PARABLES OF JESUS - THE UNJUST SERVANT

THE UNJUST SERVANT

We are now half through our 25-week journey through the parables. Last week we looked at one of the most famous parables of all, The Lost Son, the Prodigal Son. We looked at how both sons were part of the story from the beginning, both were selfish and had a prodigal experience, how the Father restored the younger son – how God our Father restores us when we return to Him and how Jesus left the story open-ended, allowing us to write our ending – when we are one of the sons, how do we respond – is it temporary or is it a life change? Or do we act as the Father – forgiving those that take advantage of us and restore relationships when others leave and come back?

Today we look at The Dishonest Manager or Unjust Steward – probably one of the parables that is not only difficult to interpret but also has given to so many different interpretations as well as leaving many scratching their head, What is the point of this parable? That, hopefully, is the question we will answer today. So, as we being, Let Us Pray!

THE UNJUST STEWARD

Luke 16:1–13 – He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Jesus turns to his disciples and in front of the Pharisee’s tell this parable – The sin most likely to be linked with pride is greed. Man isn’t satisfied with his possessions but lusts for greater things. The love of money is the root of all evil—1 Timothy 6:10 – and the Pharisee’s loved power and money.

I. Failure Condemned—vv. 1–3

A. Unjust steward—v. 1. The steward became careless – he was wasting the rich’s man possessions (no accusation of dishonesty so not theft) – probably includes some form of neglect

As Christians, we are stewards (or caretakers) of what God gives us. We are responsible to God for these things – not wasting them – not being neglectful

1. Time— Use your time wisely!

Psalm 90:12 – So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom

Ephesians 5:16 – Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

2. Talent—Use whatever talent you have!

Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

1 Peter 4:10 – As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

3. Tithes—Our tithe belongs to God!

Malachi 3:8–10 – Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Proverbs 3:9-10 – Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

4. Traits—Produce the fruit of the Spirit in daily living.

Galatians 5:22–23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Colossians 3:12 – Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

B. Undependable Steward—vv. 2–3. The steward didn’t take good care of the master’s goods. He didn’t expect the master to return so soon and had to turn in the books

So what happened –

2 possible scenarios –

1. He acted corruptly – wasted his master’s goods and the falsifies the records to cover it up

I believe it was Scenario #2 because the steward was first condemned but then commended.

2. He forgave the interest on the accounts – making it acceptable to both the master and the customers – instead of losing out of everything – he forgave the interest making the customer happy – he collected what was owed for the master. According to Jewish law – charging interest was illegal

Exodus 22:25 – “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.

Deuteronomy 23:19-23 – “You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest.

Pharisee’s and the rich always found ways around God’s law –

Nehemiah 5:6-11 – I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say. So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.”

II. Foresight Commended—vv. 4–9

A. Steward’s foresight—vv. 4–8

So the steward thinks – unless I fix this I will be unable to be hired as a steward – I am too old to dig or do strenuous work – and I am too proud to beg – so

If I help people out – when I am laid off/fired – they will remember what I did and welcome me into their homes

So he summons the rich man’s debtors –

Oil – the most expensive – most valuable – write a new bill instead of 100 write 50

Wheat – has the debtor instead of 100 write 80

They all weren’t 50% - it was based on the value and the interest owed on each

But now he is referred to as dishonest

The debtors had unfair interest slashed and a lower amount owed

Since a new bill was written – the owner could not demand the original amount without exposing his collecting interest, being oppressive and violating God’s Word

So all he can do is commend the shrewdness of the manager – cleverness discernment perceptiveness insight

The manager makes the rich man look – compassionate, upright,

Jesus concludes the parable with the people of the world are more shrewd, cunning than God’s people – believers tend to lack wisdom to use what God has given them wisely

Jesus then tells His disciples and us – make friends by unrighteous wealth – wealth of this world to be used for Kingdom Purposes– so when their worldly wealth fails they will come to you and welcome you in

When they are left empty by the world – they will be ready to hear you out

III. Faithfulness Counseled—vv. 10–13

A. In service—v. 10. Learn faithfulness in small things. Note the importance of being faithful—

What you do with the small things in life you tend to do with the big things in life – A Zebra doesn’t change its stripes

If you are faithful and good in the small things of life you tend to do the same in the big things in life

If you are dishonest in the small things – you will be dishonest in the big things in life.

Verses 11-12 are paradoxical – we would say if you are not good in handling your own money how can you handle others money

But Jesus flips the script on us

Our money is not really our money – everything we have from the clothes on our backs to the vehicles we drive are God’s

(But I worked, I earned, I bought – etc. God gave)

So if we handle that poorly we cannot handle heavenly riches – our permanent home

If you can't be faithful with the wealth you get on earth to do God’s Work – how then can you be trusted with the bigger, more important Spiritual things

Either money serves you – or you serve money –

Money is either a tool or an implement

If your trust lies in worldly possessions and money then God will not trust you

We cannot go after money and God – we cannot feed our appetite for money and our relationship with God

Jesus says we will love one and hate the other or devoted to one and despise the other

Based on your calendar and checkbook – what would the evidence show -

Who are you devoted to? Who do you despise?

Who do you love and who do you hate?

When our last breath leaves us will we hear …

Matthew 25:21 – His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Matthew 6:33-34 – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Proverbs 3:5–6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

The steward did not know when the rich man would return - In the same way – we don’t know when Christ will return

Matthew 24:44 – Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

The teachings of Christ were not popular. Today those who teach His Word will likewise not be popular. Those who love their possessions more than God will show a lack of: (1) self-denial, (2) self-discipline, and (3) self-dedication. Keep your eyes fixed on Christ, and worldly possessions will lose importance.

Let Us Pray!