January 3, 2016
Evening Service

Luke 16:1-7

In our study of the Parables of Jesus, the parable of the Prodigal Son certainly enlightens us into the true heart of God.  The father was truly hurt by the unwise decisions his son had made, yet still he watched and longed for him to return.  Imagine the many nights he stood at the window and saw nothing, until finally his prayers were answered.  He did not wait for his son to come to the door and have his “I told you so” speech all ready, he ran to him with a great compassion and restored him to his former position.

In our times of making unwise decisions that lead us away from God, our Heavenly Father does the same for us.  He allows the consequences of our decisions and the pain that goes with them to humble us and open our minds and hearts to how much He really does love us.  I guarantee that there was a change in his son’s life from that point forward.  He received grace and mercy not justice.  The same should be true for each of us.  Tonight we will look at how we can apply that change to our life as a steward of what God has given us.  Tonight we will look at the Parable of the Unjust Servant in Luke 16.

Luke 16:1-4  And He also said to His disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a steward. And he was accused to him, that he had wasted his goods.  (2)  And he called him and said to him, “What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you may no longer be steward.”  (3) And the steward said within himself, “What shall I do? For my lord is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.  (4) I know what I will do, so that when I am put out of the stewardship they may receive me into their houses.” 

·         A steward is one who is entrusted with the management of another man’s property.  Each one of us as Christians should consider ourselves stewards of what God has entrusted us with.  Jesus uses this story of an unjust, worldly steward to open our eyes to what is expected of us.

·         This particular steward had not done well with what had been given him and he knew he would now have to give account for it.  He quickly put his plan into action. 

 

Luke 16:5-7  So he called every one of his master's debtors and said; to the first, “How much do you owe my lord?”  (6)  And he said, “A hundred baths of oil.” And he said to him, “Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty.”  (7)  And he said to another, “And how much do you owe?” And he said, “A hundred measures of wheat.” And he said to him, “Take your bill and write eighty.”

·         The steward’s plan was not designed to please his master, but to make other friends that would be there in his near future when he would be unemployed.  He chose to sacrifice his integrity now for the hope of financial security for tomorrow. 

 

 

Luke 16:8-9  And the unjust steward's master commended him because he had done wisely. For the sons of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.  (9)  And I say to you, “Make friends by the mammon of unrighteousness for yourselves, so that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.”

·         The master is not commending the steward for cheating him out of what was rightfully owed him, but he commended him for being shrewd enough to secure his own future first.  For the steward it was not about doing the right thing, but it was all about taking care of himself and his financial security.  Those who live for life on this earth will go to great lengths to secure the future they desire. (v8)

·         How many people spend far more time, energy and money planning their earthly retirement than investing in their eternal one?  This unjust steward had done just that.  He was willing to sacrifice his moral obligation to his master to ensure his own well-being.  It was an act of putting himself first even above God’s divine commands.

·         Jesus now begins to expound on the principles of stewardship he wants his disciples to clearly understand and put into practice.

 

Luke 16:10-13  He who is faithful in the least is also faithful in much. And he who is unjust in the least is also unjust in much.  (11)  Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you?  (12)  And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who shall 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 else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

·         God expects us to be good stewards of what He has entrusted to us.  If we are faithful with the small things He gives, He will entrust us with greater things.  The opposite is also true.  If we are unfaithful with the small things, He certainly will not give us greater ones to manage.

·         This parable deals with the management of our money.  Are we being faithful and wise with what God has entrusted us with?  Are we giving faithfully to the Lord’s work and using the rest to glorify Him?  Or are we wasting what He has given us on frivolous living and giving Him the crumbs that are left over?

·         I also we believe we can stretch this parable to include the other talents and abilities God has given to us.  Are we being faithful in the small things such as church attendance, praying and studying God’s Word? Do we desire greater things from God without being faithful to the small things?  Are we using our God given talents and abilities in such a manner to build up the kingdom of God or to build up our kingdom?

·         What is your perspective on life?  Is it better to enjoy the present for tomorrow may never come? It has been said that a man is wise to give up the things he can never keep to attain something he can never lose.

·         Jesus now uses the Pharisees who loved to receive the praises and accolades of men on this earth to help prove His point.

 

 

Luke 16:15-17  And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.  (16)  The Law and the Prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone is pressing into it.  (17)  And it is easier for the heaven and earth to pass than for one tittle of the Law to fail.”

·         These Pharisees loved the life of affluence and reverence they received for their pious and spiritual lives they appeared to be living.  Their actions were not coming from a heart that was sold out to serving God, but to one that greatly desired the praises of man and the pleasures of this life.

·         It is our hearts that God desires.  He wants us to be changed just as the prodigal son was.  He wants us to love Him, because He first loved us. He wants us to put Him first in every aspect of our lives. We can show we love Him by being good stewards of all He has blessed us with for His glory not our own.

·         As we enter a new year, it is a great time to take inventory of all that God has given us and to be sure we are using it as a good and faithful steward would.

 

Lord, may we be found faithful in the little things so You can bless us with much greater.