30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 1-13 God's Regents 04 The virus of unrighteous mammon
📖 Luke 16:1-13
23Mar2020 - *The virus of unrighteous mammon* - _Luke 16:1-13_ - Bible reading: _I Timothy 6:9-10_
_Luke 16:8-9 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. (9) "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home._
We have begun the study of Luke 16:1-13. This parable is usually known as the parable of the dishonest steward but we will title this study as God’s regents. The rich man, in this parable, commended the dishonest manager for his prudence.
As we come to _vs 9_, we see the term, *unrighteous mammon*. The Lord is calling us to make friends by unrighteous mammon. What was the meaning of this instruction from our Lord?
Before we get into the Lord's instruction, let us first focus on the matter of mammon. We must realise that mammon has the potency to take the place of God in our lives. _Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."_ If our choices in life are driven by money then we can be certain as to who is our God. Is God truly God, for us, or has money become our god?
The danger is that we will be, outwardly, looking very spiritual but our hearts will be seeking personal gain. This is the virus, the virus of *unrighteous mammon*, that has infected many of us in the church. This is the virus that we need to be worried about. We need to go to God, pleading with Him that He will take away this terrible virus of seeking personal gain out of our system. _Ezekiel 33:31 So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain._
The infection of the virus of unrighteous mammon has fatal consequences. _I Timothy 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition._ Let us please understand that the word, perdition, has the meaning of a state of eternal punishment and damnation. Just claiming that I’m born again and so I will not face these consequences is foolish.
Let us please check our hearts, with the help of His Holy Spirit, who will convict us, correct us and teach us, God’s ways in our hearts. Thus, we will be healed of this virus of unrighteous mammon. _(10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows._ The virus of unrighteous mammon will cause us to wander away from our faith in Jesus.
_Proverbs 1:19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners._
*Thought to ponder*
```Lord, disinfect and cleanse me, my loved ones and the church from unrighteous mammon.```