Topic: Ungodly Practices [Sunday November 12, 2017]
Text: Luke 16:1-18
Key Verse: “And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” (Luke 16:12).
The parables of our Lord Jesus Christ on money startle those who do not allow the Spirit of God to interpret its meaning. But in 2 Peter 1:20,21, we are warned that “…no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”. Therefore our Lord’s parable on the wasteful and dishonest manager does not teach the Christian employee to squander his boss’ goods and later resort to shady dealings to cover up.
It is impossible for the Lord who taught in Matthew 5 that we should be pure and let our lights shine in this corrupt world and be perfect like God who takes no pleasure in evil (Psalms 5:4) to contradict Himself. On the contrary, He wants His followers to be wise and astute in matters of handling money and position. The cunning steward adopted a plan to earn a place in the hearts of his master’s customers if he lost his job. He used his position to secure future gratitude. However, God does not desire money to be an end in our lives. It should be used for gospel work to win souls and to help the needy.
The Lord sums it up thus in Matthew 6:20,21 to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The Lord concludes His teaching by warning against aligning our value system with that of the world which permits divorce, polygamy and a mindless pursuit of material possessions.
Thought for the day: He who is trustworthy gains the Ruler’s confidence.
Bible Reading in one Year: Isaiah 46-50
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
