Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

 10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
 11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
 12 “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?
 13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
 14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.
 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
 16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
 17 “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
 18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.


Introduction  Jesus is saying that in this life in this world, that we need friends in order for everyone to be happier and more secure.  So in this passage He talks to us about making friends, being faithful, loyalty, the Kingdom of God, the Law of God.  True friendship is in short supply today.


1. The Kingdom of God  v16


 16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.


"Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven."


2. The Law of God  v16


 16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
 17 “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.


a. Love God - 1st 4


Exodus 20
 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image
 7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain
 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.


b. Love People - 2nd 6


Exodus 20
 12  “Honor your father and your mother
 13 “You shall not murder.
 14 “You shall not commit adultery.
 15 “You shall not steal.
 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s stuff


 17 “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.


3. Relationships in the Kingdom of God


a. God


 13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
 14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.
 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.


b. Family


 18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.


c. Friends


9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.


d. Co-workers


 10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
 11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
 12 “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?


This is the Kingdom of God and the Law of God - love, faithfulness, friendship, loyalty.


4. Love people and use things or love things and use people


5. Friendship in easy times and hard


Conclusions 


Friendship isn’t about those you have known the longest 
It’s about those who came, and never left your side


Application to My Life