Joshua 9:3-10:11; Luke 16:10-18; Psalms 83:1-8; Proverbs 20:2-3
NT: “Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with what is genuine? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own? No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him. And he told them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:10-15 CSB)
This is a continuation of the story of the unfaithful but shrewd steward. The unfaithful steward had become more committed to himself than to his master. That is what led to his unfaithfulness. It is not possible to serve two masters equally. When money became his master, he was no longer able to fully serve his employer. Apparently, like the unfaithful steward, the Pharisees were also lovers of money. Based on what Jesus was saying, because of their love for money, they weren’t able to fully serve God. This is what they were scoffing at – for they considered themselves to be the pinnacle of godliness. But what Jesus was saying was true. The Pharisees, in their love for money and recognition, had ceased serving God and had made money, status, and recognition their master. Though people admired the Pharisees for the worldly success they had obtained, they were revolting to God, for their hearts were full of sin, self-seeking, and corruption. Either the Lord is your master or He isn’t. There is no such thing as a half-hearted, luke-warm servant – for the reason that a servant becomes half-hearted in his service is that he has made someone or something else his master. Am I guilty of trying to play both sides of the fence? Am I committed to serving the Lord, or am I subverting my submission to Him to gain wealth for myself? Am I faithful with all that the Lord has given to me, or am I using His blessing for my own benefit? Am I admired by people more than I am admired by God? I know that the Spirit within me desires to be faithful. If I have strayed into unfaithfulness, all I need to do is repent, and God will show mercy and forgive.
Jamie Hicks 