Tuesday, August 26, 2008

"Jesus said to the Pharisees, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God'" (Luke 16:15). 

IDEA: What is an abomination before God is what men and women easily give their lives to in the place of the devotion to God Himself.

PURPOSE: To show how something highly esteemed among people may be despised by God.

What is it that’s highly esteemed among people that God despises?

I. Is everything that is highly esteemed among people necessarily an abomination to God? 

In the context, what might Jesus be referring to?

Wealth?
Position?
Luxury?
Acclaim of people?

II. Are all of these things inherently abominable?

If you had any of these things, would that then necessarily say that God despises them?

What is it that makes this an abomination?

This becomes the thing you pursue, to which you give your heart. The means become ends in themselves.

III. How does the parable Jesus tells about the rich man and Lazarus deal with the issue that Jesus raises in Luke 16:15?

As you read about this man, how do you feel about him?

Would you swap places with him?

Would you swap places with Lazarus?

Is the reason you would not swap places with him that you don’t like where the rich man ends up and you do like where Lazarus ends up?

If that’s the only reason for swapping places with Lazarus, you missed the impact of the story.

The purpose of the story is not a threat. It’s a reflection on the truth. When you center your life on your possessions so that you love them, that cancels out your love for God and destroys your love for people.