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Stewardship

(Luke 16:1-13)

A steward is a person entrusted with the management of the possessions of another.

We are all stewards in the sense that all that we have, our money, our time, our strength, our talents, etc.
ultimately comes from God (Ps. 24:1, Deut. 8:17-18) and has been given into our hands to use for his glory
(1 Pe. 4:10-11). We do not own anything, but we are given custody of certain resources by God for a time
(Job 1:21, Ps. 49:16-20).

Questions:

Did Jesus commend the steward’s shrewdness?

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:2, "It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy."

Who are the “people of this world” and the “children of light”? (Luke 16:8)

What are the “little” things and the “true riches” referred to in the parable? (Luke 16:10-11) What
does your handling of the “little” things reveal about your spiritual condition?

Giving an account

Like the unfaithful steward in the parable we will all be called to give and account to God for the
manner in which we have used the resources that he has entrusted to our care.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:10 -- "for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that
each one may receive what's due to him for the things done well in the body, whether good or bad."

Using what God has made available to us to “make friends” (Luke 16:9)

Use your money in such a way that you are winning others, not only to Christ, but to yourself, for
you never win anyone to Christ without winning him, in some degree, to yourself. By means of
hospitality, or in giving to some missionary venture, or by investing a sum to help in a time of need,
money may be used for eternal good. It is not enough to pray for the lost; we must pay for them
too. Invest in the souls of others!

Mark 12:30, "Love the Lord with all your heart and soul and strength and mind and your neighbor
as yourself.”

1 Peter 4:10, "each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering God's grace in it's various forms."

Matthew 25:21&23 -- The parable in this passage tells of God rewarding people according to their
trustworthiness. The man who had 5 talents and the man who had 2 talents were both given the
words of their master, "well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few
things; I'll put you in charge of many things."

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves
break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not
destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also. (Matt. 6:19,20)
1 Tim 6:17-19 -“As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes
on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy. They are to do
good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good
foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed.”

Money as a tool vs. Money as a master (Luke 16:13)

"Mammon" is "the Greek form of a Syrian or Aramaic word for worldly wealth. It is called
"unrighteous," because it is often obtained and used for unrighteously.

“But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful
desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of
evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with
many of pang.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

“Keep your eyes open and guard against every sort of covetousness, because even when a person
has an abundance his life does not result from the things he possess.” (Luke 12:15)

"But God said to him, ’You fool! - This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who
will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up
things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:20-21

Avoid the deadly disease affluenza!

G.K. Chesterton said, "There are two ways to get enough: One is to accumulate more and more.
The other is to desire less."

Worldly Wealth is Temporary

Solomon wrote, "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green
leaf." (Prov. 11 :28), and also, "Labor not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom. Will you set
your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly will make wings for themselves; they fly away
as an eagle toward heaven." (Prov. 23 :4,5)

An old mountaineer was on his deathbed. He called his wife to him. "Elviry," he said, "go to the
fireplace and take out that loose stone under the mantle." She did as instructed, and behind that
loose stone she found a shoe box crammed full of cash. "That's all the money I've saved through
the years," said the mountaineer. "When I go, I'm goin' to take it with me. I want you to take that
there box up to the attic and set it by the window. I'll get it as I go by on my way to heaven." His
wife followed his instructions. That night, the old mountaineer died. Several days after the funeral,
his wife remembered the shoe box. She climbed up to the attic. There it was, still full of money,
sitting by the window. "Oh," she thought, "I knew it. I knew I should have put it in the basement
instead of the attic." As someone has said, "We can't take it with us, but we can send it on ahead."

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