The Spirit of Mammon

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Luke 16:1–13 GW

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a business manager. The manager was accused of wasting the rich man’s property. So the rich man called for his manager and said to him, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Let me examine your books. It’s obvious that you can’t manage my property any longer.’ “The manager thought, ‘What should I do? My master is taking my job away from me. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg. I know what I’ll do so that people will welcome me into their homes when I’ve lost my job.’ “So the manager called for each one of his master’s debtors. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ “The debtor replied, ‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil.’ “The manager told him, ‘Take my master’s ledger. Quick! Sit down, and write “four hundred!” ’ “Then he asked another debtor, ‘How much do you owe?’ “The debtor replied, ‘A thousand bushels of wheat.’ “The manager told him, ‘Take the ledger, and write “eight hundred!” ’ “The master praised the dishonest manager for being so clever. Worldly people are more clever than spiritually-minded people when it comes to dealing with others.” ⌊Jesus continued,⌋ “I’m telling you that although wealth is often used in dishonest ways, you should use it to make friends for yourselves. When life is over, you will be welcomed into an eternal home. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with a lot. Whoever is dishonest with very little is dishonest with a lot. Therefore, if you can’t be trusted with wealth that is often used dishonestly, who will trust you with wealth that is real? If you can’t be trusted with someone else’s wealth, who will give you your own? “A servant cannot serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

I. Main Point behind this story is how the steward managed money. He was forward-thinking enough to cut deals with people who owed his master money, hoping they would do him favors.

2.Money should used to take care of our future instead of our present circumstances.

3. Money not only impacts the present and the future, but also eternity. Jesus said that if we have done the right thing with money, when we die we will meet people we helped financially, and they will appreciate what we did for them.

4. “The least” that Jesus referred to is money.

We can be givers where we are in our finances right now. We do not have to postpone giving until we have a bigger income.

5.“Mammon” is the Aramaic translation for money. It was also the name of the Syrian god of riches.

B. There are some facts we need to know about mammon.

1. It is in direct contrast to the Spirit of God.

a. Mammon says “buy and keep.” God says “sow and reap.” It says “cheat and steal.” God says “give and receive.”

2. It wants to rule our lives and cause us to sacrifice our very character for money.

a.The spirit of mammon influenced the prodigal son, who left home and made poor decisions because of money. That same spirit influenced the elder son, who became angry when he learned that his younger brother had returned ().

Luke 15:11–32 KJV 1900

And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

b.Mammon is all about self-centeredness, which leads to bitterness.

3.It promises to give us things only God can give us.

a.Mammon is selfish, but God is generous.

4.Mammon talks to us when we are trying to give to God.

1.When the rich young ruler asked Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life, he listened to the spirit of mammon, not to Jesus (; ; ).

Matthew 19:16–22 KJV 1900

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Mark 10:17–22 KJV 1900

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Luke 18:18–23 KJV 1900

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

5.Mammon has three cousins; pride, greed, and poverty.

a. The spirit of poverty will make us ashamed of the blessings of God.

b.The spirit of pride will not acknowledge God for his blessings. It will focus only on itself.

c. It will focus only on itself.The spirit of greed causes us to hold on to everything we have and seek even more.

c.The spirit of greed causes us to hold on to everything we have and seek even more.