“He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”
Luke 16:15 (NIV)
You can’t play games with God.
We can fool people, and we can fool ourselves - but God sees right through us.
The Pharisees had themselves fooled into believing they loved God, and that their wealth was their reward from God for their righteousness. Our Lord Jesus could see their hearts, He knew they loved money and He knew that they placed a high value on the
“rewards” in this life of wealth and easy living.
The parable of the shrewd manager teaches us that money has been given to us to be used to make friends in heaven.
Will I have any friends in heaven?
Have I spent or given any money towards the kingdom of God?
How many friends will I have in heaven?
One, ten, twenty, a hundred, a thousand?
The story of the beggar and the rich man flips up-side down the assumption of the Pharisees that wealth is proof of righteousness in God’s eyes.
The beggar is in heaven, and the rich man is in Hades.
They didn’t accept this, for they didn’t believe Moses and the Prophets, and they don’t believe Jesus now, nor will they believe when Christ rose from the grave.
Faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us is highly valued by God.
Not wealth, homes, food, and lifestyle.
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