Questions of Stewardship.
Notes
Transcript
1 Now he said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who received an accusation that his manager was squandering his possessions.
2 So he called the manager in and asked, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you can no longer be my manager.’
In Jesus day a manager had great control over his masters’ wealth. In fact, the wealth would have been put into his hands to both grow his masters wealth but also his own. It was not uncommon for a manager to charge individuals additional interest in order to increase his own wealth.
As long as the rich man’s financial situation was improving the owner didn’t mind.
However, it seems this particular manager was squandering his master’s possessions.
The word “squander” is the same word we saw used in describing the prodigal sons reckless living.
So it would seem that this manager had forgotten who provided him with the wealth to use and enjoy. He was living as if his masters’s property was his own. He was using his masters wealth for his own pleasure only. He was wasting what had been given to him both to enjoy but also invest.
In the same way, I think if we are honest. We often fall into this same category. We often forget that all we have is the Lord’s. We are allowed to enjoy it but also it needs to be invested for the Kingdom of God.
15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.
The Purpose of man from the beginning was to steward what God had created and given them.
When the possessor of heaven and earth brought you into being and placed you in this world, He placed you here not as owner but as a steward.
—John Wesley
John Wesley
So my first question for you today is this...
Q: Do you see yourself as a steward or owner?
Q: Do you see yourself as a steward or owner?
A steward recognizes that he owns nothing. His purpose is to manage well the property of his master.
But there is a side to this we often miss.
19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
There is more to stewardship than just money. You are to make the most of your own life on earth. If you are in Christ you are owned. You have been purchased by the blood of Christ. You are to see yourself as a not owner of your days but rather simply a steward.
Q: Does Christ consider you a good steward?
Q: Does Christ consider you a good steward?
Are you making good use of your time, energy, and finances?
Or maybe a better question would be How are you making use of these things for God’s kingdom? Are you giving generously? Do you serve regularly? Are you dreaming of ways to use all that God has given you to steward for the sake of His mission and kingdom?
Or are you like the unwise steward squandering His resources on your own selfish desires?
So then what does this unfaithful servant do, when he realizes he is in trouble.
3 “Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do since my master is taking the management away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig; I’m ashamed to beg.
4 I know what I’ll do so that when I’m removed from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’
5 “So he summoned each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first one.
6 “ ‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he said. “ ‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘sit down quickly, and write fifty.’
7 “Next he asked another, ‘How much do you owe?’ “ ‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he said. “ ‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘and write eighty.’
Most likely what is happening is that the manager is subtracting the interest owed on the amount.
So in other words, instead of charging great amount of interest he forgives the debtors their debt. Hoping that his kindness will be reciprocated when he is fired.
8 “The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people.
The master praises the man not for his dishonesty but rather his understanding that if he uses his master’s wealth for the benefit of others instead of himself. He will have at least have gained friends in this world. These religious leaders weren’t even doing that.
He is telling the religious leaders that those who do not know the truth act more wise toward people than themselves. At least they understand generosity brings friends.
9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings.
Jesus is not suggesting that one can earn their way into heaven but rather how we use our wealth uncovers what we love. If you Love Jesus you will use your wealth and time in a way that will benefit others. Then when you die you will be welcomed into heaven by those who’s life you had impacted for the Kingdom.
We see this idea in verse 13
13 No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
The word used for “money” in this verse, in some other translations, is translated as mammon. I actually like this word better because it portrays the struggle of trying to serve two gods. “Mammon” - was a god of the underworld, also the god of wealth. This verse is not just about the usage of money, but rather an issue of worship. Which god do you serve? Which God to you worship? Which god is your master?
Q: Do you find yourself pursuing wealth more than you find your heart pursuing Christ?
Q: Do you find yourself pursuing wealth more than you find your heart pursuing Christ?
do you love wealth more than you love Christ? It really is that cut and dry.
This is a very serious question. Mammon is really the embodiment of the worlds system.
We see this same warning elsewhere.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
In fact, this next story that Jesus told shows us this idea in a very graphic way. Now their is some debate on weather or not this is parable or if Jesus is referencing a real series of events. If indeed it is just a parable it is the only one that uses a specific name. I lean toward this is Jesus giving us a real-life glimpse into the other side. But weather it is a real account or it is a parable does not change the impact of what is taught here.
19 “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day.
20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate.
21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores.
22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side.
24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’
25 “ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’
27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—
28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
We see the rich man was so consumed with wealth and the pleasures it could produce that he had no love for those who were around him. He worshipped Mammon and mammons domain(hades) is where he ended up. Yet the poor man loved God despite his circumstances and ended up with Abraham in paradise.
It is interesting that Jesus makes reference to this point found in Luke 16:27-31
27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—
28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
Here this rich man request someone to go and warn his brothers what will take place if their hearts are not changed. Yet Abraham tells them to listen to their prophets that is warning enough. In other words, the scripture themselves is enough of a witness. If they don’t believe those whom they have called their prophets then they wouldn’t believe one whom had been raised from the dead. How do we know this to be true? Because Jesus literally raised from the dead and yet people still demand more proof. Because belief is not the ultimate problem. The root of unbelief is not a lack of evidence but rather a hard heart ruled by sin.
But what about those who are in Christ?
Sometime in marriages one has to be reminded of the love he/she has for their spouse. It isn’t that the love isn’t their but due to the business of life and the distractions of the everyday, it can be easy to neglect the relationship with the one you love. Distractions can cause you to forget why it is you do what you do, because you love your spouse and family. The same is true with our relationship with Christ. This is one of those reminders.
10 Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much.
11 So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with what is genuine?
12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own?
Q: Do you want God to entrust you with more?
Q: Do you want God to entrust you with more?
It is so easy for us to get distracted from our first love and priorities. Obviously this passage is not just talking about money. However, how we use money does reveal something about our hearts.
In this passage we see to those who do want to honor God. To those who want to accomplish much for him: We must first be faithful in whatever the circumstances God has placed you in, for however long God sees fit. It is then and only then that God entrusts us with more.
However , the more you are entrusted with the greater the responsibility to remain faithful.
48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.
I believe their are many in this room like me. Where deep down inside you are not satisfied with the mark you have left on this world. You want to accomplish more for Christ. You want to make an impact.
So then be faithful to use all that God has given you this far. No matter the lifestage you are in, Young or old. Decide in your heart that you are going to be faithful. Reflect often of the love you experienced the moment you were redeemed. Remind yourself of your purpose in this world. Be faithful.
Maybe you are here today and you realize that you have not been faithful. Don’t be discouraged. Repent and return. God still wants to use and reward you.
Or maybe you are here today in need of salvation. Maybe you have been chasing after another god, the god of wealth. If you pursue this god you will end up in his domain/kingdom. Scripture is clear on that. But there is also hope for you.
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him.
15 And he told them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.
16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently invited to enter it.
17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to drop out.
18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
Notice how Jesus no matter what laws have been broken. No matter what sin they have committed points them to this truth.
16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently invited to enter it.
Again we see this theme. There is no resistance from Yahweh God to save sinners. He urgently invites you into his kingdom. Will you accept his offer while there is still time?Will you turn from your sin and turn to Christ for forgiveness. Will you acknowledge Him as lord today. He is urgently inviting you into something far greater than you will ever find in this world.