Luke 16:1-13
By the 4th Century, the parables of the unjust steward and the prodigal son were separated by a chapter division. If the scholars who established those divisions had kept the 2 parables in the same chapter, the entire history of the interpretation of LUKE 16:1-8 would be different. The story will be like this:
· Each has a noble master who demonstrates extraordinary grace to a wayward underling.
· Both stories contain an ignoble son/steward who wastes the master’s resources.
· In each the wayward underling reaches a moment of truth regarding those loses.
· In both cases the son/steward throws himself on the mercy of the noble master
· Both parables deal with broken trust and the problems resulting from it.
These parallels suggest that the parables needs to be examined in the light of what precedes it which is about God, sin, grace and salvation: not honest in dealing with money.
But if you read and study The whole 16th Chapter, Jesus’ teaching here is about wealth and the kingdom.
Chapter 16 has two parables about wealth.
1. The first the parable from (vv. 1-13) The Parable of the Unjust Steward was spoken primarily to the disciples (v. 1). 1 He also said to His disciples:
2. The second parable from (vv. 19-31) The rich man and Lazarus was addressed to the Pharisees
There are 3 points that we could extract from these passages( From verse 1 to 13)
A. The wisdom of the wicked servant in the story of Jesus Luke 16:1-8 (which we need to follow as an example.
B. The use of worldly wealth according to Jesus Luke 16:9-13 (that we need to pursue)
C. We worship whom we choose to serve. Luke 16:13 (As Jesus mention as we need to serve)
A. The wisdom of the wicked servant Luke 16:1-8
In Jesus’ day managers or stewards were often hired by wealthy people to care for the finances of their estates (land or field).
We could use interchangeably the word manager and steward for they have the same meaning.
Meaning of steward:
A steward was
· A trusted bond slave (historically) or
· A hired manager (in today’s context) that is put in charge of a business, property, or estate.
· The steward was expected to make profits and capital gains for his master.
Such a manager is compared to a modern-day financial planner or trustee who controls the finances of an estate for the purpose of making more money or profit for that estate. The money did not belong to the manager but was his to use for the estate. In other words, a Steward is someone who manages an estate or farm for someone else.
In the parable, a rich man... called his manager or steward to give an account of his dealings. The rich man had heard that the steward was not handling the wealthy owner’s finances wisely. The steward was fired because he wasted the rich man’s goods.
In verse 1 to 2 there are 3 Important significance that we need to know and that we could learn here:
1. We are all God’s steward.
2. We are all must give account to God for the material goods and opportunities entrusted to us
3. We are all be promoted or demoted depends on how we perform as a steward.
1. We are all God’s steward.
We are stewards over every blessing God has given us. Parents are stewards over their children. Blessings from the Lord such as your house, your car, your job, your money and the rest of your earthly possessions are all things that you are stewards over.
2. We are all must give account to God for the material goods and opportunities entrusted to us.
God is watching how well you manage your goods just like the rich master did with his unjust steward.
And just as the rich master was threatening to take away all of the goods from his steward if we don’t manage our stewardship properly while we were on this earth.
3. We are all be promoted or demoted depends on how we perform as a steward.
In order to get promoted in God’s realm to the next level. We need to exhibit trustworthiness in handling our blessings from Him.
God can arrange to take away some of our blessings and goods if we do not properly handle what He has already given us.
When the rich man heard what he had done, he commended the unjust manager because he had acted wisely. I am just surprise with this parable, because the unjust manager had not done any good thing but yet the the noble master commended him.
When the rich man discovered how he had been cheated by his wicked servant, instead of being shocked or annoyed or disappointed, the rich man recognized the shrewd brain behind the shady deal (informal dishonest), and praised the steward for it! The morals of the story are pointed out by Jesus as follows...
Let us study closely on what did he do, why the unjust has been commended?
There are 3 possible reasons that we could learn to imitate from what the steward did.
1. The steward had been careful to plan ahead, using the principle of reciprocity of material things to insure a secure future.
2. The steward’s intelligent perception towards his master’s character.
3. The steward’s boldness to act
1. The steward had been careful to plan ahead, using material things to insure a secure future. The steward uses the principle of reciprocity
I do believe that: Jesus was not teaching that His disciples should be dishonest. Jesus was teaching that they should use material things for future spiritual benefit.
.
We all know in the story that the manager did not profit directly in reducing the debts, but he used the principle of reciprocity to gain favor with the debtors. By doing a favor for them, the manager could require a favor from them.
Jesus was not commending dishonesty, but rather the manager’s foresight and diligence to follow through and make friends by using reciprocity. This was a good lesson from a bad example.
But then, in order to make friends who might later hire him, the ex-manager charged the rich man’s two debtors less than what they actually owed—400 instead of 800 gallons of olive oil, and 800 instead of 1,000 bushels of wheat.
The steward’s thinking was reflected in his statement, “When I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses (v. 4 Reciprocate means to do the same in return.
2. The steward’s intelligent perception towards his master’s character.
The steward is not commended for his ethics (he is the son of this age/world). But for his accurate perception of his master’s nature.
He correctly knows his master. The steward experiences extraordinary mercy at the beginning of the story. At the beginning of the parable the rich man viewed his manager (steward) as irresponsible rather than dishonest (v16:2). He knows that his master is a noble man.
So, His judgment regarding his master however is confirmed. Jesus longs for his disciples to have the same informed perception (idea) of God.
What is the nature of God?
God is a God of justice, mercy and great personal integrity (honor).
Let us see the character of the rich master:
His sense of justice leads him to dismiss the unjust steward.
His mercy is demonstrated in the decision to dismiss the servant rather than sell or imprison him from his misbehavior. It also shows in agreeing to pay the price for the servant’s salvation.
He is smart enough to know that his only hope is to put his entire trust in the unqualified mercy of his generous master. His morals are very bad and regrettable (deplorable). But Jesus wants ‘the sons of light” to use their intelligence, like the unjust steward and to trust completely in the mercy of God for their salvation. The prodigal son made a similar decision.
3. The steward’s boldness to act. At least he did something
The steward has the courage to act on his deepest perceptions. It is a huge risk but one he takes.
John Maxwell considers risk-taking instead of risk-avoiding, a behavior that he encourage. He said” Safety first” may be the motto of the most people but it is not the watchword of leaders.
There is a saying that “No gain is ever made without the possibility of a loss”. Success is held in the hands of those who provide the solutions. And that was the Steward did, he provide a solution. “4 'I have resolved what to do.”
How do we apply the moral lesson from the parable, let us take a look what Jesus has something to say in support to his parable.
Jesus is teaching us about the…
B. The use of worldly wealth according to Jesus (that we need to pursue)
The purpose of worldly wealth according to Jesus Luke 16:9-12
Three ways Jesus applied the parable to His disciples who had to live with nonbelievers in the world. V 16:8b-13.
First, one should use money to win people into the kingdom (vv. 8b-9)
Jesus’ second application is in verses 10-12. If one is faithful in his use of money, then he can be trusted with greater things.The third application Jesus drew from the parable was that that one is to use wealth, not store it up or be a servant of it. (V 13)
1. First, one should use money to win people into the kingdom (v9).
9 "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.
Jesus plainly taught that the people of light should use worldly wealth (Luke 16:9) to gain friends; the same reason the wicked manager used the rich man’s wealth. This is not to bribe people to win them over but use it effectively for evangelization.
The disciples’ wise use of wealth would help lead others to believe the message of the kingdom and bring them to accept that message. The disciples would then be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Then Jesus added, “I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven.” V 9
As believers we are to make wise use of our financial opportunities, not to earn heaven, but to use their resources to make friends. If believers use their money to help those in need or to help others find Christ, their earthly investment will bring eternal benefit.
2. Jesus’ second application is in verses 10-12. If one is faithful in his use of money, then he can be trusted with greater things.
True riches (v. 11) seem to refer to the kingdom’s spiritual riches of which the disciples will partake.
How people handle their worldly wealth shows their trustworthiness. If a person can be trusted with a little bit, if he or she maintains integrity even in small matters, then that person has proven trustworthiness for large matters.
The reverse is also true—the one who would willingly steal a dollar may also be willing to steal thousands. Trustworthiness goes to a person’s very core.In other words, God has found out that he who does well and diligent with what little he has at the beginning, will also do well and continue to be diligent if he is given much more! And just the opposite is also true. He who is unjust in small matters is also going to be unjust in bigger matters.
Bottom line for all Christians: if you want promotions from the Lord to higher levels of service and bigger and better blessings – then be faithful and do the best you can on the level that you are currently operating at with Him. Do the best and be the best you can at the job you are currently working at for the Lord.
3. The third application Jesus drew from the parable was that that one is to use wealth, not store it up or be a servant of it. (v 13)
In other words, a person cannot serve both God and money (v 13). The one you serve controls you.
Jesus also used the word “wealth” (mamœna) l (v. 13) when He affirmed that one “cannot serve both God and money.” Jesus was saying that wealth should be a disciple’s servant, not vice versa.
As masters the two are mutually exclusive, selective. Love for money will drive one away from God (1 Tim. 6:10); on the other hand, loving God will cause one not to make money his primary concern in life.
In this present world, money often takes the place of God in people’s lives. And Christian are not exceptions to it. How person handles money indicates how much mastery money has attained in that person’s life.
How could we apply what we have learned from the parable and the teaching of Jesus Christ to our modern day age?
C.We worship whom we choose to serve.
Luke 16:13 As Jesus mention as we need to serve)
It was Jesus who concluded the parable by saying this verse.
Jesus explained that no one can serve two masters.
From a spiritual standpoint, all people will serve someone or something; here Jesus spoke of two choices, God and money.
People can choose to serve money—in essence, this means serving themselves and all the pleasure and power money can buy—or they can choose to serve God. But no one can do both, for the two choices are diametrically opposed. No one can seek selfish pleasure and be able to give money away at the same time.
When money is one’s master, there can be no room for God who requires single-hearted obedience and devotion.So heartbreaking that yet some people tragically have made wealth an end in itself—the thing to serve, their god. For Christians, Money is God’s loan (hiram) to us for smart stewardship, never a measure of our real worth.
Conclusion: Jesus has a solemn warning for us:
We worship whom we choose to serve. Luke 16:13
1. Each Christian must decide who they will serve in this life.
2. There is only one way for each Christian to serve in this life,
1. Each Christian must decide who they will serve in this life – God or mammon (which means riches, wealth and possessions).
2. There is only one way for each Christian to serve in this life,
Luke 4:8 (NKJV) 'You shall worship the LORD your God and Him only you shall serve.' “
Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 Commandment to Israelites and until today.
We are slaves of whom we worship.
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