For he that enters into His rest also ceases from his own works, as God did from His- Part 929

"If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?" (Luke 16:11)

There are those within our religious culture today who believe that the riches referred to in Jesus' parables are all about money. Financial matters that pertain solely to the money constructs of this world. So let me say this. The King of kings is not interested in the monetary affairs of this world. How do we know this? 

Because when the King of kings -- Jesus -- and His disciples had come to Capernaum, He mocked the tax system. Indeed, when they that received tribute money came to Peter and said, "Doth not your Master pay tribute?" what did Jesus say?

"What thinkest thou Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of strangers?" Peter said to Jesus, "Of strangers." Then Jesus said unto him, "Then are the children free." (Matthew 17:24-26) In another translation of the scriptures, the wording is more exact: "Then the children are exempt."

We who believe in Jesus, and seek His righteousness, have been set free from the bondage that is of the world. How do we know this?

Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth SHALL make you free." (John 8:32)

What truth? His truth -- the good news gospel of Jesus Christ who shed His precious blood on the cross so that we would no longer be beholden to the traditions, constructs and worldly systems of man. Indeed, Jesus told the Jews, "If you continue in My Word, then are you My disciples indeed."

But the systems people in John 8 argued with Jesus, saying, "We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man. How sayest thou, "Ye shall be made free?" Just like the systems people in Matthew 17 demanded a temple tax when they asked Peter, "Doth your Master pay tribute?"

In this latter example, note what happens next. Jesus tells Peter to go down to the sea and cast a hook -- "and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money; that take, and give unto them for Me and thee." (Matthew 17:27) 

In other words, if the world wants a coin, we are to trust Jesus for our sustenance. I once read a comparative analogy where a loaf of bread had fallen from a truck ... but instead of recognizing that there was an entire loaf for the taking, the birds fought furiously for the crumbs that were on the road. Is this not the message that is portrayed in Luke 16? 

The rich man -- Jesus -- came to set us free so that we can stand fast in His liberty but the steward (who had already squandered his treasures) didn't want us to be free. Instead, he called every one of his lord's debtors to quickly negotiate a deal. One that would allow us to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table, rather than the immeasurable blessings that the Lord wants to bestow upon us for doing His will.

So what does being "free" or "exempt" as children of the Lord mean? 

First, there is no divided heart. There is no half-heartedness in those who seek Jesus.No serving two masters with one foot in the worldly construct (hoping to have enough bread to eat) while serving the earthly systems and constructs of this day. 

Instead, we serve our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ (who loved us even while we were sinners) with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Like the man who was blind from his birth, we believe that Jesus can heal us, and are willing to do what He asked. Willing to respond to His call -- Come, and I will make you fishers of men.

Why? Because we know in whom we have believed, and as such, there is nothing in this world that can even begin to satisfy.

Paul summarized this when he wrote: "Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are ye not my work in the Lord?" (I Corinthians 9:1)

This is why we are instructed to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise ... "redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." (Ephesians 5:18-17; Galatians 5:22) The same will that is -- "Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

Therefore, do not slumber in these last days. Instead, "awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet -- the hope of salvation, for God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." (I Thessalonians 5:1-10)

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord; walk as children of light. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord ... and having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them ... [for] all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 

Further, know that "ye brethren are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober ... for they that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that be drunken are drunken in the night ..."

This is critical because "even so then, [and] at this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works ... otherwise, grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace, otherwise, work is no more work." (Romans 11:1-6)

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly ... for scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Romans 5:1-11)

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, and not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:1-5)

More to come. In the interim, be faithful and rejoice evermore, being preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand in the offering plate.