“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Lk. 16:13 NKJV) The Greek word translated as “servant” in this passage (oiketes) denotes a household servant. That is very interesting as each member of the church is a member of God’s house i.e., His family (1 Tim. 3:15). Jesus says it is not possible to serve two masters. This makes sense as our allegiance would be divided to the point of hating the one and loving the other, or clinging to the one and despising [to think little or nothing of] the other. A house divided against a house falls (Lk. 11:17). Furthermore, God will not accept any position but first in our hearts (Lk. 10:27-28; cf. Ex. 20:3-6). Jesus goes on to state that it is not possible to serve God and mammon [riches; treasure; wealth]. This statement is made at the end of the parable of the unjust steward (Lk. 16:1-12). When it comes to stewardship, our use of what God has entrusted us with is of critical importance. The details matter in faithfulness (Lk. 16:10). We never want to be guilty of wasting God’s goods (Lk. 16:1; cf. Mt. 25:14-30). To encourage us to be good stewards and servants, consider a few passages:
Trent Thrasher
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;” (Job 19:25 NKJV) Job had lost a lot (family, possessions, and health cf. Job 1-2), but he had not lost hope. He had hope in a redeemer that he proclaimed lived and would stand upon the earth. The apostle John stated so much when he began his Gospel record (Jn. 1:1-14). Through Christ’s sacrifice we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins (Eph. 1:3-7; Col. 1:12-14). The one hope (Eph. 4:4) remains available for any honest and good hearted person who hears the Word, keeps it, and brings forth fruit with patience (Lk. 8:11, 15). God blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning (Job 42:12-17), and we have confidence He will do the same for His faithful servants (Titus 1:2). I know that my Redeemer lives and I look forward to being with Him some day! Let us look forward to spending eternity with God and the faithful of all ages (cf. Rev. 7). Trent Thrasher
“For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.” (Ps. 1:6 NKJV) It is a great comfort to know that God knows. He knows when we feed the hungry, when we give the thirsty drink, when we take in the stranger, when we clothe the naked, and visit those who are sick and in prison (Mt. 25:31-36). Indeed, the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD (Pr. 5:21). He sees the evil and the good (Pr. 15:3). God knows those that trust in Him (Nah. 1:7) and those that are His (2 Tim. 2:19). God also knows the conduct of the ungodly which leads to definite destruction (Ps. 11:6). There is a way which seems right to a man but leads to death (Pr. 14:12, 16:25). May we allow God to be the One to direct our steps (Jer. 10:23), and as such to ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk (Jer. 6:16)! God is always watching, so let us keep His precepts and testimonies (Ps. 119:168). Trent Thrasher
“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” (Ps. 1:5 NKJV) Though we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10), not all will receive favorable sentences, namely the ungodly. If one stands in the way of sinners, they will fall in judgment. Christ has called us out of a sinful lifestyle and into a life of holiness (1 Pt. 2:5, 9). Observe how often the apostle Paul makes this point in his epistles as he addressed them to the saints (holy ones) e.g., Rm. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1. We are to be holy as God is holy (1 Pt. 1:15-16). One day the Lord will divide the sheep from the goats (Mt. 25:31ff). The sheep know the voice of the Chief Shepherd and follow Him (Jn. 10:1ff; 1 Pt. 5:4). Let us follow the Good Shepherd and stand fast in the faith (1 Cor. 16:13). In doing so we will have confidence that on the final day we will hear those beautiful words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Trent Thrasher
“The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.” (Ps. 1:4 NKJV) In contrast to the firmly planted tree of the godly (cf. Ps. 1:3), the ungodly have no sure footings or roots. They are likened to the chaff or light husks and waste products of grain. Chaff is susceptible to being blown about easily by the wind. Let us not be children, tossed about with every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14), but rather speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). The church’s collective growth comes in edifying (building up) one another in the body of Christ (Eph. 4:16). Speaking of chaff, the winnowing fan is in the hand of the Lord. He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor. The wheat (godly) will go into the barn. The chaff (ungodly) will be burned with unquenchable fire (Mt. 3:12). What will it be? Into the barn or burned? The choice is ours. Let us grow like wheat and produce the fruit the Lord is seeking so we can be with Him forever (cf. Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43)! Trent Thrasher
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