The unjust steward luke 16 1 15

What would you do ?

Aseity Graciousness Immanence Incomprehensibility Infinity Jealousy Love Omnibenevolence

Omnipotence Omnipresence Omniscience Oneness Providence Sovereignty Transcendence Trinity

Wrath IMMUTABILITY HOLINESS RIGHTEOUSNESS VERACITY

Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

V1 He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. Rich man : Owner Steward : “A steward is someone

who manages something that belongs to someone else. He does not own it, but has the privilege / responsibility of managing it for the benefit / profit of his owner.”

Eg Eliezer & Joseph

Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

V1 He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him

that this man was WASTING

his goods.

Accusation made : ‘Wasting’

Same Gk word as in Luke 15:13

Prodigal Son - “the younger son .... ‘squandered his wealth’ in wild living.”

Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

v2 So he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'

Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

v3 "Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.

v4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.'

V 5 "So he called every one of his master's debtors to him,

and said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?‘

V 6 And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.'

So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.‘

'A hundred measures (‘bath’) of oil.' NIV: “800 gallons” Produced by an orchard of about

140-160 olive trees... Total worth : 1,000 Denarii 50% reduction = 500 Denarii

V 7 Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?'

So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.'

And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.’

'A hundred measures (‘cor’) of wheat.‘ NIV: “About 1000 bushels” Produce from about 100 acres Total Worth : 2,500 – 3,000 denarii 20 % reduction – about 500 denarii

Only two eg stated Most likely there were

others ....

Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

V 8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly.

Clarification : It is the master (rich owner) who

commended – not Jesus. the master never said what the

steward did was right the master only praised him for

being “shrewd”

http://thesaurus.com/browse/shrewd

Some of the Synonyms of shrewd :

brainy, discerning, farsighted, ingenious, keen, knowing, on the inside, on top of, perceptive, probing, profound, prudent, quick witted, savvy, sensible, sharp, smart, wise...

‘sons of this world’ Eph 2:2 “... when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient....”

‘sons of light’ Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 1 Thess 5:5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

V 8b For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

NKJV v9 "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon,

that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

JB Phillips : Now my advice to you is to use 'money', tainted as it is, to make yourselves friends, so that when it comes to an end, they may welcome you into eternal habitations.

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

Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

v10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

Matt 25:21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

1 Cor 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

there are no

small things

in God’s Kingdom.... sm

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Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

v11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

ie. worldly wealth ≠ true riches (Matt 6:19-21) v12 And if you have not been trustworthy with

someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

Eg : Parable of the Talents (Matt 25)

I used to think I could not serve both God

and Money and then I discovered

MULTI-TASKING ....

v13 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

v14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.

v15 He (Jesus) said to them (Pharisees), "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.

Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

APPLICATION : This Parable is about Stewardship Stewardship of our finances dealings Financial Dealings involve MONEY...

Teachings of Jesus Jesus taught on Faith, Prayer, Baptism, Lord’s Supper and Money. Most time was spend on .... ? • 38 parables – 19 on money • > 2,350 verses on money

Vs about 500 verses on prayer, & < 500 verses on faith

• 10% of Gospel verses on Money 16 X more verses than baptism 32 X more verses than Lord’s Supper

That’s how impt MONEY was to Jesus

Defined money as : "an article which may be used as a

universal passport to everywhere

EXCEPT HEAVEN, & as a universal provider for everything

EXCEPT HAPPINESS."

Stewardship definitely involves MONEY ... So what is our attitude towards MONEY ? What is the “Tithe” ? 10 % giving

So after we ‘tithe’ 10% ... Remaining 90% ... Q: Whose is it ? Q: Is it ours to use as we wish ? Ref Deut 8:18 “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, ...”

• Stewardship involves MONEY ... • But STEWARDSHIP ≠ MONEY • It includes ....

Conclusion : This Parable is about STEWARDSHIP+ “Faithful & Trustworthy” Stewardship “Whatever It Takes” Stewardship (good & righteous way) Eg Kerri Strug

Kerri STRUG 1996 OLYMPICS

"whatever it takes"

Conclusion :

This Parable is about STEWARDSHIP+

“Faithful & Trustworthy” Stewardship

“Whatever It Takes” Stewardship (good & righteous way) “End in mind” Stewardship

• The last Olympic gold medal that was actually made from gold was awarded in 1912.

• Current standards for OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS – 92.5% silver, plated with at least 6 gms of gold. – at least 3 mm thick & at least 60 mm in

diameter.

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS

What would you do ?

Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

CONCLUSION : We are all STEWARDS of God In Luke 16 – steward – Gk ‘oikonomos’ 1 Cor 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us, as of

the ministers of Christ, and STEWARDS of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in STEWARDS, that a man be found faithful.

1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good STEWARDS of the manifold grace of God.

John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan

RULE 1 :

"Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can!“

GAIN ALL YOU CAN "we must never harm others, We cannot scheme to undercut our neighbors & We cannot sell anything that tends to impair the health of others. Gain all you can by honest industry."

John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan

RULE 1 :

"Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can!“

GAIN ALL YOU CAN "we must never harm others, We cannot scheme to undercut our neighbors & We cannot sell anything that tends to impair the health of others. Gain all you can by honest industry."

SAVE ALL YOU CAN "Do not waste your resources on trivial expenses, which is the same as throwing your money into the sea. Spend none of your money merely to gratify the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of riches. Spend no money to gratify the pride of life or to gain the admiration and praise of others.“

John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan

RULE 1 :

"Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can!“

GAIN ALL YOU CAN "we must never harm others, We cannot scheme to undercut our neighbors & We cannot sell anything that tends to impair the health of others. Gain all you can by honest industry."

SAVE ALL YOU CAN "Do not waste your resources on trivial expenses, which is the same as throwing your money into the sea. Spend none of your money merely to gratify the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of riches. Spend no money to gratify the pride of life or to gain the admiration and praise of others.“

GIVE ALL YOU CAN "Do not imagine that you have done anything merely by gaining and saving all you can. Do not stop here. Making and saving money is nothing if we fail to go forward to the final purpose. People cannot rightly be said to save money if they only store it away....

John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan

RULE 2 :

If we are at a loss as to when and how and on what we are to spend our money, ask ourselves these 4 questions :

1. "In spending this money, am I acting according to my character? Am I acting not as an owner, but as a steward of my Lords goods?

John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan

RULE 2 :

If we are at a loss as to when and how and on what we are to spend our money, ask ourselves these 4 questions :

1. "In spending this money, am I acting according to my character? Am I acting not as an owner, but as a steward of my Lords goods? 2. Am I giving this money in obedience to Gods Word? In what Scripture does God require me to spend this money?

John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan

RULE 2 :

If we are at a loss as to when and how and on what we are to spend our money, ask ourselves these 4 questions :

1. "In spending this money, am I acting according to my character? Am I acting not as an owner, but as a steward of my Lords goods? 2. Am I giving this money in obedience to Gods Word? In what Scripture does God require me to spend this money? 3. Can I offer up this action or expenditure as a sacrifice to God through Jesus Christ?

John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan

RULE 2 :

If we are at a loss as to when and how and on what we are to spend our money, ask ourselves these 4 questions :

1. "In spending this money, am I acting according to my character? Am I acting not as an owner, but as a steward of my Lords goods? 2. Am I giving this money in obedience to Gods Word? In what Scripture does God require me to spend this money? 3. Can I offer up this action or expenditure as a sacrifice to God through Jesus Christ? 4. Do I have reason to believe that for this very work I will receive a reward at the resurrection of the righteous?"

Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15 CONCLUSION : We are all STEWARDS of God What kind of STEWARDS am

I / are you ? “Faithful & Trustworthy”

Stewardship “Whatever It Takes (good

& righteous way) ” Stewardship

“End in mind” Stewardship We are all ACCOUNTABLE for our STEWARDSHIP Song :“Thank You for Giving”

1 Cor 3:10-15

I OFFER MY LIFE

All that I am All that I have

I lay them down Before You O Lord

All my regrets All my acclaim

The joy and the pain I'm making them Yours

Lord I offer my life to You

Everything I've been through

Use it for Your glory

Lord I offer my days to You Lifting my praise to You

As a pleasing sacrifice Lord I offer You my life

I OFFER MY LIFE Things in the past

Things yet unseen Wishes and dreams

That are yet to come through

All of my hopes All of my plans

My heart and my hands Are lifted to You

Bridge:

What can we give That You have not given

What do we have That is not already Yours

All we possess Are these lives we're living

And that's what we give to You Lord