16:1-13 - Parable of the Dishonest Manager: Ah, money, it is so easy to get off track. What can we learn from this?
1) use money to prepare for the future.
2) Be generous with what you have been given.
3) Money will fail you - it will not provide you with eternal life, nor will it bring you true happiness.
16:14-17 - We are now under a New Covenant, but that doesn't mean we get to just do what ever we want. The Law is in place to keep us safe & protected. It provides a border for safe behavior.
16:19-31 - Lazarus & the Rich Man - One of my favorites - Lazarus was a beggar, ignored by the rich man. The rich man was too good, too busy, too selfish to help the poor man. Yet, it was the heart of the men that mattered to God. Lazarus went to heaven, the rich man to hell. But even in hell, the rich man thought he was better than Lazarus. He wanted Lazarus to work for him - bring him water, go & warn his family. The rich man's heart was completely corrupt, his eyes blind to the error of his ways. Will you be like the rich man or Lazarus? Will you focus on God or will you focus on yourself? Will you treat everyone as equals, or do you think you are better than someone else? The truth is right in front of us, we don't need someone to point it out. We just need to step outside of our own selfishness to pay attention to it.
17:1-10 - Simply advice on social issues:
1) Don't tempt or cause someone else to sin!
2) Forgive, forgive, forgive.
3) Don't ignore sin. If someone is on fire, you would put it out right? So, if they are destroying themselves - say something.
4) All it takes is a little seed of faith.
5) Don't do something for recognition. Do it because it is the right thing to do.
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