Serving 2 - Stewardship

Ownership, Stewardship, Relationship

We are responsible to care for both natural and supernatural responsibilities.

Luke 16:1–9 (NLT)

1 Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money.

1 – Ownership – Act Like Its Yours

It’s a rental – don’t care

Copeland – every church member ought to care for their church as if they were the pastor

2 So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’

2 – Stewardship - Money and Opportunity

1: the office, duties, and obligations of a steward

2: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something – especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care – stewardship of natural resources

Trust

Resume’ vs reality

Do people have to keep an eye on you?

Wasting

Had it good, threw it away. Taken for granted

Thought he could get away with it.

Similar to prodigal son = waste

Slacker

Wasn’t mine

Didn’t care

Leave lights, heat on. Leave unlocked. My shift is over

Accountability

At will employment – Had it

3 “The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg.

3 – Relationship = Bridges, Burned and Built

He Burned old bridge, Had to build new ones - QUICK

Luke 16:4–8 NLT

4 Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’ 5 “So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ 6 The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’ 7 “ ‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’ 8 “The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.

Shrewd

Definition of shrewd

1a: marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen – shrewd common sense

b: given to wily and artful ways or dealing – a shrewd operator

Children of the world –

· Look at the world powers – Amazon, big box stores, big tech, media, (especially social).

· they are the ones calling the shots, not the church.

· They influence politicians and policies that you are forced to live under.

9 Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.

Life Lesson: Be careful how you treat people. Today’s employee can become tomorrow’s employer!