Welcome to our new project, the Daily Bible Devotional. The goal is to help you understand and apply

scripture as you go through a New Testament Bible read five days a week, Monday through Friday,

as we move from Matthew straight through to Revelation. In under four minutes each morning, we will recap the chapter,

make some application, present thought questions for the day, and offer a prayer together.

I'm excited about exploring God's word with you, so let's get started.

Welcome back for our study today from Luke the 16th chapter. Jesus shares a parable about a manager who squanders a rich man's possessions. Before being fired, he goes out and reduces debt for people who owe the rich man in hopes that they will care for him after he is punished. The rich man praises the manager for his shrewdness.

The point is, we should use what we have now for righteous acts so that we can be taken care of

in heaven later. Otherwise, if we're unwise now, we will end up with nothing. This parable is told

because the Pharisees love money. Jesus then shares the story of the

rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus has nothing in this life, but enjoys comfort in heaven. The rich man has much,

shares little, and ends up begging for mercy and torment. The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.

Many are foolish and selfish with it and create many problems in their lives.

We should think of money as a tool used to joyfully serve God and others now,

ensuring a heavenly reward later.

In the final parable, Lazarus rests in Abraham's bosom because,

though physically poor, he was rich in faith. The rich man in torment would give every cent he had

to be right with God, but he had nothing left to give. During his life, he knew God's law of mercy,

but he was too busy enjoying his money.

This story emphasizes a fundamental teaching of Jesus. We cannot serve God and wealth.

Let's look at that further with a few questions. Number one, how does your relationship with money change when it is seen as simply an asset

to show faith to God and lay up eternal treasures? So I know that on that, some of the people I know

who have the least amount of money are the most understanding of this that they have it to give.

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