Sermon Date: Feb. 6, 2011
Sermon Title: Financial Burn
Sermon Text: Luke 16:1-13
Small Group Text: Luke 16:1-15 Financial Burn: A Lesson in the Use of Money This story, told by Jesus, is one of the most difficult passages in all of Scripture to understand because at first glance, it seems Jesus is commending a man of despicable character. But there’s something else going on here. Verse 8 seems to be at the heart of the illustration: "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. Luke 16:8
Evidently, there is a lesson for the church to be learned and emulated here – certainly not relative to steward’s character; but rather, in the astute management of God’s resources entrusted to His people. Three Challenges for the Church The church (God’s people – individually and corporately) are simply stewards of all God has entrusted to them – prudently using His resources for the furtherance of His kingdom in full realization that we own nothing: We are “stewards!” And someday, God will call us to give an account of how we used His possessions for the furtherance of His kingdom. In light of this: • • •
Christians are to use material wealth for good (v.9) Christians are to be faithful in handling possessions (v.10-12) Christians cannot serve two masters (v.13)
The back-story The steward in this parable was obviously highly regarded and seemingly a trustworthy servant since he had been placed in such a responsible position as overseer of the master’s estate. But this trusted steward proved to be less faithful than the master had hoped. The charge: wasting the master’s possessions. Probably the idea of embezzlement is more to the point, i.e., using the master’s possessions for personal pleasure and benefit. It seems that over time, a delusion set in to the servant’s thinking. Since he had full access to the master’s estate, he began to think of the master’s possession as his very own – to do with what he wanted. Thus began the slippery slope from misusing the master’s assets to outright cheating the master out of his wealth. Could Jesus have had the New Testament church in mind as he told this story? Throughout the New Testament, the term “steward” applies to both pastors (1 Cor. 4:1) and believers in general (1 Peter 4:10). The church, as a trusted and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, has been entrusted with various “possessions” for the furtherance of God’s plan of global redemption. Life, talents, houses, properties, bank accounts, financial portfolios, spiritual gifts, families, relationships, time, physical energy, and brilliant intellect – you name it! Every one of these gifts is an endowment from heaven:
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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
If we are ever tempted to think that the blessings in our lives belong to us, let us remember Jesus’ parable of the unfaithful steward and come back to our senses in full realization that we have nothing that has not been given to us: The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; Psalm 24:1
It is interesting in this back story to note the subtle hint of a second chance. The master had only “heard” an accusation of embezzlement – no real evidence having been brought to bear…yet. The steward was required to prepare a final accounting – giving him a chance to make things right with the master – to prove that he could be trusted to oversee his master’s assets once again. Had the steward spurned this second chance, he would have eventually forfeited his responsible position in the master’s estate. Perhaps Jesus is admonishing his church to awaken to the reality of a day of accounting and to begin preparing for this day by changing the way we think about the stewardship of God’s resources entrusted to us. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12 See also 2 Cor. 5:10; Hebrews 9:27; Rev. 3:2.
Christians are to use material wealth for good (v.9). This shrewd servant knew how to leverage money to affect people’s opinions. And he used his skills in money management to influence people’s attitude toward himself. Granted, his motives were less than noble; but again, the man’s character is not the point. Jesus was honing in on the man’s financial acuity to create the most favorable state of affairs for himself. Here was a man totally committed, working hard, driven toward the pursuit of a goal, albeit self-referential. And this part of his personality was commendable. From Jesus’ perspective, the church can learn something from the people of the world, i.e., that every disciple should be just as dedicated and sold out in spiritual pursuits as worldly people are in their material pursuits. The church is not to be outdone in their vision, energy and dedication! Jesus admonishes Christians to use possessions entrusted to them to serve people. In this way, the church can influence the opinions of others and create the most favorable state of affairs for the accomplishment of kingdom purposes. In short, the prudent management of money can and should win people into the kingdom (vv. 8-9). Jesus is careful to distinguish between Christians and the dishonest manager. The dishonest manager was financially shrewd for personal gain. The disciples, “the people of the light,” are to use worldly wealth sensibly (wisely) and apparently for the same reason the dishonest manager used the rich man’s wealth – to gain friends! In other words, wealth should not be horded but rather used to influence others for Christ. What have you been given? Let us not fall into the delusion that what we have belongs to us. This may be a hard truth with which we need to come to terms; but it’s true nonetheless. Whatever we have of value belongs to God and has only been entrusted to our stewardship – to be managed for the sake of our Master, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What have you been given? How are you using what God has given you for the furtherance of the Kingdom of Heaven? If you continue to manage your Master’s estate status quo, as you are presently doing, how will you fare on the day of accounting? Do you need a “second chance” to get your affairs in order before the day of accounting? Christians are to be faithful in handling possessions (v.10-12). How we handle things of value in our present, temporal lives evidently has a bearing upon what will be entrusted to us in the afterlife.
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“True riches” (v. 11) seems to refer to the spiritual riches in the Kingdom of Heaven – the nature of which is beyond our comprehension. If that day of accounting finds that we were responsible in our stewardship of God’s resources on earth, we will then be given a much greater responsibility, an eternal responsibility, for the Lord in heaven. (See Matthew 25:14-30 and also Matthew 19:29; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 18:30.)
And to the contrary, the Bible seems to teach that the irresponsible (unfaithful) use of money and possessions will disqualify a person from true, heavenly riches. If we handle our lives and possessions carelessly – without thought of Kingdom values, then we demonstrate a lack of spiritual trustworthiness and forfeit greater responsibilities in the new heavens and earth. … his 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 man's work. [14] If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. [15] If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Cor. 3:13-15 (See also Mark 8:38)
How are you handling God’s resources under your care? One indicator of our spiritual integrity is gauged by how we think about and handle money and possessions. How trustworthy have you been in the stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to you? In what sense have you used them to further His plan of global redemption? Or is it possible that you’ve bought the lie that your possessions are “hard-earned” and belong to you solely for your comfort and pleasure? Here’s the spiritual reality: If we are not trustworthy with money and possessions here and now (no matter how much or little we have), we will be unfit to handle the vast riches of God’s kingdom. Christians cannot serve two masters (v.13) Serving as God’s stewards on earth is not a part-time, side job. It is a way of life. When we give ourselves to God we give Him every part of us – all that we are and all that we have – to be used for His purposes. But money has the power to preempt God as the first priority of our lives. Money can master us. Own us! • How much to you worry and fret about money? • Do you live to make money – sacrificing other important priorities? • Do you compulsively worry and slave over the care of your possessions? • Is it difficult to give money away in a spirit of generosity? • To what extent are you in debt? Jesus’ point: it is impossible to love God as one should and love money as the same time. These two “masters” are mutually exclusive. Love for money will distract us from our love for God (1 Tim. 6:10); and, to the contrary, love for God will cause one to keep money in its right priority – not making it the primary concern in life. Let make sure God alone is our Master. In this way, we will have peace of mind and security, both now and forever. Who are you serving? A good test to see where your priorities lie is simply to review your calendar and checkbook. Proportionately, how much time, energy and resources are given to the furtherance of God’s plan to redeem the world? Taking the truth to heart – that a person cannot serve two masters – what would a snap shot of your life today reveal? Who are you serving: God or money? Another little test: How do you generally view people relative to your line of work: commodities to be leveraged for financial gain or people with eternal souls in need of God’s love and salvation? In the words of folk-songwriter and vocalist, Bob Dylan, “Gotta serve somebody!” So whom are you serving?
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