Faithful?
Luke 16: 1 - 13
Intro: A city boy moved to the country. He bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey. The next day the old farmer drove up and said, “Sorry son, but the donkey died.” The city boy replied, “Well, just give my money back.” The farmer answered, “I can’t do that; I spent it.” The city boy said, “Well just bring me the donkey.” The farmer answered, “What are ya gonna do with him?” The city boy answered, “I’m going to raffle him off.” The farmer answered, “You can’t raffle off a dead donkey!” The city boy answered, “I certainly can. Just watch me.” Later the farmer met the city boy and asked, “What happened with that dead donkey?” The city boy answered, “I raffled him off. I sold sold tickets at $2 each and made a profit of $898.” Farmer: “Didn’t anyone complain?” City boy: “Just the guy who won. So I gave him his $2 back.” (From a sermon by Todd Catteau, “Buyer’s Remorse” 2/24/2009)
I If you think the city boy was smart, raise your hand. --- If you think the city boy did something wrong, raise your hand.
A Just as that donkey story causes a difference of opinion, so it is with this parable. It is not only difficult to read, it is very difficult to preach.
B Many believe the original parable ends at the middle of verse 8 with the master praising the steward for his foresightedness and shrewd action.
C Steward was GK. “Shrewd = faithful and prudent OR dishonest - unrigheous” adikia – ?d???a is the same word used In MT 12 to describe the faithful servants in the parable of the talents. A major problem with the parable’s language.
II Yet another problem with the parable is the steward changing the indebtedness to the master.
A The problem is with the practice of USURY which was illegal at that time. It was illegal to charge interest.
B Was the steward reducing the amount owed by the interest owed to his master? Was the steward saving the master from prosecution for usury? – making friends in 2 places: master and debtors.
C Was the steward merely removing the amount of his profit? Either way VSS. 10 – 12 are a direct command to renounce dishonest practices.
III VS. 13 “No one can serve 2 masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
A Exactly what does that mean? What is Jesus implying here when he says, “You cannot serve both God and money”?
B Jesus is saying that you cannot be faithful to God and the world. You have to choose who you will serve. To whom or to what will you be faithful?
C We must put as much effort into being daughters and sons of God as we do being a part of our world. We must learn to be in the world; but, not of the world.
Concl: I know a song whose words concludes this sermon perfectly: “Find Us Faithful” by Jon Mohr.
(You can find the words and music at BIRDWING MUSIC and JONATHAN MARK MUSIC or EMI CHRISTIAN MUSIC PUBLISHING.)
