30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 06 God rebukes and chastens those whom He loves
📖 Luke 16:19-31
09May2020 - *God rebukes and chastens those whom He loves* - _Luke 16:19-31_ - Bible reading: _Revelation 3:17-19_
_Luke 16:19-23 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. (20) But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,_
We have learnt some lessons considering the life of Lazarus, now let us shift our attention back to the rich man. He was self-centred and his self-centeredness was because he did not have the right perspective to money and the material things of life.
God has given all of us a small window of opportunity, as we live here on earth, _(very relevant with the current crisis)_ with the material resources that He places in our hands. He is testing every one of us to see if we will handle the material resources in God’s way by trusting Him and not be self-centred.
If we do not understand what God is doing but instead only think that God is blessing me and protecting me and my family, then we are warned. Let us recognize that the material resources that we have in our hands are not for us but to be made available to give our right hand to lift the people at our gates. Let us never forget, where the rich man arrived. This is our warning.
After the rich young ruler walked away from Jesus, the Lord gave this teaching to His disciples. Please note that this teaching was not to the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, but to His disciples, to us. _Mark 10:23-27 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" (24) And the disciples were astonished at His words._ The Lord is telling us that money has within it the power to trap us. Money is not just a neutral medium of exchange.
_But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!_ The danger with money is that it can knock out our trust in God if we have not learnt to bless others with the money that God has placed in our hands. _(25) It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (26) And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" (27) But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."_
_James 5:1-3 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! (2) Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. (3) Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days._
The Lord is speaking to His church. _Revelation 3:17-19 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— (18) I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire,_ Gold refined by fire refers to our faith, which is far more precious than gold refined by fire. Our relationship with God is built on our faith in Him. _that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (19) *As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten*. Therefore be zealous and repent._
_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._ This is what happened to the rich man. _(10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith_ If our eyes and our longing is on the material wellbeing of life then we will wander away from our faith in God. _in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows._
*Thought to ponder*
```Sadly, we have this tendency to think that the warning is for somebody else and not for me.```