We can take the best care of the things that are important to us, but the truth is that they will not last. For example, our favorite clothes get holes from the washing machine, our cars eventually rust, and our carefully chosen couches get stains. The truth is, the things of this earth are temporary. They will not last. What will last forever are the things of God and His kingdom. As a result, we must live every day focusing on what will last, God and His kingdom.
In our Bible study yesterday, we looked at a parable that Jesus told His disciples found in Luke 16. In this parable, a rich man was about to fire his manager who had been wasting his money (verses 1-2). The manager in this story acted shrewdly. Hoping to make friends who would help him land on his feet once he was officially fired, the manager went to various men who were indebted to his employer and significantly reduced their debts (verses 7). Surprisingly, the rich employer was impressed by the dishonest manager’s quick actions to save himself (verse 8). After telling the story, Jesus explained the main point, the takeaway, of this interesting parable: “Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home” (verse 9). In other words, Jesus was calling His disciples (and us) to leverage everything they had for the kingdom of God and to focus on the things of eternity rather than building their own earthly kingdoms. The big question we will focus on today is, “Why?” The answer to this question can be found in Jesus’s words in this teaching, “When your possessions are gone…” Notice that He did not say “if your possessions are gone,” but “when your possessions are gone.” It is true. Our possessions will fade away one day. They will not last forever. We cannot take them into eternity.
John, one of Jesus' disciples who would have been present as Jesus taught the parable in Luke 16, wrote about the call to focus on eternity rather than the things of this world in 1st John 2. He said in this passage of Scripture, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you…For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world” (verses 15-16). John made it clear that the things of this world are not of God. Then, he wrote, “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave” (verse 17). The things of this world that so many work tirelessly for and place their hope in are passing away day-by-day. This is bleak news for those who do not have a relationship with Christ and seek only to establish their own earthly kingdoms. For those of us who live for Christ and His kingdom, we have every reason to hope. That’s why John continued writing, “Anyone who does what pleases God will live forever” (verse 17). When we place our hope in the things of eternity and live for God and His kingdom, we are investing in what truly matters and what will last forever.
You have a choice today, friend. Will you live for the things of this world that will ultimately pass away, or will you live for God and His kingdom, investing in what can never fade away? Only one of those ways of living will lead to life, peace, and, ultimately, Christ. Choose today to live shrewdly for God and His kingdom, which will remain forever.
One way we can set our hearts and minds on eternity is by making Christ known around us. Who do you know who is in need of the hope of Christ? Commit today to telling your two-minute story to them, which consists of what your life was like before you placed your hope in Him, how you came to know Christ, and the difference Christ has made in your life. You never know the difference taking time to share your story may make in their life!
“God, as I set out to make You known to my family, friends, and neighbors, use me…”
1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
A New Commandment
7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.
9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.
12 I am writing to you who are God’s children
because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
13 I am writing to you who are mature in the faith
because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith
because you have won your battle with the evil one.
14 I have written to you who are God’s children
because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
because you are strong.
God’s word lives in your hearts,
and you have won your battle with the evil one.
Do Not Love This World
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Warning about Antichrists
18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. 19 These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.
20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. 21 So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. 22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. 25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.
26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
Living as Children of God
28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
29 Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.
