Love of Money

For Thursday, July 24, 2025:

Luke 16:13 NLT, Jesus speaking: “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

In the audience listening to Jesus’ teaching that day were Pharisees, who dearly loved their money. Jesus is challenging them to love God more than their money, to always put God first. Let me summarize this for us: Money – you can’t take it with you. But the love of God can be an eternal part of your life, and even the life after this life! Jesus is counseling us to pick one!

When the subject of money comes up, I’m always reminded of one of my go-to sayings: “People get squirrelly about money!” That’s not good, but it’s my observation. Regular people, nice guys and gals, sometimes turn possessive and narcissistic when money is involved. It’s like something within them changed when the topic turned to money. Irrational statements are made, and irrational decisions come forth all because of money. Squirrelly.

We need money and we need God, but they’re two separate things. Money is never to be worshiped; God is! It’s that same God who gives us money so that we can help widows, orphans and the poor among us. So be generous and love your neighbor! If you run short, God can always give you more!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Giving!

February 20, 2024 Monday Message:

Mark 12:42 NLT: “Then a poor widow came into the temple and dropped two small coins in the collection box.”

Others gave more, but this widow gave all that she had. Nothing is too good for the Lord!

Jews were commanded to tithe, a Hebrew word that means 1/10th. For some people, the tithe is a minimum amount, but for others it’s a maximum. It they gave 10%, they were all done giving! Not a good plan! I believe if God blesses us with abundance, it’s so that we can help others. 10% isn’t a limit, but it’s a good starting point. Consider the needs of your church and your community, and give accordingly.

Luke quotes Jesus: “You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Heavenly Reward!

January 23, 2023 Monday Message:

Matthew 6:1 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.”

It’s always good to help others, but this teaching from Jesus comes down to motivation. If you’re doing a charitable thing, some benevolent act, only to attach your name to the project, that’s the wrong motivation behind it. For example, if you supported a hospital so that they’d name the new building after your family, that’s wrong. We all appreciate a pat on the back once in a while, but receiving accolades shouldn’t be our goal.

We should all love our neighbors because that’s what Jesus said to do. We need to be kind and helpful because it’s the right thing to do. Our goal should be to be helpful, not to let others know what a good person we are! Our reward for doing the right thing for the right reason will come from our Father in heaven. On earth he has given us hope, and there’s a lot more to come in heaven!

God will bestow us with something infinitely better than an earthly reward!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

You're Working for the Lord!

For Saturday, October 29, 2022:

Colossians 3:23-24 NLT: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”

Believers have been “saved,” redeemed as children of God. Therefore let everything you do bring honor to your Father God and his Son Jesus. You are working on earth as a pre-registered citizen of heaven!

The Bible says that those who do not work should not get to eat. But some people such as widows and orphans cannot provide for themselves. Christians always do a little extra, so that we can share with those who need assistance.

Let your work reflect gratitude for the value of the place to which you are going.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Kindness!

March 14, 2022 Monday Message

Matthew 25:40 MSG, Jesus speaking: “The King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’”

Jesus spoke of storing up treasure in heaven. But to be clear, we’re saved by grace – the undeserved favor of God; through faith – our belief, our confidence in the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah. Our hope is in Jesus. But he also says heaven will think highly of those who are kind to others, especially the least of these!

If someone is hungry, give them something to eat. If they’re thirsty, offer a drink. Open your home to the less fortunate. Give away clothing to those who need it. Visit the sick and those in prison. And pray for everyone, even your enemies.

You see, believing in Jesus and being kind go hand-in-hand. The Christians, the ‘Jesus’ people, tend to be nice. They spill out benevolence! Like the song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Prove Repentance1

February 7, 2022 Monday Message

Matthew 3:8 NLT, John-the-Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees: “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”

John-the-Baptist denounced the Pharisees, Sadducees and other Temple leaders: “You brood of vipers!” He challenged them to live a radically transformed life, a changed life, a much better life as evidence of their true belief in God. Frankly, their past behavior showed no sign at all of loving the Lord. I believe John-the-Baptist was right! And perhaps we should all prove - by the way that we live - that we have repented and returned to God!

Christians are known for good works and for benevolence, but that’s not how we qualify for heaven; that’s not our ticket to the hereafter. But because of what Jesus did for us – because of his gift to us of forgiveness, resulting in our assurance of seeing heaven from the inside - we give back! We support the church, we support charities and we do many good things, but it’s all out of gratitude for what Jesus already did for us. Jesus took the sin of the world to the grave, and left the believers pure, suitable for spending eternity in the presence of the Lord!

"Ibaptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire!”

Sounds good to me!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Serve Somebody

March 23, 2015 Monday Message:

“The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve…” Mark 10:45a ESV

Consider that the best form of government may be a “Benevolent Dictatorship.” The initial reaction of most people is, “No way! Dictators are evil!” And when they’re working in the world with mammoth egos to feed, you’re right - the general population oftentimes suffers.

It’s different when God is the dictator. The key is benevolence. There are rules, standards and directives, but they are for our own good. God loves us. God, who is in charge of everything, saw mankind was in trouble, and even sent his own Son to help solve the problem.

When Jesus walked the earth, he never held his status over anyone. In fact, quite the opposite. Jesus, living under the

Romans, was quite familiar with oppressive rulers. “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.”

And here’s how Jesus feels about that: “It shall not be so among you.” He explains, “Whoever would be great among you must be servant of all.” And he leads by example, sacrificing his own life so that we might live: “The Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many.”

I’m OK with the dictatorship; Jesus is my King!

Norton Lawellin

Each Sunday, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, March 29, Dan Pilla speaks on the Triumphal Entry.