Luke 16
1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
Our Lord is giving His disciples a parable about the power of wealth and serving others. Wealth comes in different forms. Some are monetary, wisdom and knowledge. They can be blessings or trouble according to how you use them. Both can build or destroy. Some build treasure for power, some for others. Some see themselves as needing more and some see what is needed for others. Some live for today, some for eternity or the life to come after this flesh is back to dust.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
The rich man wants to examine his wealth that his steward or accountant has been recording for him. If things don't add up properly for the rich man this accountant will be fired.
3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
Our Lord continuing is with the parable. The accountant is panicking inside because hard labor isn't his thing. He knows what he had done and now fears for his comfortable job.
4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
He is thinking when he is fired he might be found worthy with those that owe the rich man. Favor for a favor.
5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
What a nice buy. He is taking bills owed to the rich man and letting the bill holder owe half instead. He is robbing the rich man in order to save himself from working in a field or begging on the streets.
7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
Taking from the rich man something that isn't his to give.
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
Our Lord isn't saying this guy did a good thing. Evil people aren't stupid; they are wise in the ways of evil. They're rip-off professionals. Those who seek good grow at a slower rate of wisdom than those of the world. You know you spend more time with the world than God so what do you think is filling your mind? We live in a world surrounded by evil. We must grow in The Word DAILY or we are growing in the worldly.
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Walk in the ways of the world, feeding on the things of the world will bring you the world. That world belongs to the devil. John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. Without Christ in you, the prince of this world will fill that void. his spirit will trick you into believing false doctrines, conforming to political correctness, educating you in lies for truth, placing you into bondage's of religions. Most don't even know they follow his religions. That's ANYTHING other than Christ Jesus people. Only in Christ will you be on the right side of everlasting life.
10 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 you can’t be trusted with things, you won't have that much when it comes down to it. Our Father expects us to live His ways and true blessing come from Him. Our Father won't give more than we can handle. Some try to take what they are not given because it’s the evil that guides them instead of The Lord. Steal a little bit and you'll steal a lot. What our Fathers gives we must be wise and grateful in not wanting more but knowing we receive what we deserve. What has been opened to me now I wouldn't have known what to do with years ago. My blessings are in Truth and I feel wealth in it. Blessed beyond measure! This is why I pass what has been given to you, that you may be blessed in it in your time. †
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
You don't go from standing still on the side of the street, straight to being a good President. You would destroy the country because you never grew in wisdom just standing there. You must grow over time to show yourselves worthy to handle things. Moving in the [right] direction.
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
If you can't be trusted with others belongings our Father can't trust you with those blessings He would have given you.
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
You can't serve our Father while taking from others by ill gotten gains. Just because you call yourself a "Christian" doesn't mean you can fool God.
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
After our Lord Christ Jesus had said those things, these Pharisees felt a bit worried. Christ just pointed out you can't love money and The LORD and they need that money to look good while walking the streets. They don't care for Christ's words at all.
15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Taking from others to look good in front of others. All about prestige in the name of The LORD. If your car isn't new, if you're dressed without the best you're looked at as unworthy so they take to impress the ignorant and the stupid. God isn't impressed. You're an abomination to Him.
16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
The last prophet was John the baptist and these Scripture lawyers should have paid attention. They ignore The Law of God, twisting it into something they can use for self gain. Nothing new under the sun. "God says do this" or God says do that" when He never said it.
17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
The end of this flesh age is upon us and at that 7th trump we shall be changed. But The Law of God will continue to stay the same. Not one letter or period will change. His truth lives throughout eternity.
18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
You can't have it both ways. You must choose right or wrong. Good or evil. You can't change The Word of God into evil because it stands on its own in righteousness. Twist it all you want, it is void for you if you do. Look what they've done to His Word over time. Look at all those fake bibles, rewritten, loosing meaning. Example: Matthew 18:11 See for yourself, KJV vs. niv
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Our Lord is starting a new parable for us. This rich man has all the wealth you would want on earth. Living it up in the fleshly ways of humans, "Looking good".
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
On the opposite side we have someone sick and hurting. Always at the beggars gate looking for help. Anything to get him through the next day. Lazarus wasn't lazy, he is malnourished and that is causing more problems.
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
This poor man, sick and living in the dirt is waiting for anything to come his way. What hits the floor is usually what the dogs would get and he is willing to take that which is leftover from the dogs.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Notice the differences. The poor man lived a life without taking from others for his own gain and when he dies he goes to heaven carried by the angels. The rich man who lived by ill gotten gain died and he went somewhere entirely different. "Buried" representing darkness.
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The rich man sees the poor man way off in the distance. Both are not in the ground waiting. Both are in heaven, one with those who lived in righteousness, living Gods way and the other living for self, living in satans bondage, his deception. 2 Cor. 5:7-9 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. There should be no doubt in our minds, when we - Christians die of this earthly flesh, at that instance we are physically with those who followed God. The others are on the other side. Far off in the distance.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
The heat is within his mind. He is feeling the burn or regret. The rich man wants something from the poor man now.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
We have been given blessings to help others while on this earth and if we don't we must suffer the conciseness of our actions. This life isn't about how good we look to others but to serve others in the love we've been shown by our Father. Allowing others to suffer right in front of you is allowing greed, pride and disobedience to control you. Choose to live separate from God and His ways, when you die you'll find a divided place between those who loved Him and those who didn't.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Peace or regret. We will see either good souls across the way that we cannot go or the bad across the way we're content in not going. Either way this gulf in heaven is fixed that none can cross over but can see one another.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
His family must be doing things the way he did. This rich man doesn't want his family to end up where he is. The rich man wants Lazarus to go back to earth and warn his family about the things to come. About the direction they're headed.
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
The hour in fast approaching us all. Will you wait until death or tell others what is to come now? Afraid of hurting feelings or souls? So many have conformed to the political correctness of words and Truth that they stay silent, there by destroying what could have saved their souls. Be tactful of course but speak up before it’s too late.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
The Truth is right here. All we have to do is read it and tell others about Christ Jesus. Christ tells the rich man in Hades your family has what they need and all they need to do is listen. Is your focus on the flesh? Is it money, sex, shopping, looks, etc. for you? We have The Way to life everlasting [if] we choose it over self.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Do you really think they would? If so you don't know how far the flesh has fallen when it comes to the things of this world. Especially today's world. They wouldn't just as the world won't today. We have Christ Jesus who died for every soul and most refuse to listen to His warnings of what is to come. They would rather play in traditions of man or ignore The Word all together.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
If they won't listen to what has been said by God then, they won't listen now. They'll refuse The One sent for them all. It's about now. It's about today because you're not promised tomorrow and tomorrow might be too late. Seek The Lord Christ Jesus in Truth NOW! John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. CONDITION! You must "believe in Christ Jesus" or you don't exist anymore. You're not even a thought to those who believe. "Perish" = ἀπόλλυμι apóllymi, ap-ol'-loo-mee; from G575 and the base of G3639; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively:—destroy, die, lose, mar, perish, to destroy, to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "Believeth in Him" is key here. It's the condition in which you can have life everlasting. "Everlasting" = αἰώνιος aiṓnios, ahee-o'-nee-os; from G165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well):—eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began), [without end, never to cease, everlasting]. John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The world is running from The One that created them. He could wipe everything out now and be done with it, but He gave, that we may receive. He loves us enough that He has allowed us to choose. God loves us and wants all to come to repentance. Do it today, tomorrow isn't promised for any of us.