1. WE GET REALLY RICH WHEN WE PROPERLY MANAGE THE MATERIAL IN PREPARATION FOR OWNERSHIP OF THE SPIRITUAL

Money is a test of readiness and there are 3 test involved in 16: 10-12:

  1. Attention to the details of life & obscure matters prepares us for larger responsibilities.

Anyone who can be trusted in little matters can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters will be dishonest in important matters………….and if you can’t be trusted with this wicked wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?                  Luke 16: 10-11 CEV

  1. The faithful use of money for God’s glory accumulates spiritual wealth for us in heaven.

v. 11 teaches that if we manage well, God will bless us with “true riches”.

  1. If we cannot be faithful and wise in managing what belongs to others, namely money, then how will we properly manage the spiritual riches of His grace that He has given to us?

Jesus essentially says that we are wealthy by having the most incredible riches in the world:

  1. We have his priceless care.

                And my God will meet all of your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.         Philippians 4: 19, NAS

  1. Rich with mercy.

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead.                               Ephesians 2: 4, NLT

  1. Rich in being allowed to share the glorious gospel as we meet needs.

Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share. By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future…………and be able to have the life that is true life.                I Timothy 6:18, NCV

  1. Wealthy with His grace deposited in us.

In Christ we are set free by the blood of His death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God’s grace!!              Ephesians 1:7, NCV 

  1. Rich with the privilege of giving to others as Jesus has given to us.

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.          II Corinthians 8:2, NIV

  1. NO HEART HAS ROOM FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY AND THE LOVE OF GOD 6:13

                *Singer and songwriter Bob Dylan had a hit a number of years ago titled,

“You Gotta Serve Somebody”. The chorus has these words, “it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody.” He’s right; who do we serve?

Slavery was acceptable in the First Century and slaves were required to be 100% loyal. The scriptures say………..

No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.                   Luke 16: 13, NAS

The point is that the love of money will keep us from God, and the love of God will keep us from the love of money!!

The Message paraphrases it, “No worker can serve two bosses; He’ll either hate the first and love the second, or adore the first and despise the second. You can’t serve both God and the Bank” (Luke 16:13).

As expected, the proud reacted angrily and basically sneered at Jesus.

In 16:14, we read that these men were lovers of money. The assumption in their culture was that the wealthy were the most likely candidates to go to heaven because they gave the most amount of money to the poor.  Here they were “scoffing” or lit. turning up their noses at Him in disgust. In their minds, Jesus had gall to lecture them when He had so little himself! Their sense of personal spiritual success was in their prideful public displays of spirituality!

The movie, I Am Sam tells the story of a mentally challenged man who raises his daughter, Lucy, on his own. Sam works at Starbucks and hangs out with four other men who are also mentally challenged. Sam’s friends are excited about the new addition to Sam’s life, and they want continually to hold or feed little Lucy. For her entry into first grade, Lucy needs new shoes. Money is tight for Sam and his friends. Sam’s wages are barely sufficient for the 1-bedroom apartment he and Lucy share. But he and his four friends set out with Lucy to buy her a pair of shoes. They all take the task very seriously as they search for the perfect pair, showing each option to Lucy. They find shoes with lights that blink, pink shoes, and leopard-skin shoes five sizes too big. The shoe salesman is somewhat frustrated by this exasperating process, but he cooperates nonetheless. When at last they find the perfect pair, Sam asks the shoe salesman the price, and the salesman says, “$16.19 with tax.”  The mood gets a little tense as Sam counts out too little money. Sam says, “I only have $6.25.” There are people in line behind them, and Lucy begins to exchange nervous glances with Sam and his friends.

“That’s all you have?” says the salesman. “Yeah,” responds Sam, “because I didn’t get my whole check, because I had to go to the parent and teacher meeting this week.” The clerk said, “I’m sorry, sir, the price is $16.19.”  Sam’s friends, without being asked, reach into their pockets to make up the difference, and all the money that is needed is spread out on the counter. Lucy smiles with pride and they all leave with balloons.

When we learn that all of life is an investment in God’s kingdom and life is meant to be for the purpose of serving others, a broad smile appears on our faces and on the face of God as well because we are beginning to understand who Jesus really is.

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