171. Laying up Treasure
All Christians believe that accumulating as a goal in life is a useless pursuit. “But God said to him, 'You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)
172. Treasure in Heaven
All Christians believe that a better choice than accumulating treasures on earth is treasure in heaven. “Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
173. Give to the Needy
All Christians believe that the most honorable life is one that gives. “Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:33-34)
174. Be Watchful and Ready
All Christians believe that the greatest value of prophecy is to spur us to be like “those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes.” (Luke 12:37) “Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Matthew 24:44)
175. Be Faithful and Wise
All Christians believe that being a faithful and wise servant is important. “The Lord said, 'Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.'” (Luke 12:42-43 cf. Matthew 24:45) And all Christians believe this warning, “That servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes” (Luke 12:47)
176. Victims
All Christians believe that when tragedy strikes, be it a state-sponsored murder or a tragic construction accident, those victims are not worse sinners than others. (Luke 13:1-5)
177. Dig and Fertilize
All Christians agree that God patiently waits for us to develop spiritual fruit, and does not immediately cut us down because we have failed to bear fruit for several years (Luke 13:6-9).
178. Infirmity
All Christians believe that if it’s God’s will, we can all experience what a disabled woman experienced. “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” (Luke 13:12)
179. Hypocrites
All Christians believe that sometimes religious people can be hypocrites, by creating man-made taboos that don’t make any compassionate sense. Jesus answers such people, “You hypocrites! Doesn't each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water? Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 13:15-16)
180. His Sheep
All Christians agree that some people will simply not believe because they are not Jesus’ sheep. He said, “I told you, and you don't believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, these testify about me. But you don't believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:25-27)
