Passage of the Day:
Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ 3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ 5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 “‘Nine hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ 7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels[b] of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings, Luke 16:1-9.
Reflection:
Whenever you’re told that your services are no longer needed or welcome, it’s easy to check out mentally. In this attached parable, Jesus tells a story about a man about to be fired. Filled with a sense of desperation, this shrewd individual uses common sense and savvy business practices. Perhaps, this manager became too comfortable, mailing it in daily. Before he knew it, this business that he was responsible for managing was on the verge of going out of business. If you want to save your job, marriage or anything else important to you, never give up by keep fighting, doing everything in your power to restore what’s falling apart.
Prayerful Action:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers, Galatians 6:9-10.
Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:
Fourteen years ago, I found myself in an identical situation as the Shrewd Manager. After the school I was teaching at was sold in the middle of the year, I was informed that I would be replaced at the end of the semester. Rather than letting the root of bitterness fill my soul, I did all that I could do to provide a smooth transition for my replacement. On my last day of teaching, one of the secretaries told me, “I wish you weren’t leaving.” This is how others respond when you demonstrate a never give up attitude and behavior.
Song of the Day:
Today’s song came from one of my great finds at a bargain bin in Delaware. The Son Shine House was a place a refuge for me in college, where I went to find life altering music. May the words of Whatever It Takes motivate you to adopt a never give up mentality for the rest of 2024.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 