Two Sets of Books

By Francis Frangipane

It was not a dream. It was simply a thought in the middle of the night that roused me from my sleep. It said, "He keeps two sets of books: one is exact and the other forgiving."

I barely had time to wonder "who" kept the two sets of books when Jesus' story of the rich man and his wasteful steward surfaced in my mind. The parable, which comes from Luke, chapter 16, tells of a manager who was soon to be dismissed for squandering his employer's wealth. "What shall I do," the steward pondered, "since my master is taking the management away from me?" (v. 3).

To secure his future, he shrewdly contacted his employer's debtors. To the one who owed 100 measures of oil he said, "Write fifty" (v.6). He reduced another's debt from 100 measures of wheat to eighty. So clever was his plan that even the steward's master praised him for his wisdom and prudence (v. 8).

"This Time I Will Praise the Lord"

By Francis Frangipane

I’m all for fulfilling personal quests in life, but I am also aware that personal fulfillment can actually become an idol. Our ambitions can develop into such an obsession that we are living for selfish goals rather than living for God. Thus, part of our salvation includes having our desires prioritized by Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord put it this way:

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself " (Matt. 6:33-34). God intends to satisfy us beyond our dreams, but not before He is first in our hearts.