Michael Bradley wrote, “We’ve placed enormous weight on sport, which is why we continue to be shocked every time one of its temples takes a hit from the grubby realities of money.”

He was writing a column for The Drum about professional tennis players who had been fixing matches for years, and the sport’s regulators did little to stop it.

Society’s overemphasis on sports is nothing new. In 1919, the Chicago White Sox baseball team was famously bribed to deliberately lose the World Series. Money can blind a person to what matters most.

Luke 16 – Guard Against Greed

The parables by Jesus continue in Luke 16 with a series about money. It’s important to remember money can be used in the Kingdom of God to serve Him and advance His purposes. The topic appears more than 600 times in the Bible and is mentioned more often than prayer, healing, and mercy.

The first parable is about the dishonest money manager and is a lesson on stewardship. Jesus uses this parable to emphasize that His disciples can make wise decisions with their money to advance the Kingdom of God.

The second parable condemns the religious leaders of Jesus’ day for being so focused on money that they failed to see Him as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete guard their hearts against greed, which can hurt their relationships with Jesus and others. They understand that being a good steward of money means maximizing the opportunities they have with the wealth God provides. As Jesus taught, “You cannot serve both God and Money” (v. 13).

Journaling helps you understand and respond to the Bible. As you journal, use the acronym HEAR to Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond to what you have read in the reading plan.

Bible Memory Verse – “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7 LSB

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