For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Luke 16
How do these parables affect your attitude toward your wealth and possessions? How can you use them to make friends of people? Of God? I’ve gotta be honest – there is not much of this chapter that I understand. I feel like I am missing something. Maybe several somethings. I get the surface messages about being generous and trustworthy and serving God rather than earthly things. But I am certain there is more to it all.
I don’t get what the dishonest manager did. Did he pay off portions of the debts owed by people or just further cheat his manager to gain their favor? It sounds like the latter to me, but I am sure that Jesus is not telling us to cheat people to better our position in life. I also don’t get anything at all about verses 16-18. I am pretty sure they are NOT “additional teachings”, as the section heading in the NIV proclaims. Rather, I believe they very much have to do with the statement Jesus just made to the Pharisees, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:15). And I believe that they connect this statement to Jesus’ ending parable. But those connections are not quite clear to me.
Thing is, I’m getting a little dissatisfied with a glossed over, generalized understanding of God’s word. I don’t want to just keep brushing off what doesn’t make sense to me. Instead, I want to dig deeper. I want to ask God for wisdom and understanding and I want to seek His answers. I guess that’s a good thing. Perhaps God is continuing to remove those detestable things that are in my heart and replacing them with the things that He desires.
Gen. 31-32
In God’s dealings with Jacob, what do you learn about God’s character? About His dealings with sinners? I like the moment of family unity in chapter 31. Rachel and Leah both say to Jacob, “So do whatever God has told you.” (Gen. 31:16b). It is one of the few instances of this family truly striving to follow God. And it reinforces to me that following God together is the best way to bring unity with each other.
I also like Jacob’s prayer to God in chapter 32. In his time with Laban, Jacob really started to see God’s hand in his life. Thus, in this prayer, he is finally making a real attempt to trust God. Jacob recognized that if God was to save him in this situation, it was because of God’s character and His promise. It was not because Jacob deserved it. By acknowledging those facts and reinforcing their truth by remembering God’s prior faithfulness, he was bolstering his confidence that God would hear and respond positively to his plea. Of course, sometimes even our best attempts fall short. Jacob still worked out his own plan to pacify his brother. Even so, God was faithful to His promise.