Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Thursday after Reminiscere

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. Luke 16:10-18 (NKJV)

10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? 13 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.”

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 16 The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. 18 Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.”

Devotion

The main theme of this passage is the assessment of priorities for the believer. As we know, possessions are not wicked of themselves, but what is important is the use we make of them. To squander possessions that are yours and ultimately God’s, is not just to waste those things but also to be unfaithful to God. It is also failing to discipline oneself to be the best disciple one can be. People like this display a pattern of behavior. Those who tend to misuse little things or earthly things tend to do so with heavenly treasures.

A man who loves his motorcycle or snowmobile or whatever out of propriety often will be neglectful with regard to the Word and Sacraments. The true treasures of this life are the mysteries of God, those things which give eternal life. Possessions can be used faithfully to advance the kingdom of God or they can become idols drawing us away from Christ, drawing us away from Word and Sacraments, drawing us away from Him Who should be the paramount focus of our lives.

God’s calculus, His valuation of things is much different than the world’s. We are to conform ourselves to His system of values so that we may share eternity’s blessings with Him. “O children of Adam, buy for yourselves those things that do not pass away, by means of those temporary things that are not yours!”

Lord, God, help us to be faithful in all that we do and with all we possess that we may honor you each day of our lives. Amen.

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