Theme: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Introduction
This topic will by God’s grace look at why true Christians need to plan for their future such that the blessing of God will be enjoyed. God Almighty hates idleness and laziness. King Solomon says, “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.” – Proverbs 20:4.
Even more importantly, the people of God are required to make plans for their future in God’s Kingdom fully established now that they have the opportunity. St. Paul enjoins us to make the most of every opportunities we have for doing good, for the days are evil. -Ephesians 5:16
Our Saviour said: “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.” – Luke 12:33-35.
Text: “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations”. – Luke 16: 9.
Comment: Jesus Christ’s admonition that we should make to ourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness means that we should use our money (the unrighteous mammon) to make ourselves friends of God Almighty and Jesus Christ, by doing good works so that when money becomes useless at the destruction of the world, God will save us by virtue of our faithful deeds by His grace. Scripture says: “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1) Indeed, “…the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand”. Isaiah 32:8) We make friends with God Almighty and Jesus Christ when we do good to “the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind”, for the sake of God in that He would recompense us “at the resurrection of the just”. (Luke 14:13, 14) It is good done to these weaker elements in the society Solomon the prophet was referring to when he stated: “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” (Proverbs 19:17) Moreover, St. Paul gave firm instructions to Timothy to “Charge them that are rich in this world, …That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life”. – 1Timothy 6:17-19.