How to Invest Your One and Only Life

Warren Wiersbe in his commentary on this passage shares a quote from an anonymous individual who defined money as:

“An article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven, and as a universal provider for everything except happiness.”

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 238). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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He then adds this… “The writer might have added that money is also a provoker of covetousness and competition, a wonderful servant but a terrible master. For the Love of Money is still “A root of all kinds of evil. (1 Timothy 6:10) and has helped fill our world with corruption and lust (1 Peter 1:4)

In our text for today, we see that Jesus is speaking directly to His disciples… Luke 16:1-15 However, the Pharisees are still listening in on the conversation … Here is what Jesus is saying… READ

After speaking to the religious leaders of Commitment and Care concerning the lost people… people who are walking in darkness and need the light to show them just how debilitating and binding darkness can be (sin) he talks about wealth.

He first shared the story of the Prodigal Son (s) and now he turns to His disciples, while the religious leaders are still listening and talks to them about Stewardship… Making the most of what you have been given.

Today we are Looking at how to Invest your One and Only Life in a meaningful way.

For us to see what Jesus means through this parable we will look at two things in regard to money and being a steward of it...

The Right Use of Wealth

Which includes “A Foolish Steward” (vv. 1-2) and “A Wise Steward” (vv. 3-8)

The Wrong Use of Money (vv. 16-31)

First, The Right Use of Wealth...

The Foolish Steward

Like the Prodigal (Wasteful) son, this steward wasted his master’s goods. A steward is Someone who manages another’s wealth. He does not own it, but he has the privilege of enjoying it. The most important thing about being as steward is to be “Faithful” to your master.

Paul writes in 1 Cor. 4:2

1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV

2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

When the Steward looks at the riches around him, he must remember that they belong to his master, and not to him personally, and the money must be used in a way that will please the master. Not themselves...

This particular Steward forgot that he was a steward and began to act as if he were the owner.

Word was out that he was not doing something right and his master approached him. “What’s this I hear about you? Let me see the books. You will no longer be my steward…

Before we judge this man too severely, let’s take a look at our own lives as God’s stewards.

We are stewards of our ‘Time’ our ‘Talents’ and our ‘Treasures’. God has given them to us to use for him to ‘TOUCH’ the lives of other for the Gospel.

So the question we can ask ourselves, How am I investing my ‘Time’ for God? My ‘Talents’ for God; My ‘Treasures’ for God?

What have I done, what am I doing, and what will I do as the church to be the best steward of my time for God.

I’ve loves Serving the Lord for the past 41 years in ministry. I remember days with the youth, long hours, long nights. But oh the joy when one of them returns and says thanks for taking time with us.

When a Baseball player stands up at the plate and bases are load, they would love to hit a grand-slam every time. Do they? No… at best they may do it 1-3 times out of every 10-20 times the opportunity arrises, but they always give it their best shot.

That leads us to our talents… Sometimes I think we get hung up on Talent’s verses Spiritual Gifts. The truth is, whatever God given talents we have received, God asks us to use them for him; By His Holy Spirit he has empowered some to be stronger leaders than others; some who are able to evangelize because that is a special Spiritual gift God has given to them. My Spiritual gift of Mercy…

1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10 NIV

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

The fact is, whatever it is we do, is to be done to the Honor and Glory of God.

In Colossians 3:23

Colossians 3:23 NIV

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Colossians 3:24

Colossians 3:24 NIV

24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

This brings us to the Third aspect of Stewardship … our treasures …

This steward forgot who his master was. He was being called on the carpet. He got his hands caught in the cookie jar.

For what? Not taking seriously the Treasures he had been entrusted with. What he did with them is uncertain. HOWEVER, we do know is that others saw a miss use of his power and most likely, he was cheating the people out of money. He was cooking the books.

Warren Weirsbe writes:

The thief says, “What’s yours is mine - I’ll take it!”

The Selfish mans says, “What’s mine is mine - I’ll keep it!”

But the Christian must say, “What’s mine is a gift from God - I’ll share it.”

We are all stewards of what God has given to us and we must use them wisely, as committed followers of Jesus and concerned about the lost people of this world.

Finally we are stewards of how we touch the lives of other people with the Gospel…

Paul Writes, 2 Cor 4:7

2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

(Possibly read 2 Cor 4:1-9)

God has committed the treasure of His truth (His Word - Jesus) to us and we must present it; guard it (1 Timothy 6:20) and invest it in the lives of others. (2 Timothy 2:2)

1 Timothy 6:20 NIV

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,

2 Timothy 2:2 NIV

2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

Like this steward we will one day have to give an account of our stewardship to God. 2 Cor 5:10

2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

If we have been faithful, the Lord will give us His commendation and reward. 1 Cor 4:5

1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV

5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

But if we have not been faithful, we will lose those blessings, even though we will be saved and enter heaven. 1 Cor 3:13-15

1 Corinthians 3:13–15 NIV

13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

That was the foolish Steward… Now …

The Wise Steward (vv. 3-8)

This man knew he would lose his job. He couldn’t change that, but he could prepare for the future and that is what he did. It appears he went to his master’s creditors before the word got out that he was fired and cut their debt in half. This way he knew there would be a place for him.

Jesus does not commend the steward for robbing his master or for encouraging others to be dishonest. Jesus commended him for making wise use of his opportunity.

This phase reminds me of a friend whom I meet regularly with. About 2 years ago he was let go from his job. His boss felt bad for him, but said the upper management wanted to let him go. My friends response was, “Don’t feel bad. You are just opening the door of opportunity for me.”

Since then, his former place of employment is in shambles, but God has taken care of him.

I share this, because whatever comes our way, it is important to make the most of every opportunity for the Lord.

Warren Wiersbe writes, “The children of this world” are experts at seizing opportunity for making money and friends and getting ahead. God’s people should take heed and be just as wise when it comes to managing the spiritual affairs of life. “The children of this world are wiser only “in their generation”; they see the things of time, but not the things of eternity. Because the Child of God lives “with eternity’s values in view,” he should be able to make far better use of his opportunities.”

He goes on to say, “One of these days, life will end, and we will not be able to earn or use money. Therefore while we have the opportunity, we must invest our money in ‘Making friends’ for the Lord.

This means winning people to Christ who will one day welcome us to heaven. Our live and our resources will one day end. Make use of them wisely.

How does this apply to us? God calls us to be wholly devoted to him. (vs. 13)

We cannot serve two masters any more than we can walk in two directions at the same time. If we chose money, then we cannot serve God. If we choose to serve God, then we will not serve money.

If God is our master, then money will be our servant and we will use our resources in the will of God. But if God is not our Master, then we will become the servants of money, and money is a terrible master. We will waste our lives instead of investing them.

Henry Fielding wrote: “Make money your god and it will plague you like the devil!” Jesus said, “Make money your servant and use today’s opportunities as investments in tomorrow’s dividends.”

Will you be a wise steward of your money for God’s Kingdom? Remember, there are souls to be save and God has given us the money as a resource to help get the job done.

That’s the work of the church…To invest in the lives of people is what matters to God; for you to make the most of your life is to remember that your time, talents, and treasures have been given to you, for you to touch the lives of others for Jesus Christ. Let’s Pray...