Radically Shifting Toward Eternity: Storing Up True Riches
In Luke 16 through 18 Jesus calls for a radical shift in values towards eternity urging us to prioritize God and others over wealth. Someday we’re going to die have we stored riches in heaven because where our hearts are there will be our riches as well.
Luke 16 confronting idolatry and indifference
Parable of the dishonest manager: Pushes us to use money and skills for God’s kingdom not just temporary gain.
Reject indifference: The rich man and Lazarus story warns against ignoring the marginalized in the world where suffering is visible. I saw all the time people that I would have liked to have opened up my car window and given them a couple bucks. I’m a cheerful giver. Was I being tested to see if I would actually do something?
Luke 17 talks about grace and gratitude over pride
Forgive endlessly: Forgive without limit Jesus’s command and correction to forgive repeatedly. It calls for a radical extension of grace in our personal relationship. God has been so graceful to us and we are so quick—at least I am—to temporarily lose my temper.
Serve humbly: Humility is so important. Emphasize humble obedience and reject entitlement. If we have actual talents in the arts and music and whatever if we have actual talents to contribute to the world don’t sit on them. I haven’t done any painting in a while think about going back to it.
Practice gratitude: Gratitude turns nothing into something it turns pain into deliverance. The story of the ten lepers urges daily thankfulness to deepen our relationship with God.
Luke 18 again humility and vigilance
Pray persistently: The persistent widow parable encourages steadfast prayer trusting God’s just response. Do we talk to God or do we talk with God?
The Pharisee and the tax collector: Warned against self-righteousness calling for a contrite heart.
Put God first: The rich ruler encounter challenges consumerist values showing that divine help enables true discipleship. Don’t be prideful or complacent. The love of money can directly prevent us from fully embracing a life of discipleship. What is impossible with humans is possible with God.
Prayer For Whomsoevers – Teach us how to live dear Lord. If we have one request if we have one request to You and one message to the world of whomsoever we are let it be that we seek you out and in every moment with every breath we seek to live in your light and reflect your love. We may fail for we are broken and fallen but Lord let us never forget who we are and who’s Holy Name and Face we seek. That in every moment, Lord, we seek to narrow the breech which can never be crossed fully in this unholy, dark, fallen, sinful world but which is our life’s mission to…. narrow. In the Holy Name of Jesus we pray for humility, grace, forgiveness, the ability and desire to forgive and your righteousness and all the people say “Amen!”
Corroborating Scripture
1 Timothy 4:1 — “In later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits.” (Discernment)
1 Timothy 6:11 — “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” (Character)
Ephesians 6:11 — “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Armor)
Romans 12:2 — “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Transformation)
2 Timothy 4:7 — “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (Perseverance)
James 1:27 — “Keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (Holiness)
Matthew 7:13–14 — “Enter through the narrow gate… narrow is the way that leads to life.” (Narrow Way)
COMMENTARYIST CORNER:
“It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, but why he does it.” – A.W. Tozer
“It means a indefinite number… it implies a man must be in a constant readiness to forgive those who injure him. If God so loves the ‘whomsoever,’ how can we dare shut our hearts to a repentant brother?” Adam Clarke (on Luke 17:4 re endless forgiving)
