Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 16 : 9-13 "HE WHO IS FAITHFUL IN WHAT IS LEAST... " Luke 16:10"
Day 195 – Luke 16
Text: Luke 16 : 9-13
“HE WHO IS FAITHFUL IN WHAT IS LEAST… ” Luke 16:10
Jesus sought to teach His Disciples to understand a very important principle in this discussion about wealth. Riches were not to be shunned or feared. The important lesson to be borne in mind was “faithfulness”.
Wealth is something that God is happy to give. However, the person must be one who was wise. He must also be one who walks in the paths of righteousness and justice (Proverbs 8:18, 20-21).
What is the meaning of the phrase, “faithful in what is least?” In the mind of Jesus, “material wealth” is included in this expression. Jesus taught His Disciples that God expects faithfulness in handling “what is least”.
To the world, wealth is just about everything. It is certainly not classified under “the least”. To God, “wealth” is NOT the most important thing, but still He requires faithfulness on the part of the person who is blessed by wealth.
Once again, let us consider a portion of Scriptures from the Book of Proverbs. We have this challenging thought about what it means to be faithful when we are blessed with material wealth.
“Honour the Lord with your possessions,
and with the firstfruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
Proverbs 3 : 9-10
What should we do with our possessions? What should we do with the firstfruits of our increase? The challenge is to be faithful. What does faithfulness include? The Scriptures teach us that we should honour the Lord with our possessions. Obviously when we are blessed with material wealth, we should always remember the Lord.
AN ANCIENT PRACTICE OF HONOURING GOD IN WORSHIP
Moses taught ancient Israel that they were to present their offerings to God. Those who were making their offerings were to say the following things to the priest receiving the offering on behalf of God.
“I declare today to the Lord your God
that I have come to the country which
the Lord swore to our fathers
to give us.”
Deuteronomy 26:3
The worshipper begins this ceremony of giving his offering by acknowledging his faith and gratitude to the Lord. It was the Lord who had blessed and led him into the Promised Land.
The priest in turn would receive the offering and place the offering before the altar of the Lord.
“Then the priest shall take the basket
out of your hand and set it down
before the altar of the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 26:4
It was the worshipper’s turn next. He was to say these words as if he was addressing God.
“My father (reference to Jacob) was a Syrian,
about to perish,
and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there,
Few in number, and there he became a nation,
Great, mighty, and populous.
But the Egyptians mistreated us,
Afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us.
Then we cried out to the Lord God of our fathers,
And the Lord heard our voice
And looked on our affliction and our labour
And our oppression.
So the Lord brought us out of Egypt
With a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm,
With great terror and with signs and wonders.
He has brought us to this place
And has given us this land,
A land flowing with milk and honey;
AND now, behold, I have brought
The firstfruits of the land which you,
O Lord, have given me.”
Deuteronomy 26:5-10
Moses went on to teach ancient Israel how to make an offering to God as part of grateful worship.
“Then you shall set it before the Lord your God,
and worship before the Lord your God.
So shall you rejoice in every good thing
Which the Lord your God has given to you
And your house, you and the Levite
And the stranger who is among you.”
Deuteronomy 26:10-11
Let us be challenged to honour God in grateful worship. Let each offering we make see us acknowledge God’s hand of blessing in our life. This is faithfulness indeed.