#102 Luke 16:10-15 No One Can Serve Two Masters

On December 18, 2022 by

Joy:
Episode #102 Luke 16:10-15

Welcome

Joy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Joy Burgin and usually I’m here with my mom Amy Burgin. She’s out this week, but don’t worry, she’ll be back.

Christgazing, kind of like stargazing, is the act of looking steadily and intently at Jesus. This podcast makes room for just that. Amid a world of many words, we make space for the God-breathed Words, the best words, the ones that rightly comfort, correct, and lead us. This is the kind of podcast I am in dire need of. Each week I’ll read a portion of scripture several times and create stillness after each reading so we might also be still and know God more.

We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke

Pour Out Your Heart to God

Joy:
Before we read today, take time to share your heart with God. We do this each week; we pour out our hearts to God, exposing the wrong-thinking, wounds, and discouragement inside us so he can fill us up with right-thinking, healing, joy, love, and hope.

So bring your nightmares, your daydreams, your questions, your grief, joy, loneliness, togetherness, frustrations, and thanksgiving to God in this next minute.

[Pause and pour out your heart to God]

What Does This Passage Say About God?

Joy:
I’m going to read the passage two times. As I read, consider the question, what does this passage tell us about God?

Luke 16:10-15 [Jesus said] “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Again?

Luke 16:10-15 [Jesus said] “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Take a minute to be still and consider the question: what does this passage say about God?

[Pause and know]

What Does This Passage Say About People?

Joy:
As I read the passage again, consider the question, What does this passage say about people?

Luke 16:10-15 [Jesus said] “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell us about people?

[Pause and know]

Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?

Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?” If it helps, put yourself in the narrative.

Luke 16:10-15 [Jesus said] “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Take the next minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”

[Pause and listen]

Blessing

Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you turn your face toward Jesus today and know him more.

One Response

Joy:

As someone who has been working several jobs and going to school full time the past few months, and planning a wedding, I know what it feels like to serve more than one master. And as always, Jesus is right. When conflicts between commitments arise, there is always one commitment that has to be prioritized over the others. When you are serving more than one master, you are never serving both of them to the fullest. So who are we serving spiritually? Is it ourselves, and our own worldly desires? Or is it the King of Kings? There is only one master whose service will bring us true fulfillment. And his burden is light.

Closing

Joy:
You can find a transcript of this episode and all our episodes at amyburgin.com. We will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.

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