Jesus Said What?

Parables are realistic stories told by Jesus that used everyday situations to teach important spiritual truths.

A list of the parables:

Ten Virgins

The Talents

The Good Samaritan

The Rich Fool

The Barren Fig Tree

The Wedding Feast

The Lost Coin

The Prodigal Son

The Dishonest Manager

The Rich Man and Lazarus

The Persistent Widow

The Pharisee and The Tax Collector

Some parables in the Bible are easy to understand.

The characters are relatable.

The plot unfolds in a natural way.

The truth we are supposed to learn is easy to understand.

Like the prodigal son.

Then there are other ones…

They can leave you a little confused!

Though this is widely accepted as a parable, and is given a a large group of parables, some commentators suggest that because Jesus didn’t say it was a parable it may be a true story.

We will treat it as a parable.

The application does not change.

Luke 16:1–13 ESV

1 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. 2 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.’ 3 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. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 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.’ 8 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. 9 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. 10 “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. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 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.”

Five important observations from this text…

1. Jesus told a story meant to unsettle us. (vv. 1–8a)

This story sounds wrong —on purpose.

The story explained:

Who is the audience?

The disciples.

A rich man had a manager or a steward

A steward would manage someone’s possessions as though they were their own.

Someone ratted this guy out for wasting the rich man’s money.

The manager or steward was dishonest.

The manager fires him — it seems not immediately

He knows he has no skills.

He’s about to lose his job and he has a future to think about.

He get’s creative and intentional with his decisions.

This is where this story is unsettling to us.

Remember: Jesus is telling His disciples this parable.

Luke 16:4 ESV

4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’

1. Jesus told a story meant to unsettle us. (vv. 1–8a)

Greek: He sat down and contemplated his situation— what am I going to do?

Wait, I know…

This guy calls in a bunch of people who owe his boss money.

He makes a deal with them to cook the books.

One guy owes 100 measures of oil and settle for half.

About 1,000 denaii

Paid about 1 denarius a day.

Three years worth of pay.

Another guy owes 100 measures of wheat

8-10 years pay.

decreasing by 20 measures is huge

The surprise: the master praises his shrewdness.

Jesus is making up this story.

Why would Jesus praise this dishonesty?

Jesus is NOT saying: “be dishonest”

Jesus IS saying: “be intentional with what you have while you still have time.”

This manager made friends —people who would welcome them in their home when he lost his job.

You guys are planning for college, careers, income, families.

Jesus asks: “What are you planning your life FOR?”

What’s all this LIFE about? Why am I here?

You’re already building a future—Jesus wants to know what kind.

And how far out are you planning?

are you more worried about building your resume or investing in eternity?

2. Be strategic with the opportunities God gives. (v. 8)

“The sons of this world are more shrewd… than the sons of light.”

People are laser-focused on money, success, and security.

Look how much effort, strategy and purpose the sons of this world put into bettering themselves.

How much effort are you putting into…

Sports

Grades

Getting into college

Getting a job

People put so much effort into this.

Christians are often casual about eternal impact.

James 4:14 ESV

14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Psalm 39:5 ESV

5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

The psalmist measures his time with the smallest possible measuring unit in ancient time.

Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Walk carefully — intentionally, shrewdly!!

We don’t have much time and we only have this time ONCE!

Colossians 3:2 ESV

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

What is your mind set on?

Here’s where Jesus flips this!

Luke 16:8–9 ESV

8 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. 9 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.

The world is more shrewd dealing with temporary things than we are dealing with eternal things.

The challenge is to think about eternity and use the time we are given to tell people about Jesus.

SO… when the things of this earth fail you will have someone to welcome you home to eternity.

1 John 2:17 ESV

17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

2. Be strategic with the opportunities God gives. (v. 8)

ASK THE ROOM:

How much time do you think about

Worry about

Strategically plan

You life on earth?

How much time do you think about who will meet Jesus because of your life?

If eternity is real, it should impact our present decisions.

3. Jesus redefines success: Use your life to impact people. (v. 9)

“I tell you, make friends for yourselves… so that when it fails they may receive you into eternal dwellings.”

I tell you

This is important.

Apparently we don’t have an english word that captures the greek word.

You can almost see Jesus looking at each one of His disciples in the eyes.

Making sure they are paying attention.

Luke 16:9 ESV

9 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.

3. Jesus redefines success: Use your life to impact people. (v. 9)

What Jesus is saying

Money will disappear

Careers will end

Possessions won’t follow you to eternity

PEOPLE can follow you to eternity!

Imagine sitting with Jesus and Him saying…

Listen to me!

Look into my eyes.

If you don’t hear anything else I say…

Imagine getting to heaven and having people welcome you…

“You invited me over.”

“You shared Christ with me.”

“Your love for me caused me to be intrigued.”

“You gave so I could hear the gospel from a missionary.”

“You obeyed God instead of chasing comfort.”

“You chose to make time for me.”

What are we doing to prepare for eternity?

What are you doing to advance the gospel?

How are you making your life count for God?

What friends will welcome you because your were shrewd with the money of this world.

True success is the PEOPLE we impact.

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 ESV

19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

3. Jesus redefines success: Use your life to impact people. (v. 9)

Who will you present to Jesus?

This should be our thought that drives our lives.

What if I were to get to the end of my life and figure out I was successful at the wrong thing?

We can chase things that don’t last.

We can be successful in things that don’t matter in eternity.

They say a Superbowl lasts forever —no it doesn’t.

Ultimately we want the greatest return on our investment

The greatest return on investment isn’t money—it’s people.

4. Faithfulness now reveals what we’re really living for. (vv. 10–12)

Principle

How you handle small things shows your heart

Money reveals trustworthiness

How you spend your time reveals what you are living for

God watches how you use what you already have

Application

Time

Talents

Influence

Opportunities

Summer jobs

Allowance

Life choices

Our faithfulness in these small things are how God will give us more things to do for Him.

5. You can’t serve two masters. (v. 13)

“You cannot serve God and money.”

The Greek word for money is really: everything you have in this world.

Clarify:

This doesn’t mean:

Careers are evil

Money is sinful

It means:

Money is a terrible master

God alone deserves control of your future

What is your heart dreaming of?

What do you want God to do most in your life?

Why is it so tempting to try to serve two god’s?

Why do we so easily chase temporary things so hard?

The kiddos and their love for Five Below trinkets.

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

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. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

5. You can’t serve two masters. (v. 13)

The things we chase in this world are like Five Below trinkets.

They are fun for a little while but they don’t last.

The things of God abide forever!

Money makes a great tool, but money makes a horrible god.

What if God wants more?

Some will glorify God in business, trades, medicine, education.

What if God wants more in your local church?

What areas of need are there that God may want you to step into.

You say I can’t because…

This is the time to be shrewd with the opportunities God gives now.

What if God is calling your into vocational ministry

What if God wants:

A missionary?

A pastor?

Thought from a commentary on Matthew: (Matthew Vannette and Micah)

The most effective soldiers are those who don’t expect to return from battle

The one who enlists in Jesus’ service forfeits their life as the world defines it.

Which leaves nothing to lose and no one to fear except God.

The safest place isn’t most financial security, it’s in the middle of God’s will!

Jim Elliot: Died at 28 trying to share the gospel with a tribe in the Amazon…

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot

Have you ever seriously asked God:

“What do YOU want me to do with my life?”

Is there something more or different?

Or have you already decided… and asked God to bless it?

Conclusion:

The Question Jesus Leaves Us With

Not:

“How can I make the most money or be the most comfortable?”

But:

“What life will make the biggest eternal difference?”

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose," -Jim Elliot

Spend your life shrewdly gathering friends that will be in eternity with you!