Highly Esteemed Among Men
This morning our men studied a few verses in the middle of Luke 16. It was an important discussion, because it shows us what we must watch out for as believers. In fact, I think what Jesus said will be very surprising to many people. Look at Luke 16:15b, "For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." Did you get that? Let it sink in for a while.
How many people want those things that are highly esteemed among men? They are searching for lots of money, fame, power, pleasures, and material possessions. Jesus said that all of those things are an abomination in the sight of God. Therefore, as believers, we must change our lifestyles so that we steer clear of whatever is esteemed by the majority of the people in the world. They do not understand God's way. They are on the "broad road" that leads to destruction. We do not want to follow them down that road, do we? I certainly hope not.
I have said for a long time that the worst reason to do something is that "everyone is doing it." The worst reason to buy something is that "everyone is buying it." They are esteeming things to get their self worth. They are trying to please people to feel important. We ought to get our self esteem from knowing that we have a close relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Anything else is an abomination to God, because we are putting it before Him.
I pray that we will meditate on what Jesus said here in Luke 16:15b. It is very significant for every day of our lives and every decision we make. If we fail at this point our lives become the object of God's wrath, instead of His blessing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 7-9.
March 7 – Matthew 13:33
Ask God to make you like leaven or yeast, so that you can lift up those around you, and you can show them the power of God to change lives and enable us to be different from the people who don’t know Christ.
How many people want those things that are highly esteemed among men? They are searching for lots of money, fame, power, pleasures, and material possessions. Jesus said that all of those things are an abomination in the sight of God. Therefore, as believers, we must change our lifestyles so that we steer clear of whatever is esteemed by the majority of the people in the world. They do not understand God's way. They are on the "broad road" that leads to destruction. We do not want to follow them down that road, do we? I certainly hope not.
I have said for a long time that the worst reason to do something is that "everyone is doing it." The worst reason to buy something is that "everyone is buying it." They are esteeming things to get their self worth. They are trying to please people to feel important. We ought to get our self esteem from knowing that we have a close relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Anything else is an abomination to God, because we are putting it before Him.
I pray that we will meditate on what Jesus said here in Luke 16:15b. It is very significant for every day of our lives and every decision we make. If we fail at this point our lives become the object of God's wrath, instead of His blessing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 7-9.
March 7 – Matthew 13:33
Ask God to make you like leaven or yeast, so that you can lift up those around you, and you can show them the power of God to change lives and enable us to be different from the people who don’t know Christ.