True Riches
The wise learn from the darkness and the light. God is the sender of both so that you will choose to serve him.
“Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me...Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.” Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.”
Exodus 10:3, 7, 16-17, 21-22 28-29
Would you consider darkness a plague? Each day we experience the darkness at nighttime, but the light breaks through the darkness in the morning. God sends a message to Pharaoh that He controls the darkness and the light. For three days it was dark much like a preview of the time after the crucifixion.
Have you ever experienced a prolonged season of darkness? A time where hope or light did not seem to break through? Do you know anyone else who is struggling with a time like that? What could you do to help? What would help if you are currently in a time of struggle?
“So that your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us. Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain."
Psalms 60:5, 11-12
David teaches us such a healthy approach to fighting our battles. What if our default instinct was to turn to and trust God? What if every time someone offended us or caused harm to us we did not react, but readied our heart for prayer? David turns to God in the time of darkness and prays for deliverance from the deliverer.
“Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Proverbs 9:7, 9-10
It can be hard to take critical feedback or correction. Solomon says that the wise person can learn at all times. Wisdom says that the reverence, awe, wonder, fear and right perspective of God is the beginning of growing in wisdom. Why? How does knowing that God is the creator of all, majestic and powerful change how we view life?
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Yahweh’s glory has risen on you! For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. The sun will be no more your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory."
Isaiah 60:1-2, 19, 21
Implied in Isaiah's call to rise up is that the people were low. Jesus says in this life you will have trouble. You will have times of difficulty and darkness, but take heart for He has overcome. Jesus is the light that came to personally break through our dark days and calls us to experience God's everlasting light within our hearts. What does it mean to you that God would be your glory? Where is He calling you to shine?
“He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.” Luke 16:10-11, 13
The verses serve to make the reader see the contrast. Light and darkness. Faithful versus unfaithful. Then Jesus turns the tables and contrasts God and Money. Mammon was ancient for wealth, riches, or the possessions that one would trust in. Why would Jesus place such a strong command between serving God and serving money? How does thinking about or focusing on money influence your heart?
God said to Pharaoh let my people go so they can serve me. He says the same thing to our fears and our focus on money. Let my people go. Money can have a hold on your heart and keep you from serving God fully, freely. Consider the words of Jesus and choose wisely which you will serve today. Jesus says no servant can serve both and only God can give you true, eternal riches.