The Lord's teaching about money in Luke 16 is as up-to-date as today's newspaper. Some Pharisees listened as Jesus told a parable about an unfaithful steward. He said, "You cannot serve God and mammon." The Pharisees scoffed at this, for they loved money. Jesus responded, "What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God" (v.15).
Author Wayne Jacobsen points out that when Jesus used the word abomination, He wasn't referring to sordid immorality. He was referring to the Pharisees' preoccupation with temporal possessions—very much the mindset of many today and still detestable to God.
To help us reverse our preoccupation with money, Ken Gire wrote this prayer: "Dear Jesus, help me this day to see with the eyes I will one day be given at death. I see clearly enough now what is highly valued in the sight of men. Give me eyes to see what is highly valued in Your sight." And what does God highly value? People in need—the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the lonely, the prisoners (Matthew 25:34-40). Valuing people involves listening, understanding, and meeting their needs.
Are we preoccupied with earthly values or with God's eternal values? — Joanie Yoder
I want to do service for Christ while I live,
And comfort and cheer to poor lonely hearts give;
For this is the program approved by the Word,
To visit the needy and speak of the Lord. —Bosch
Hold loosely to what is temporal and tightly to what is eternal.