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Prosperity & Inheritance of Children — Psalm 25 #2

Psalm 25 New Living Translation (NLT)

A psalm of David.

O Lord, I give my life to you.
    I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
    or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
    but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Show me the right path, O Lord;
    point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God who saves me.
    All day long I put my hope in you.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
    which you have shown from long ages past.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
    Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
    for you are merciful, O Lord.

Psalm 25:6-7

The Lord is good and does what is right;
    he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right,
    teaching them his way.
10 The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
    all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

11 For the honor of your name, O Lord,
    forgive my many, many sins.
12 Who are those who fear the Lord?
    He will show them the path they should choose.
13 They will live in prosperity,
    and their children will inherit the land.
14 The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
    He teaches them his covenant.
15 My eyes are always on the Lord,
    for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

Psalm 25:11-15

References & reflections

[1] https://courageworldwide.org/inheriting-the-land-march-tanzania-update/

Financial Decisions With Eternal Consequences! — Francis Chan Christ’s Crazy Love Ministry

Luke 16 Parable of the Shrewd Manager!

Luke 16 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

“‘Nine hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels[b] of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Luke 16:13

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

Luke 16

References & reflections

[1] https://bibleaboutmoneyfinance.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/e0211-2016-11-13parables239-shrewdmanagerluke16_1-172811.13.201629.pdf
[2] https://1fear.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/52514-modern-parables-3-the-shrewd-manager/
[3] https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/2220/prominent-theologians-answer-to-what-is-the-parable-of-the-shrewd-manager-ab
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Unjust_Steward

Sold Out! Selling Possessions to the Poor for Perfection — Matthew 19 #5

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” – 1st Timothy 6:7
We actually own nothing! All things belong and are under God’s Sovereignty and control

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Matthew 19:21

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 19:24

References & reflections

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/camel-eye-needle.html
[2] https://www.thejoshlink.com/article290.htm
[3] https://parablesreception.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-eye-of-needle-is-not-gate.html
[4] https://johndavies.typepad.com/blog/love-comes-blinking-through-the-needles-eye.html
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_7:13

Inherit Eternal Life: Leaving Everything and Ever-Lasting Promise — Matthew 19 #4

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Promise of Eternal Life, Returns and Rewards Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:28-30

30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

References & reflections

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/camel-eye-needle.html
[2] https://www.thejoshlink.com/article290.htm
[3] https://parablesreception.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-eye-of-needle-is-not-gate.html
[4] https://johndavies.typepad.com/blog/love-comes-blinking-through-the-needles-eye.html
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_7:13
[6] https://www.gotquestions.org/first-last-last-first.html
[7] https://bibleaboutmoney.finance.blog/2020/02/21/eye-of-a-needle-narrow-path-kingdom-of-god-matthew-19-1/

Eternity: Everything with God is a Possibility — Matthew 19 #2

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Promise of Eternal Life, Returns and Rewards Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:28-30

30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

References & reflections

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/camel-eye-needle.html
[2] https://www.thejoshlink.com/article290.htm
[3] https://parablesreception.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-eye-of-needle-is-not-gate.html
[4] https://johndavies.typepad.com/blog/love-comes-blinking-through-the-needles-eye.html
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_7:13
[6] https://www.gotquestions.org/first-last-last-first.html
[7] https://bibleaboutmoney.finance.blog/2020/02/21/eye-of-a-needle-narrow-path-kingdom-of-god-matthew-19-1/

Eye of a Needle, Narrow Path, Kingdom of God — Matthew 19 #1

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Matthew 19:21

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 19:24

References & reflections

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/camel-eye-needle.html
[2] https://www.thejoshlink.com/article290.htm
[3] https://parablesreception.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-eye-of-needle-is-not-gate.html
[4] https://johndavies.typepad.com/blog/love-comes-blinking-through-the-needles-eye.html
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_7:13

Prostitute of Proverbs: Pay Attention to Parents’ Wisdom — Proverbs 5 #1

Whore of Babylon – Spirit of Adultery

Proverbs 5

Warning Against Adultery

1My son, pay attention to my wisdom,

turn your ear to my words of insight,

2that you may maintain discretion

and your lips may preserve knowledge.

3For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,

and her speech is smoother than oil;

4but in the end she is bitter as gall,

sharp as a double-edged sword.

5Her feet go down to death;

her steps lead straight to the grave.

6She gives no thought to the way of life;

her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.

7Now then, my sons, listen to me;

do not turn aside from what I say.

8Keep to a path far from her,

do not go near the door of her house,

9lest you lose your honor to others

and your dignity a to one who is cruel,

10lest strangers feast on your wealth

and your toil enrich the house of another.

Proverbs 5:1-10

God’s Grace and Forgiveness

Jesus and the sinful woman

The Parable of the Two Sons

28“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

29“ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

31“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Matthew 21:28-32

qUESTIONS ON PROSTITUTION IN THE bible?

  1. What does the Bible say about adultery? – ActiveChristianity
  2. What Does the Bible Say About Adultery? – OpenBible.info
  3. Sacred Prostitution in the Story of Judah and Tamar? – Biblical …
  4. https://www.gotquestions.org/prostitution-Bible.html
  5. https://www.gotquestions.org/whoremonger.html
  6. https://www.gotquestions.org/spirit-of-prostitution.html
  7. https://www.gotquestions.org/Hosea-marry-prostitute.html

References & reflections

[1] Women in Jesus’ Genealogy – The Good Book Blog – Biola …
[2] Prostitutes, Mistresses, and the Messiah | Desiring God
[3] Topical Bible: Women: Tamar, in Her Adultery – Bible Hub
[4] https://www.thecompassnews.org/2012/12/jesus-genealogy-the-bad-girls-in-the-family-tree/
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_and_the_woman_taken_in_adultery
[6] https://frankboulet.wordpress.com/2019/03/20/tax-collectors-prostitutes/
[7] Matthew 21:23-32

Stop Working for the Rich! Work for Jesus Proverbs 22

On Life and Conduct

Proverbs 22:16

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Proverbs 22:16

References & reflections

[1] http://www.thechristianleftblog.org/blog-home/greed-oppression-of-the-poor-by-k-scott-schaeffer
[2] https://www.compassion.com/poverty/what-the-bible-says-about-poverty.htm