Luke 16:10-13; Matthew 20:25-28 NIV Today we have scripture from Luke and Matthew to close out our study on service. We will start in Luke and then go to Matthew. Jesus was talking to his disciples in the scripture from Luke. In the first nine verses of chapter sixteen, Jesus shared a parable with them about a dishonest manager. In verse ten he told them that a person that can be trusted with a little can be trusted with a lot and a person that is dishonest with a little will be dishonest with a lot. There is something simple about this that we can not take for granted. Our character is revealed by how we act with a little. We have abilities and have been given different things in life. How we use our abilities and the different things we have been given will reveal our character. I know that I misused things and my abilities when I was younger. I was convicted and repented for that. Jesus then gave me more once I used what he already gave me correctly. Jesus never moved me into a new position of service until I had proven capable of handling the current position of service I was at. As his followers and servants, we can not get impatient with our area of service. As his followers and servants, we cannot compare and contrast our area of service with other followers and servants. Jesus has given each of us plenty to do that will keep us productive in service to his kingdom. We need to spend time focused on what we have been given to do and do it to the best of our ability. Our second scripture comes from Matthew, and it deals with our attitude as followers of Jesus towards other followers. In verses twenty, the mother of James and John requested that they have important seats next to Jesus in his kingdom. Then the other ten disciples found out and were not happy in verse twenty-four. Jesus set them straight in verses twenty-five through twenty-eight. Whoever wants to be great as a follower of Jesus must be a servant to the other followers. Jesus said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” That is the attitude we must have as followers of Jesus. We aim to serve. We look for ways to serve. We humble ourselves as we serve. We imitate Jesus when we serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. We please God the Father when we serve those that are lost. Once we choose Jesus we become born again. We are born again for service in his family and kingdom. We serve our brothers and sisters. We also serve his kingdom by gathering more people into his kingdom and family. That is service that pleases God. That is service that Jesus will reward us for. How are you using the little or much that Jesus has given you for service? How many people would say you have the attitude of a servant or a servant’s heart? Please read the following for next week: 2 Peter 1:1-11
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Luke 12:35-48 NIV The lesson for this week is based on two words: ready and watch. Jesus told his disciples to be ready to serve and keep watch for his return in the scripture for this lesson. Jesus cannot lie and he said in verse forty that he will return at an hour we do not expect him. What should we do then if we cannot predict the hour of his return? We should be ready and serving him in whatever task or tasks he has given us. Some people are managers and in charge of others. Some are servants that have specific tasks. Regardless of what position we serve in, we must be ready and actively serve Jesus while we watch for his return. There is punishment in store for all the people that choose not to get ready. There is also punishment in store for all the people that talked like they were ready, but did not actively serve Jesus before he returns. Verses forty-six through forty-eight describes the punishment that different servants will face when Jesus returns. Jesus entrusts us with different things at different times in our lives. Our reward or punishment when Jesus returns will be based on how we served him with what we were given. Those that serve Jesus well will be given more. Our lives are important. Our service to Jesus is important. We must be ready, watch for Jesus to return, and serve him while we watch. Next week we will finish our study on service, Lord willing. Have you gotten ready for Jesus to return? Are you watching for Jesus to return? Are you actively serving Jesus while you watch for his return? Please read the following for next week: Luke 16:10-13; Matthew 20:25-28 Matthew 25: 14-30 NIV In the scripture for today’s lesson, Jesus told his disciples a parable about what the kingdom of heaven will be like. You may have heard sermons about this parable of the talents. In verses fourteen and fifteen there are two details in this parable that we need to hold on to. The first detail is the man going on the journey trusted his servants with his property. This is important for us to apply to our relationship with Jesus. Jesus was with God the Father when everything was created. Nothing we can obtain in this life is our possession. We need to humbly and gratefully use the property that Jesus has trusted us with to serve him. Also, Jesus died on the cross so all mankind could be redeemed back to God the Father, who created us all inside our mother’s wombs. We, born again believers and followers of Jesus, had our souls paid for by the precious blood of Jesus. He did that so we could inherit everlasting life with God instead of everlasting life separated from God in the lake of fire. The second detail is the man gave to each servant according to their ability. My ability is not your ability, and your ability is not mine. Regardless of what our ability is, make the most of it for Jesus. In verse nineteen, Jesus said the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. Rest assured, Jesus is coming back and will settle accounts with his servants. Remember last week’s lesson? When Jesus returns to settle our accounts it will be based on how we served him. The praise from the master in verses twenty-one and twenty-three goes to the faithful servants that used the talents they were given and gained more for the master. I have noticed that people spend a lot of time focused on what they don’t have instead of using what they have to please Jesus. We all have a limited amount of time on this earth. Please do not be like the servant that received one talent. I do not want you to be called a wicked and lazy servant by Jesus when you give account to him at judgment day. Lord willing, next week we will look at what Jesus told his disciples to do before he returns. Do you know what talent(s) Jesus has entrusted you with? How have you been using what Jesus gave you? Please read the following for next week: Luke 12:35-48 Matthew 25: 31-46 NIV In the scripture for today, Jesus was talking to his disciples about when he returns to earth in his glory with his angels. Remember that this is part of the conversation that started in Matthew chapter 24 about his second coming. He, as the King, will separate everyone from all the nations into two groups. People will either be a sheep or a goat. What did Jesus say determined which group a person was placed in? How the person served Jesus while they lived on the earth determined which group they were placed in. Verse thirty-four states that the sheep are on the right and are blessed by his Father. They will receive their inheritance, “the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” In verses thirty-five and thirty-six, Jesus stated the ways people served him. They fed him when he was hungry. They gave him something to drink when he was thirsty. They invited him in when he was a stranger. They gave him clothes when he needed some. They looked after him when he was sick. They visited him when he was in prison. Right here we need to stop and reflect on a few things. In the future, Jesus will sit on a throne and separate every person into two groups. Jesus will tell all the people in the sheep group they get to receive a kingdom that God the Father and Jesus have prepared for them since the creation of the world. Jesus will clarify that they served him while they lived on the earth by doing things for him when he was in need. The people in the sheep group will ask Jesus when they served him, read their exact questions in verses thirty-seven through thirty-nine. Jesus said something in verse forty that we need to remember and hide in our hearts. “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” That is the point of today’s lesson and this Bible study on service. If we look at Matthew 10:42 Jesus said this to his disciples, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Our faith in Jesus and service to him and his followers will be rewarded. Believers and followers of Jesus have been given a call to serve. We have different gifts according to the Holy Spirit, but we must use our gifts to serve Jesus. We serve Jesus by serving our brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember in last week’s scripture that Jesus said those that follow his example will be blessed. Is it always going to be easy to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ? No, it will not. However, it will be worth it when we are separated and find ourselves on his right side in the sheep group. There are lots of things we can do with our time on this earth. There are a lot of causes we can passionately pursue and support. However, the way we serve Jesus will determine what group we get placed in on judgment day. How we served other believers and followers of Jesus will be the proof of how we served Jesus on judgment day. Verse forty-one tells what will happen to people in the goat group on judgment day. Forty-six is the last verse for our scripture today and it is very important. People in the goat group will receive eternal punishment while people in the sheep group will receive eternal life. How we live our lives now will have eternal consequences later. Do not live your life carelessly. Do not live your life selfishly. Do not live your life pridefully. Believe Jesus is the son of God. Follow the example Jesus set while he lived on this earth. Be a humble servant. Next week we will look at a parable Jesus used to describe the kingdom of heaven and what faithful servants look like. How are you serving Jesus this week? How are you serving the brothers and sisters of Jesus this week? Please read the following for next week: Matthew 25:14-30 |
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