Unrighteousness Mammon...

 

Now Jesus was also saying to the disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a manager [of his estate], and accusations [against this man] were brought to him, that this man was squandering his [master's] possessions. 2 So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management [of my affairs], for you can no longer be [my] manager.' 3 The manager [of the estate] said to himself, ‘What will I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig [for a living], and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from the management, people [who are my master's debtors] will welcome me into their homes.' 5 So he summoned his master's debtors one by one, and he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?' 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of [olive] oil.' And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?' He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.' 8 And his master commended the unjust manager [not for his misdeeds, but] because he had acted shrewdly [by preparing for his future unemployment]; for the sons of this age [the non-believers] are shrewder in relation to their own kind [that is, to the ways of the secular world] than are the sons of light [the believers]. 9 And I tell you [learn from this], make friends for yourselves [for eternity] by means of the wealth of unrighteousness [that is, use material resources as a way to further the work of God], so that when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings.—Luke 16:1-9

Father...Help me to be wise!  Guide me by Your Holy Spirit to be a good steward of the “unrighteousness” mammon with which You have blessed me.   Help me to freely give what I have been freely given to further Your kingdom here on earth.  I do not want to trust in riches or in anything else but in You, the living God, who gives me richly all things to enjoy. Oh, help me to be gracious...to remember that whatever I do for one of my brothers or sisters here on earth...even the least of them...I do it for You.  He who gives to the poor lends to the Lord...the Lord will repay him for his good deed.  

32 "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.—Luke 12:32-34

Unite my heart, Father, to serve You and You alone!  You are my Treasure...You are the good and right foundation upon which my life is centered.  You are my all in all...my shield and my exceedingly great reward. May all I do and all I say here on this earth reflect to others Your beautiful, life-giving self sacrificing love.  

His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'—Matthew 25:23

23 Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints!

For the LORD preserves the faithful,

And fully repays the proud person.

24 Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart,

All you who hope in the LORD.—Psalm 31:23-24

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children's children,

18 To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.—Psalm 103:17-18

5 "Is a fast such as this what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself [with sorrow in his soul]?

Is it only to bow down his head like a reed

And to make sackcloth and ashes as a bed [pretending to have a repentant heart]?

Do you call this a fast and a day pleasing to the LORD?

6 "[Rather] is this not the fast which I choose,

To undo the bonds of wickedness,

To tear to pieces the ropes of the yoke,

To let the oppressed go free

And break apart every [enslaving] yoke?

7 "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry

And bring the homeless poor into the house;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not to hide yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?

8 "Then your light will break out like the dawn,

And your healing (restoration, new life) will quickly spring forth;

Your righteousness will go before you [leading you to peace and prosperity],

The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;

You will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.'

If you take away from your midst the yoke [of oppression],

The finger pointed in scorn [toward the oppressed or the godly], and [every form of] wicked (sinful, unjust) speech,

10 And if you offer yourself to [assist] the hungry

And satisfy the need of the afflicted,

Then your light will rise in darkness

And your gloom will become like midday.

11 "And the LORD will continually guide you,

And satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places,

And give strength to your bones;

And you will be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

12 "And your people will rebuild the ancient ruins;

You will raise up and restore the age-old foundations [of buildings that have been laid waste];

You will be called Repairer of the Breach,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.—Isaiah 58:5-12