HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1310
LU KE 1 7
8 “The rich man had to admire the dishonest
rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the
children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the
children of the light. 9 Here’s the lesson: Use your
worldly resources to benefit others and make
friends. Then, when your possessions are gone,
they will welcome you to an eternal home.*
10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will
be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest
in little things, you won’t be honest with greater
responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy
about worldly wealth, who will trust you with
the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not
faithful with other people’s things, why should
you be trusted with things of your own?
13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will
hate one and love the other; you will be devoted
to one and despise the other. You cannot serve
God and be enslaved to money.”
14 The Pharisees, who dearly loved their
money, heard all this and scoffed at him. 15 Then
he said to them, “You like to appear righteous
in public, but God knows your hearts. What this
world honors is detestable in the sight of God.
16 “Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses
and the messages of the prophets were your
guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom
of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get
in.* 17 But that doesn’t mean that the law has lost
its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God’s law
to be overturned.
18 “For example, a man who divorces his wife
and marries someone else commits adultery.
And anyone who marries a woman divorced
from her husband commits adultery.”
• Honesty &
Integrity
LU KE 1 6 :1 0
Money matters will often put our character to the test. God calls us to be honest
even in the smaller matters that are
easily covered up or explained away. If
we make a habit of cheating in the small
things, we forget the seriousness of any
kind of dishonesty. In moral matters, the
consequences are weighty even if the
actual substance of the action is of little
value. The amount of money stolen may
make a difference in the magnitude of our
punishment if we are caught, but it is the
dishonesty itself that God judges. Don’t
let your integrity fail you in small matters,
and it will not fail you in crucial ones.
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Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who
was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen
and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate
lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing
for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs
would come and lick his open sores.
22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried
by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet.* The rich man also died and was
buried, 23 and he went to the place of the dead.*
There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far
distance with Lazarus at his side.
24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham,
have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip
the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.
I am in anguish in these flames.’
25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing.
So now he is here being comforted, and you
are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great
chasm separating us. No one can cross over to
you from here, and no one can cross over to us
from there.’
27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father
Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home.
28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to
warn them so they don’t end up in this place of
torment.’
29 “But Abra ham said, ‘ Moses and the
prophets have warned them. Your brothers can
read what they wrote.’
30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the
dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn
to God.’
31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen
to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Teachings about Forgiveness and Faith
One day Jesus said to his disciples,
“There will always be temptations to sin,
but what sorrow awaits the person who does the
tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into
the sea with a millstone hung around your neck
than to cause one of these little ones to fall into
sin. 3 So watch yourselves!
“If another believer* sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even
if that person wrongs you seven times a day and
each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you
must forgive.”
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how
to increase our faith.”
6 The Lord answered, “If you had faith even
17
16:9 Or you will be welcomed into eternal homes. 16:16 Or
everyone is urged to enter in. 16:22 Greek to Abraham’s
bosom. 16:23 Greek to Hades. 17:3 Greek If your brother.