Thoughts On Luke 16

luke 16 study

"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."  {Verse 10}

Does this strike a cord in anyone's soul but mine out there?  There have been times I wonder, God why won't you provide?  in this or that way... or I may be impatient in the season of life.  For instance- being a mom.  Don't get me wrong, I love being a mom, but I am also excited about the desire I have, which I believe has been given to me by God, to write and challenge women in their journeys with God.  Obviously there is nothing wrong with excitement for the future.  But the problem lies in when I don't put my best effort forward in what God has given me responsibility to do now- being a mom.   I was just challenged with this the other day in my heart.  The thought went through my head that associates with this verse: If I can't do my God-given job now well, why would God bring me to a season of life where I would challenge other women to live out God's plan for them... which could be... being a mom!   It's like going to a hairdresser that has seriously bad hair issues and expecting them to do a good job on yours!  (Yes, this comes from a woman who has a hairstyling background!)  OK, so how about going to a dentist who has crooked teeth and has a build up of plaque that you can see before he gets up all in your face to do work!  Is that more relatable? Same deal.  If I can't be faithful in the "very little" (which I can assure you being a mom is much more than this) how can I be faithful in the "much"? This truth smacked me in the face.  I'm not saying I'm a crappy mom, I'm just saying I know in my heart I could do better.  

"If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead."  {Verse 31}

I loved this entire text (verses 19-31). I thought it was amazing.  There was a rich guy who had a poor guy sitting outside his mansion gates hoping for the scraps from his table.  Both men died.  The rich man went to hell because he did not believe in Jesus and the poor man went to heaven because he did.  We get this picture of the rich man experiencing torment and begging Abraham (a prophet from the Old Testament) to allow the poor man who is now in heaven to cool of his burning tongue with his finger.   The rich man then proceeded to beg Abraham to send someone from the dead to warn his family so they wouldn't go to hell and experience what he was.  But Abraham replied, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead." This is amazing, especially to a world searching so hard for a "sign" of God.  This passage states it clearly.  It's simple. The sign of God and the Messiah that came-Jesus- is His Word and what is spoken through the Prophets!  If people read the Bible and still don't believe in Jesus, than this text says, that pretty much nothing will convince them. 
I challenge you on this.  I don't know where you are spiritually.  I don't know if you are seeking a sign that Jesus is the only way.  But I do encourage you to read His word and seek Jesus through it.  Take this text as a warning- the rich man in hell begged Abraham to tell his family not to follow in his footsteps so they wouldn't experience the torment of hell.  Notice the rich man uses the word "repent" (verse 30).  Let this be your warning.  

~Leanne~