Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Use All God’s Blessings to Serve Him
These are the readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
God’s Word for This Week
Money rules in our materialistic society. We also must admit that God has richly blessed each of us with many physical blessings—far more than we deserve. How we handle those blessings, whether they be dollars or possessions, reflects on our relationship with our God. May God move us to use all of his blessings in a way that pleases him, serves his purposes, and helps others eternally.
Traditional First Lesson – Amos 8:4-7
How does practicing honesty when we buy and sell demonstrate our Christian faith?
Practicing honesty when we buy and sell items serves as a way that we honor and worship the Lord. We worship our God not only by hearing his Word and singing his praises but also by living our faith with our actions, with our words, and with our thoughts.
What is so terrifying about that statement of the Lord that “I will never forget anything they have done?”
It reminds us that those people who willfully reject the Lord and his commandments have given up the forgiveness of their sins. Since God never forgets their guilt, they will bear the full heat of his anger eternally. As believers, we can thank and praise God that he has forgotten our sins and guilt through Christ’s work.
Supplemental First Lesson – Genesis 14:8-24
Instead of sitting tight to make sure he stayed safe and prosperous, what did Abram do?
Abram went on a long, difficult journey to overtake and fight the kings who had defeated and plundered the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He saved his nephew Lot, Lot’s family, and Lot’s possessions in the process.
What did Abram give to Melchizedek?
Abram gave God’s priest, Melchizedek, a tenth of everything. (Giving a tenth of our income to God today is not a requirement, nor do we know that it was in Abram’s day. But what a stellar sign of gratitude to God, trust in God, and generosity!)
Why would Abram not take anything that belonged to the king of Sodom?
Abram would not take anything because he did not want the king of Sodom to be able to claim that he had made Abram rich. (God had made Abram rich. Today too: All wealth comes from God.)
Traditional Second Lesson – 1Timothy 2:1-8
Who does God want to be saved? Who does that include then?
God wants all men to be saved which includes you and me. Thanks be to God!
How does considering the price Jesus paid to save us help us determine our true worth?
God loves us dearly, so much so that he gave up his Son, Jesus Christ, for us. Our worth is found in the precious blood of Jesus that he poured out for us.
Supplemental Second Lesson – 1Timothy 6:6-16
Why is godliness with contentment great gain? (See 6:7.)
Godliness with contentment is great gain, Paul says, because we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out.
Is money itself evil? (See 6:10.)
Money is not evil. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. In Paul’s picture, running after money will lead, now and forever, to similar results as running headlong into a drawn sword.
Gospel – Luke 16:1-13
What is the main point of this parable of Jesus? (See 16:9-12.)
Jesus tells this parable to encourage us to make good use of our money. How we use the money and possessions that God has given is a fruit of faith and will reflect our relationship with him. By keeping an eternal perspective on the blessings God has given, we will use them to serve his purposes and to support his kingdom here on earth, knowing God will reward us forever.
How does Jesus further his point by saying “You cannot serve both God and money?”
Worldly wealth and possessions are given by God to be used in his service. The God who gives the money must always be more important than the money that he gives.
