He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the
true riches? Luk 16:10-11
true riches? Luk 16:10-11
If you are not faithful in the small matters pertaining to this world, if you do not use aright your property and influence, you cannot expect that God will commit to you the true riches of his grace. Men who are dishonest and worldly, and who do not employ the deceitful mammon as they ought, cannot expect to grow in grace. God does not confer grace upon them, and their being unfaithful in earthly matters is evidence that they “would be” also in much greater affairs, and would likewise “misimprove” the true riches.
True riches - The graces of the gospel; the influences of the Spirit; eternal life, or religion. The riches of this world are false, deceitful, not to be trusted Luk_16:9; the treasures of heaven are “true,” faithful, never-failing, Mat_6:19-20. (Albert Barnes)
Luk 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
True riches - The graces of the gospel; the influences of the Spirit; eternal life, or religion. The riches of this world are false, deceitful, not to be trusted Luk_16:9; the treasures of heaven are “true,” faithful, never-failing, Mat_6:19-20. (Albert Barnes)
Luk 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
TRUE TREASURES
When Christ said these words, were there young people standing by? If so, they must have sounded very strange in their ears. For youth does not realize that life on earth grows pale, nor in the midst of its treasures dreams that the day will come when they shall fail. But on the ears of older men and women His words fell with a profound meaning. They struck home to that which is bitterest in human life; more sharply felt, because more constant, than even the special sorrows which, breaking in from time to time on life, still leave us intervals of peace. It is the sense of the passing away of all things, the knowledge that day by day and hour by hour the moth and rust are at work; that time, as it slips by, steals with it our treasures, and with them our heart out of our bosom.
What are those true treasures which can never be exhausted? It is time we should seek and find these things, if they may be found. Do they exist? Oh, yes! There are things immortal, ever young. No moth corrupts the garment of a pure spirit; no rust consumes the armor of God—the shield of faith, the sandals of the Gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of truth. No thief can rob us of the love of God, the knowledge of His will, the peace of Christ and His joy, which the world cannot give or take.
The first of these treasures is Truth, and its correlative, Constancy; for that which is true endures all shocks. Give half the intensity to it you give to money or fame or human love, and it is yours—nay, give to its pursuit one week of the same consuming thought you give to anything you set your heart on, and it is yours for ever.
And righteousness, treasure of treasures, lord of all other treasures, protector and securer of all we care for upon earth, win it at all costs. For it is sin that is the rust and the moth that devour the joys and welfare of our lives.
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." The desire of earth will be towards heaven, because there will be full enjoyment there of these perfect things. We want fulfilment; we must have perfection, fulness of love and truth and purity, to be filled with all the fulness of God. Nothing less than that will satisfy the boundless thirst of the human soul. It is like the gulf in the Forum—till the most precious treasure is cast into it, it will not close. Therefore we cannot rest; therefore all the whole earth cannot give peace to one of us. Where our treasure is, not only our heart’s desire, but our very selves shall be at last.
(S. A. Brooke, The Fight of Faith, p. 307)
See also- Mat_19:21; Isa_33:6; Luk_12:33, Luk_18:22; 1Ti_6:17; Heb_10:34, Heb_11:26; Jas_2:5; 1Pe_1:4, 1Pe_5:4; Rev_2:9
Conclusion:
This devotion is being put here in the Prayer Closet, because this subject is of the most important in our walk in this world, and how we apply it in our daily lives-and live it out. When it comes to the mana of this world-how should we pray about our own personal needs? Paul gives good advice:
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Breaking this down for understanding:
Be careful for nothing. See Revision. The meaning is, "Have no distressing anxiety about anything. "Care-full" used to mean "full of care." Compare Mat_6:25.
But in everything, etc. Instead of anxiety, just lay the case before God, and trust him to do all things well. Three elements enter into the appeal to God: Prayer, the outpouring of the soul; supplication, stating our wants; thanksgiving; we must always come to God, not in a complaining spirit, but with thankfulness for present mercies.
And the peace of God. The peace that comes by putting all in the hands of the one who is able and willing to deliver. Whenever we fully trust the Lord there comes a peace that is past the understanding of those who have never experienced it.
Shall keep your hearts. That peace will be a guard which will keep the heart and thoughts holy and pure.
And, a corresponding verse that applies to this:
Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
See also: supply: Gen_48:15; Deu_8:3-4; Neh_9:15; Psa_23:1-5, Psa_41:1-3, Psa_84:11, Psa_112:5-9; Pro_3:9-10, Pro_11:24-25; Mal_3:10; Luk_12:30-33; 2Co_9:8-11
according: Psa_36:8, Psa_104:24, Psa_130:7; Rom_9:23, Rom_11:33; Eph_1:7, Eph_1:18, Eph_2:7, Eph_3:8, Eph_3:16; Col_1:27, Col_3:16; 1Ti_6:17
glory: Rom_8:18; 2Co_4:17; 1Th_2:12; 1Pe_5:1, 1Pe_5:10
According to his riches - His fullness is infinite; and through Christ, whose followers we are, he will dispense every requisite blessing of providence, grace, and glory, to you. (Albert Barnes)
In walking with the Lord for over 45 yrs., and applying these verses to my prayer life, I've never seen God fail to meet the need-whether it be financial, or any other need. Now, the emphasis is on "our needs", not all our wants. There have been times when I've asked for, and moved in the direction to achieve something and found the door closed, and the answer seemed to be "No". I've learned over the years that when this happens, it is God's protection over my life-there's a good reason He's saying no, it's for my own good. Either there is something wrong with the situation, and He's blocking me from getting into trouble, or showing me I don't really need the thing I'm trying to attain. It's important to stop, and pray when things don't seem to be going the way you think it should. God always has our good in mind. It's best to use wisdom, and don't try to force the door open. Let it go, and let your prayer be "Your will be done".
There's a great deal of manipulating and merchandizing among ministries, that boils down to gluttony and greed; but they will not admit it to themselves. I know there are some large ministries that are honest, and work with integrity, but, sadly there's also a lot of them that don't.
Living a surrendered life brings the benefits Jesus talks about regarding the true riches of the Kingdom. The most important of them to me is-my personal walk with Jesus, and peace of mind. If you seek them, and come to the place that you've gotten a glimpse of what Jesus means-you won't want to be deceived, and will be quick to discern when your getting off course. Staying in His word, and in prayer on these issues will keep your feet on the path of righteousness.
May this be true, for you
Lorna Couillard
What are those true treasures which can never be exhausted? It is time we should seek and find these things, if they may be found. Do they exist? Oh, yes! There are things immortal, ever young. No moth corrupts the garment of a pure spirit; no rust consumes the armor of God—the shield of faith, the sandals of the Gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of truth. No thief can rob us of the love of God, the knowledge of His will, the peace of Christ and His joy, which the world cannot give or take.
The first of these treasures is Truth, and its correlative, Constancy; for that which is true endures all shocks. Give half the intensity to it you give to money or fame or human love, and it is yours—nay, give to its pursuit one week of the same consuming thought you give to anything you set your heart on, and it is yours for ever.
And righteousness, treasure of treasures, lord of all other treasures, protector and securer of all we care for upon earth, win it at all costs. For it is sin that is the rust and the moth that devour the joys and welfare of our lives.
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." The desire of earth will be towards heaven, because there will be full enjoyment there of these perfect things. We want fulfilment; we must have perfection, fulness of love and truth and purity, to be filled with all the fulness of God. Nothing less than that will satisfy the boundless thirst of the human soul. It is like the gulf in the Forum—till the most precious treasure is cast into it, it will not close. Therefore we cannot rest; therefore all the whole earth cannot give peace to one of us. Where our treasure is, not only our heart’s desire, but our very selves shall be at last.
(S. A. Brooke, The Fight of Faith, p. 307)
See also- Mat_19:21; Isa_33:6; Luk_12:33, Luk_18:22; 1Ti_6:17; Heb_10:34, Heb_11:26; Jas_2:5; 1Pe_1:4, 1Pe_5:4; Rev_2:9
Conclusion:
This devotion is being put here in the Prayer Closet, because this subject is of the most important in our walk in this world, and how we apply it in our daily lives-and live it out. When it comes to the mana of this world-how should we pray about our own personal needs? Paul gives good advice:
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Breaking this down for understanding:
Be careful for nothing. See Revision. The meaning is, "Have no distressing anxiety about anything. "Care-full" used to mean "full of care." Compare Mat_6:25.
But in everything, etc. Instead of anxiety, just lay the case before God, and trust him to do all things well. Three elements enter into the appeal to God: Prayer, the outpouring of the soul; supplication, stating our wants; thanksgiving; we must always come to God, not in a complaining spirit, but with thankfulness for present mercies.
And the peace of God. The peace that comes by putting all in the hands of the one who is able and willing to deliver. Whenever we fully trust the Lord there comes a peace that is past the understanding of those who have never experienced it.
Shall keep your hearts. That peace will be a guard which will keep the heart and thoughts holy and pure.
And, a corresponding verse that applies to this:
Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
See also: supply: Gen_48:15; Deu_8:3-4; Neh_9:15; Psa_23:1-5, Psa_41:1-3, Psa_84:11, Psa_112:5-9; Pro_3:9-10, Pro_11:24-25; Mal_3:10; Luk_12:30-33; 2Co_9:8-11
according: Psa_36:8, Psa_104:24, Psa_130:7; Rom_9:23, Rom_11:33; Eph_1:7, Eph_1:18, Eph_2:7, Eph_3:8, Eph_3:16; Col_1:27, Col_3:16; 1Ti_6:17
glory: Rom_8:18; 2Co_4:17; 1Th_2:12; 1Pe_5:1, 1Pe_5:10
According to his riches - His fullness is infinite; and through Christ, whose followers we are, he will dispense every requisite blessing of providence, grace, and glory, to you. (Albert Barnes)
In walking with the Lord for over 45 yrs., and applying these verses to my prayer life, I've never seen God fail to meet the need-whether it be financial, or any other need. Now, the emphasis is on "our needs", not all our wants. There have been times when I've asked for, and moved in the direction to achieve something and found the door closed, and the answer seemed to be "No". I've learned over the years that when this happens, it is God's protection over my life-there's a good reason He's saying no, it's for my own good. Either there is something wrong with the situation, and He's blocking me from getting into trouble, or showing me I don't really need the thing I'm trying to attain. It's important to stop, and pray when things don't seem to be going the way you think it should. God always has our good in mind. It's best to use wisdom, and don't try to force the door open. Let it go, and let your prayer be "Your will be done".
There's a great deal of manipulating and merchandizing among ministries, that boils down to gluttony and greed; but they will not admit it to themselves. I know there are some large ministries that are honest, and work with integrity, but, sadly there's also a lot of them that don't.
Living a surrendered life brings the benefits Jesus talks about regarding the true riches of the Kingdom. The most important of them to me is-my personal walk with Jesus, and peace of mind. If you seek them, and come to the place that you've gotten a glimpse of what Jesus means-you won't want to be deceived, and will be quick to discern when your getting off course. Staying in His word, and in prayer on these issues will keep your feet on the path of righteousness.
May this be true, for you
Lorna Couillard
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