And the Apostles Said Unto the Lord, "Increase Our Faith" - Part 927

"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 you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's who shall give you that which is your own?" (Luke 16:10-13)

Continuing in Luke 16 --known as the parable of the unjust steward -- we learn that no servant can serve two masters. Why? Because "either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:13; Matthew 6:24)

In Matthew, Jesus takes this revelation one step further. Therein, He said, "Therefore, I say unto you. Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?" (Matthew 6:25-26)

Jesus continues, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought of raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toll not, neither do they spin ... and yet, I say unto you, "That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast in the oven, shall He not much more clothe you -- o ye, of little faith?" (Matthew 6:27-30)

"Therefore, take no thought, saying, "What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or Wherefore shall we be clothed?" For after all these things do the Gentiles seek -- [those who are not His chosen people] -- for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things." (Matthew 6:32)

"But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things SHALL be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) 

"For every good creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained." (I Timothy 4:4-6)

Therefore, as Jesus said, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." (Luke 16:10) There is no half-heartedness in serving Jesus if we serve Him with all our heart, our soul, our minds and our strength. When we understand this, our heart's desire changes. Like the apostles, we say unto the Lord, "increase our faith" so that we can be faithful to our Lord God and Saviour in everything that we do.

This is why we are to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Jesus the Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. The worldly system, the religious traditions and rules that only serve to bind you from personally knowing and experiencing the goodness and mercy of our Lord God and Saviour. 

"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole Law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

[But] I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another ... For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Galatians 5:1-14)

Let him that has ears to hear, hear what Jesus is saying. Respond favorably to His call on your life -- ask Jesus to increase your faith so that we can wholeheartedly take hold of His promises -- because Jesus never fails. Never. He knows what we have need of even before we ask.

This is the message the unjust steward does not want you to learn. This is why he urgently worked to sign a deal that would keep your one foot in this world while trying to worship Jesus. 

More to come still. In the interim, stand in the offering plate.