His challenge is quite simple: Do you consider yourself a child of God? Is everything you have been given to you by Him? Then how you use what you have should reflect your desire to please Him. This chapter begins with a clear challenge; Fear God. We are to fear God because He is the One who will determine our destination for eternity and the quality of that eternal state.
Secondly there is a challenge to avoid hypocrisy and greed. Hypocrisy is saying one thing and doing a different thing. Jesus was specifically talking about the pharisees and later described their "hypocrisy" specifically as greed. They defined the quality of their life according to their possessions rather than their obedience to God. They generally were faithful "tithers" but were never rich toward God. Giving to the poor would have been one of the last things they would have done with their money.
Finally Jesus described what life will be like for those who fail to live and give for eternity! When He returns, they will be left without a blessing. In essence, their life will have amounted to nothing. But for those who are eagerly waiting and living for His return, a blessing and a great reward will be theirs to have forever.
Live today like you believe these words of Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment