Week 7: In the End, Those Who Have May Be Have-Nots, and the Have-Nots May Have It All

Last week we looked at our attitudes toward wealth. Today, we see that just as wealth doesn’t provide true fulfillment in life, wealth also can provide us nothing in death. Through the story Jesus tells of the Rich Man and Lazarus, we see that in the end, those who seem to have it all now, may have nothing at all. Yet those who seem to have nothing now, may end up having it all. And the difference is not in the presence or absence of wealth—it’s entirely dependent upon what’s going on in our hearts. Today, we are encouraged to look at our own hearts to see where our confidence truly lies. Because it’s only faith in Jesus that can bring us true confidence in the end.

Week 6: Where Satisfaction Is (and Isn’t) Found

There are more than 2,300 Bible passages that speak about money. Why? Money is a master Satan frequently tempts us to serve. And that evil foe knows how successful his efforts with money can be. Money provides us with a false comfort and a sense of security. It serves as a source of pride. It serves as a wonderful tool for a favorite pastime: justifying ourselves in our own eyes and the eyes of others. King Solomon knew a thing or two about seeking satisfaction in what wealth could provide. But, as he grew older, he gained some Godly perspective. He asked, what has all this wealth really gained? Through his words in Ecclesiastes, God teaches us the same hard truth—true satisfaction can never come from wealth, but only comes when God is what occupies our heart.

Week 5: The Found Are Left and the Lost Are Found

In two parables from Luke 15, Jesus tells us about things that are lost and the joy of finding them. As we look at these two parables through the eyes of faith, we’ll be challenged with our definitions of what it means to be found and what it means to be lost. But one thing we’ll clearly see is that whether a person seems to be found or lost, every single soul is precious to Jesus. And they should be precious to us, too.

Week 4: Choose!

It is an unavoidable hard truth. Our relationship with Jesus will put us in situations where we must decide where love for him ranks compared to love for other people and things. And Jesus is not content to be one of many important things in our life; he wants to be first. He wants us to follow his Word unwaveringly, even when he asks us to do difficult things. In our reading from Deuteronomy, the LORD sets two paths before Israel: one leading to life, the other to death. God also sets this choice before us—but through Jesus he empowers us to choose the path of life, which he has already made ours through faith.

Week 3: The Humble Will Be Exalted; The Exalted Will Be Humbled

Everyone knows that humility is a positive trait and pride is a negative one. So, why bother talking about what we already know? Because in spite of that knowledge, we still helplessly fall into the trap of pride. We cannot help but think that our ascent to the exalted status we desire is our responsibility. We even take our exaltation into our own hands, either by treating poorly those we believe we can stand on top of or by showing favoritism to those we believe can provide us with upward mobility. Rather than minimizing pride as a sin that is common or harmless, Jesus’ words today confront us with this hard truth. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled by God. But Jesus also gives us the promise we need to be freed from pride’s trap. Our exaltation doesn’t need to be our responsibility because Jesus has already made it his. Those who humble themselves, Christ will exalt.

Week 2: “Make Every Effort to Enter through the Narrow Door”

Today we look at the hard truth Jesus teaches us when he says, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door.” The words “make every effort” may sound strange in light of God’s grace. What may be even more difficult to understand is that Jesus then tells us many will try to enter but will not be able. As we wrestle with this hard truth, we turn to our Savior for guidance—and we’ll see how through his grace, Jesus has not only opened the narrow door for us, but he ensures that we will fit through it.

Week 1: Hard Truth

Today we look at one of the more difficult teachings in Scripture—that a life of faith is a life of struggle. It’s a race, a contest, and it requires perseverance. Jesus tells us that in our life of faith there will be hardship and sorrow, and division instead of peace. He tells us that anyone who follows him must take up their cross. Along the way, we’ll feel pain, discomfort and rejection. We may well become weary. Where do we find the strength to live our life of faith? The writer to the Hebrews tells us, “Fix your eyes on Jesus.” That’s how God trains and strengthens us to persevere toward the goal of faith—eternal life in heaven—won for us by Jesus, who has already run the race perfectly for us.