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

Friday, September 22, 2023

[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

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

Re-Mastered!
Article by Phil Ware
What is really mastering us? Phil Ware gets personal about the idols in his life and wanting to be re-Mastered by Jesus.
Managing Your Assets with Spiritual Wisdom
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Disciple, Over the ages, people have freely talked with each other about almost everything, except how they spend their money. Once the talk..."
The Latest Thing
Article by Tim Archer
It's new! Improved! It's easy to want what everyone else is getting. But it's also very, very dangerous. God can help you learn to be happy with what you have.

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? "

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, September 22, 2023

God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'The Father Knows Our Hearts' (Ro. 8:27)
"And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Son of God with Power'
"Dear Friend, There are many voices that call out to you and seek to win your heart. There are many distractions in your busy and high-tech culture..."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Balance' (1 Co. 11:2-16)
"Dear Father, God of the present and the future, but also of the past, Make me willing to consider and accept new things. But also help me to respect...."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Revelation 3:14
"The word AMEN solemnly confirms that which went before; and Jesus is the great Confirmer; immutable, for ever is "the Amen" in all his promises...."

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.

More What Jesus Did!