few things have such pull on our human hearts. Paul warned that greed is a form of idolatry. [1] In other words, money and our desire for it can become our god and our religion. Jesus made it clear that there is room in our hearts for only one consuming love. That love will be the master of our lives. We cannot serve God if money becomes our master. We cannot worship and serve both God and money. So which do you choose?

[1] Colossians 3:5.

Today's Prayer

Father, give me a clearer sense of your purpose in blessing me. I want to serve you faithfully, using your gifts and your blessings in my life to honor you and bless others as you would have them blessed. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 Timothy 6:5-10
  • Colossians 3:5
  • Luke 12:21

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, September 22, 2023

Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, Thank you for the confidence I can have to enter your sanctuary. May I draw near to you in faith, full of assurance, with my heart..."
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. ...."
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"When the uproar [in Ephesus] was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he..."
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
"Most of us know what it is to be overwhelmed in heart; emptied as when a man wipeth a dish and turneth it upside down; submerged and thrown on our..."

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 16:12-13 NLT — "And if you are not faithful with other people's things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

"

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.