He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]? 13 No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely). 14 Now the Pharisees, who were covetous and lovers of money, heard all these things [taken together], and they began to sneer at and ridicule and scoff at Him. 15 But He said to them, You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is detestable and abhorrent (an abomination) in the sight of God.  Luke 16:10-15 AMP

 

The Pharisees, religious leaders, appeared “holy” on the outside, but, in reality, their hearts were far from God. They were covetous and lovers of money, therefore, they were offended at Jesus’ words. They loved mammon more than they loved God.

 

If you read all of Jesus’ words taken together, you will see that He never says that you cannot have or enjoy material possessions. He does make it abundantly clear that material possessions should not have you!  You cannot serve God and mammon, and every person must make their own choice for God or material possessions. God must be more important to you than your possessions – after all, everything you own is His first. Only when you recognize that your blessing comes from God, and not by your own power alone, can you truly enjoy the things He gives you.

 

If you pursue God and put Him first in your life, trusting in Him and depending on Him, He will pursue you with blessings. You will not ever need to worry about whether or not you will be taken care of. However, if you put things first in your life, trusting in them and depending on them, you will spend all your time and energy on trying to acquire them and protect them, with no time to just enjoy your life.

 

Jesus says that if you want the blessing of God on your life, you should be faithful in three areas.

 

You must be faithful first in small responsibilities

The principles of faithfulness remain the same, whether in a big thing or a small thing. If you are faithful in very little things, you will also be faithful in the bigger things, and if you are dishonest and unjust in very little things, you will also be dishonest and unjust in the bigger things. It is not possible to suddenly be faithful in big things if you have not already been faithful in the small things! You always begin small, therefore, you must be faithful in small things; things that seem little, too easy, insignificant, unimportant, menial, not noticed, not obvious, taken for granted, expected, not valued by others, or “beneath you.” Only then, will you be given responsibility for bigger and more important things.

 

You must be faithful with money

Who would have thought that the way you handle your money would determine how you handle spiritual things – the true riches? Jesus says that the two are inseparable. You prove that you will be faithful with the things of God – His Word; His call; His anointing; His gifts – by how faithful you are with plain, ordinary money. Covetousness corrupts. If you are covetous, then you will allow your greed and selfishness to determine how you handle the things of God. You will put yourself first and you will manipulate people for your own ends, instead of lovingly serving them as Jesus did. You will do things for a selfish money motive, not allowing the Word of God or the Holy Spirit to lead you. You won’t be submitted to the Lord – you will set your own agenda. How should you show your faithfulness with money? Put God first where your money is concerned. Work, be a giver, be a person of integrity, do not take that which is not yours, and always pay what you owe. 

 

If you want to be a good boss you need to be a good worker

Before you are given your own authority and responsibility you will be asked to take responsibility for that which belongs to another. Only when you have taken responsibility for someone else’s stuff and proven your faithfulness, will you be given your own responsibility and authority. Your integrity and faithfulness is what causes you to be promoted, in due time. The natural realm carries into the Spirit realm. The way you treat another man’s things is an indication of how you will handle God’s things. If you are faithful when you are under authority, it follows that you will be faithful when you are in authority. Even then, any authority you have is given by God and you are still responsible to Him. Every gift, talent, call, and anointing you have is God’s and is given to you for His glory – not yours!

 

If you make the decision to put God first in your life, before mammon, you will not find it difficult to be faithful in these areas, and you will be rewarded by the Lord in your due season. Remember – nothing you ever do for Him will go unnoticed or unrewarded!

These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.  Proverbs 6:16-18 AMP

 

A proud look

Proverbs 16:18 AMP says that, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” God hates pride because pride sets itself against God and His wisdom. Pride causes you to trust in yourself and not in Him. If you do not trust in Him, He cannot save you from the devil or yourself. Pride and arrogance cause you to close yourself off from godly instruction, which will save your life. Pride causes you to be unteachable and judgmental. When you are judgmental, you set yourself up to be judged more harshly yourself and God is trying to save your life from destruction and judgment. Pride will cause your heart to be closed off from God and therefore also closed off from all His wonderful blessings and the wonderful plans He has for your life.

 

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.” 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.  James 4:6+10 NKJV

 

When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness.  Proverbs 11:2 AMP

 

A lying tongue

God hates lying and He hates liars. It is impossible for God to lie and everyone who belongs to Him will keep their tongue from evil and their lips from speaking deceit (Psalms 34:13). Colossians 3:9 tells us not to lie to one another, because lying is part of our old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices and we ought to have stripped our old self off. Jesus said that the devil is a liar and the father of lies. He is a murderer there is no truth in him (John 8:44). If we are born-again and washed in the blood of Jesus then we must walk in truth and talk the truth.

 

Hands that shed innocent blood

Exodus 20:13 AMP says that, “You shall not commit murder.”  God hates hands that shed innocent blood. He does not tolerate murder. Murder is not just an outward act – if you hate your brother in your heart, you are a murderer in your heart. Take steps immediately to forgive your brother and to begin to walk in love toward everyone.

 

We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death. 15 Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him.  1 John 3:14-15 AMP

 

A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans

Behold, [the wicked man] conceives iniquity and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. 15 He made a pit and hollowed it out and has fallen into the hole which he made [before the trap was completed]. 16 His mischief shall fall back in return upon his own head, and his violence come down [with the loose dirt] upon his own scalp.  Psalms 7:14-16 AMP

 

God does not want people to waste time thinking about and planning evil for others, because mischief will come back on their own heads. It would be better to spend time planning good things to do to and for others.

 

Feet that are swift in running to evil

10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them; restrain your foot from their path; 16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. 18 But [when these men set a trap for others] they are lying in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.   Proverbs 1:10,15,16,18 AMP

 

When people are eager to sin and do evil, they destroy other people’s lives and also their own. God does not want anyone’s life destroyed. Proverbs 4:26-27 AMP says, “Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. 27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.” 

 

A false witness who breathes out lies even under oath

The ninth commandment, in Exodus 20:16, says that you should not bear false witness against your neighbor. God hates a false witness who lies about someone else and who gives a false testimony. Proverbs 19:9 AMP says that, “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who breathes forth lies shall perish.” 

 

He who sows discord among his brethren

Proverbs 16:28 AMP says that, “A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” God hates strife and discord. If the devil can divide us, he can conquer us. James 4:1 AMP says, “What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?” These things arise out of people’s sensual, ungodly desires and result in division and separation. God desires oneness and unity in His body, not separation. When we are united we are strong and we can protect and help each other.