Using your gifts for an eternal reward

Luke 16:9 (ESV) 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9 (NLT) 9 Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. So reading in Luke 16 we find the story of a dishonest man who is about to lose his job because his dishonesty was discovered by his boss. To be sure he won’t be out on the streets without means of income he further cheats his boss by going to those who owe his boss money and reduces the amount they owe. He does this so that they will welcome him into their homes after he is out of a job. The boss hears about this and acknowledges how shrewd the employee was. In verse 9 it almost sounds like God is saying this is how we are to behave but after much prayer and meditation on these verses this is the conclusion I have come to. God gives us the means to earn a living, all are abilities are His design so we do owe our ability to work to Him. So we earn money, what do we do with that money? We buy the things we have to have to live but here in the US we usually earn more than we have to have. Again I ask what do we do with our money? We usually buy the things we want. What if we looked around to see if someone else had a need that was not being meant? What is we helped others with what we have instead of putting our wants first? If we ‘used our worldly resources to benefit others’ what would the results be? Well, probably they would appreciate it and think well of us, a bond would be formed. It might be a testimony to them and help them see how they should treat others. It might be a lesson to our children as to how they should live. But I am thinking it also has eternal value. When we understand that the things of this world only benefit us in this world and have no eternal value. If we use the things God has given us for His glory it has eternal value, if we use the things we have for our benefit it only lasts for this lifetime. This isn’t just stuff, it’s talents and abilities. One more thought. You know when we have a need ourselves and someone offers to help but we, in our foolish pride, say we can take care of it ourselves we deny another of the gift of using their talents and abilities for the Lord. Just saying!

Adoption into the family

Imagine with me if you will a family offering to adopt a teenage child. Let’s call the child Frank. Now Frank was living in a less than good environment and he hears that this family wants to adopt him. They offer him a home with loving parents who will meet all his needs. Frank thinks that this sounds like a good idea and accepts the offer. The family gives him a rule book so that he will know what is expected of him. However he does not want to take the time to read the book. He wants someone else to read it and tell him what it says. After hearing some of the book he decides he wants to stay right where he is, living the life he has been living but he wants everybody to know he is part of this other family. My question is: is he really a part of that family? Every household had rules so that it can function well. There also are things each person has to do to help the home function well. And that is why Frank does not want to actually go and live in this home, he does not want anyone else to tell him how he can live, he does not want anyone to expect him to do anything he does not want to do. My question is, are we like Frank? Do we want to be called Christian but not put in the effort to learn the rules for ourselves, to actually read the book ourselves? Do we expect a preacher to tell us what the book says? Do we think it is ok to decide what we can and can’t do? Do we understand that in a home there are things that need to be done and if we have the ability we are the ones who should be doing them? If Frank’s situation were presented to a judge, would that judge declare that Frank was part of that family? Oh he has the papers signed but honestly is he part of the family? Just saying!

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. I guess I really should take the time to tell you that I believe I know ‘Why Am I Here Anyway’ Have you ever thought of something you would like to make, it could be a meal, maybe you knit or crochet or quilt or something like that, maybe you paint or even have a garden. So, there is a picture in your head of how it should look. And so you begin to make it. Sometimes things go right where you want them to and sometimes it requires a lot of effort to accomplish what you are trying to do. But once the job is done and you can step back and look at it that is when your efforts are rewarded. If it has turned out how you wanted it to or even better than you thought it might, how does that make you feel? When it does not turn out how you wanted it to, how does that make you feel? What if God has given us the abilities to make stuff just so that He can help us see how He feels about us? According to Eph 2:10 we are His workmanship. When we allow Him is mold us into the picture He has in His head of what we should be like He is happy. But how often to we resist His will in our lives??? Look at that verse again, we love the fact that we were created in Christ Jesus but we miss the for good works. It blows my mind to think that God has this plan, things He wants done and he allows me to be part of His plan. He actually wants to work through me. Now that gives life purpose. So, there you have it. I was created to do God’s will. Sure wish I would remember that 24 7! How about you.

does God get angry?

I heard someone say that being angry is a human quality not Godly. If only people would read the Bible they would get to know God. Psalm 2:1-5 (NLT) 1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? 2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. 3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” 4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. Just wondering if as a human I can have any emotion my God has not righteously had??? I was made in His image after all.