Word@Work Luke250 - Luke 16:13-15
Published: Tue, 12/07/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
WORSHIP AND MONEY
Luke 16:13-15 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight." (NIV)
'Worship' is an interesting English word. It is all about the 'worth' or value that is given to a person or object. If we worship, it is because we consider the thing or person to be of such precious value that we choose to alter our lifestyle to make room for it to control the rest of our lives. In that sense, we may 'worship' possessions, friends, ideas, or even ourselves in varying degrees. What interests God, is whether we worship Him above all else: when we don't, those objects of worship become idols - false gods. The only true God can never take second place to any idol, or even share glory with an idol (Isaiah 42:8). If we want an idol, we can't expect God's favour.
Jesus had been speaking about money to Pharisees who were obsessed with getting and staying rich. He concluded by telling them that money had become their god ... and therefore they had no meaningful relationship with God Himself. You cannot truly worship both God and money. So, although they sneered at Jesus, His response exposed their hearts. He said that even though they tried to justify their motives, God detested people who valued money more than they valued Him! It is simply not possible to have your life controlled by money and by God at the same time. Whichever is given top place will be loved, and the other hated.
This is still a problem for Christians. Unless we understand how strongly Jesus feels about it, we will never get our priority right in worship. We might go to church and yet be worshipping money in our heart; and God hates that. We might even be involved in spiritual ministry but if our hearts are full of money worries, money lust or money satisfaction - money has become our idol. How can we get right with God about it? If it has such a hold on our hearts, give it away! It is better to lose material things than to lose friendship with our Maker. When a money-grabber becomes a money-giver, then the world will know that the gospel has power to save. And don't forget that true faith in Jesus will include a confidence that God will meet every need (Philippians 4:19), and that is a powerful witness to the world that you have forsaken old idols in order to serve the true and living God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Any other life-motivation means that your profession of faith in Jesus is not whole hearted ... indeed it is a lie.
Prayer: Father God. Thank You for this wake-up call, alerting me to the spiritual dangers of trusting my money, job, possessions and earning power. Forgive me when money has become my idol, expelling You from the centre of my life. Please help me to deal with money in a Godly way and to worship You above all else. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
'Worship' is an interesting English word. It is all about the 'worth' or value that is given to a person or object. If we worship, it is because we consider the thing or person to be of such precious value that we choose to alter our lifestyle to make room for it to control the rest of our lives. In that sense, we may 'worship' possessions, friends, ideas, or even ourselves in varying degrees. What interests God, is whether we worship Him above all else: when we don't, those objects of worship become idols - false gods. The only true God can never take second place to any idol, or even share glory with an idol (Isaiah 42:8). If we want an idol, we can't expect God's favour.
Jesus had been speaking about money to Pharisees who were obsessed with getting and staying rich. He concluded by telling them that money had become their god ... and therefore they had no meaningful relationship with God Himself. You cannot truly worship both God and money. So, although they sneered at Jesus, His response exposed their hearts. He said that even though they tried to justify their motives, God detested people who valued money more than they valued Him! It is simply not possible to have your life controlled by money and by God at the same time. Whichever is given top place will be loved, and the other hated.
This is still a problem for Christians. Unless we understand how strongly Jesus feels about it, we will never get our priority right in worship. We might go to church and yet be worshipping money in our heart; and God hates that. We might even be involved in spiritual ministry but if our hearts are full of money worries, money lust or money satisfaction - money has become our idol. How can we get right with God about it? If it has such a hold on our hearts, give it away! It is better to lose material things than to lose friendship with our Maker. When a money-grabber becomes a money-giver, then the world will know that the gospel has power to save. And don't forget that true faith in Jesus will include a confidence that God will meet every need (Philippians 4:19), and that is a powerful witness to the world that you have forsaken old idols in order to serve the true and living God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Any other life-motivation means that your profession of faith in Jesus is not whole hearted ... indeed it is a lie.
Prayer: Father God. Thank You for this wake-up call, alerting me to the spiritual dangers of trusting my money, job, possessions and earning power. Forgive me when money has become my idol, expelling You from the centre of my life. Please help me to deal with money in a Godly way and to worship You above all else. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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