Theme: Serve one Master
Text: Luke 16:13-15
Greetings:
Introduction:
This chapter has four valuable things for us to learn: Children of this world are wiser than children of light (Luke 16:8), Material possessions used for eternal friendships (Luke 16:9), faithful in a small task makes fitness for a larger one (Luke 16:10-11), and No slave can serve two masters. (Barclay). We will meditate under the theme: “Serve One Master”. I like to share with you all: what does it mean to serve two masters, serve one master, and serve as a Trustworthy servant.
1. Serving Two Masters (Luke 16:13)
The present world is familiar with the word known as Part-time, freelancer and self-employed. Almost they are accustomed to working with and serving many masters in this modern world. Freelancer is committed to none. He tries to be the master of himself, muster wealth by multiple ways and means in life. They are masters of their time, energy, money and everything they have. There is no place for loyalty, completeness and reward. They are tuned to the immediate result for then and there. Homer said: ‘If you serve too many masters, you’ll soon suffer’.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says: `No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.' (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13). To simultaneously tend to or support or devote oneself to two different—often conflicting—responsibilities, pursuits, ideas, or people is known as Serving Two masters. Serve two masters means taking orders from two superiors or following two conflicting or opposing principles or policies at one time.
According to Ellicott: Jesus meant that no one could be the slave of two masters. He further says that a man who loves the world will hate the service of God in his inmost heart and will do the lips-service to God. The word ‘Mammon’ means “money” or “riches,” in Syriac (Luke 16:9).
According to theologian Doddridge, Mammon refers to the god of wealth among the Greeks and this god was worshipped in Syria and other nations. Jerome and Augustine used the word mammon in their commentaries because they were familiar with it.
Commentator Benson elaborates that both the masters have their interests and priorities contrary to each other. It is difficult to divide equally the heart into two masters. Mammon generally refers to external advantages, such as riches, authority, honour, power for men. They put their trust in them and strive for them rather than to please God, and have trust in Him.
Matthew Henry says that worldly-mindedness is a common and fatal symptom of hypocrisy. Therefore, the worldly man is wrong in his first principle; therefore all his reasonings and actions therefrom must be wrong.
Albert Barnes: If a man serves two masters his affections and obedience would be divided, and he would fail altogether in his duty to one or the other. So he will have the supreme affections fixed on only one person. So, says Jesus, the servant of God cannot at the same time obey him and be avaricious, or seek treasures supremely on earth.
According to Expositor’s: In the natural sphere a slave can't serve two masters, for each claims him as his property, and the slave must respond to one or other of the claims with entire devotion, either from love or from interest. He has to do the honest preference to the one. Love that master who purchased him and treats him well and good. They are rival masters. They are not serving in one firm, serving for one goal and purpose. Therefore, it is impossible to serve two masters.
2. Serve One Master (Luke 16:14)
Jesus taught the status of a man who wants to serve God and Satan. They are impossible dreams and incompatible. Therefore decide to serve Jesus, the one master. The world has found a word known as being diplomatic. Merriam Webster defines it as ‘employing tact and conciliation especially in situations of stress. Tact means ‘a keen sense of what to do or say to maintain relations with others or avoid offence’.
Knowing the ground reality and the impact of one being employed at two places, Jesus told that “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
Dr Thomason Constable comments that Jesus taught two things through this parable: “One was the importance of faithfulness in our work spots/companies/government agencies. Second was the importance of undivided loyalty to Jesus”.
Here the notable verbs are ‘Hate and Love’, ‘Devoted and Despised’. Jesus implied that we have to love and be devoted to one, hate and despise the other. We need to love Jesus and God. We need to hate the deeds of Satan. The clarion call is to Serve one Master.
Love of the world, Love of the money, love of life are forbidden to the Disciples of Christ. Jesus told not to love this life, Apostle John told not to love this world, and Paul told not to love the money. None of them is against wealth, riches but warned against the attitude and approach towards the above matters.
Love of this life: Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Love of the World: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them (1 John 2:15, NIV).
Love of Money: For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10, Amplified Bible).
Love the Son of God: Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:37 – English Standard Version).
Friend of whom?: Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? If you want to be the world's friend, you make yourself God's enemy(James 4:4 - Good News). Who controls your work or spirituality? Who enslaved you Love of Jesus or the love of the money, the world and the love of self?
3. Serve as Trustworthy Servant (Luke 16:15)
This chapter begins with the parable of Stewardship. The servant was a steward of everything that belonged to his master. He wasted what was belong to his master. Bible says, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."(Psalm 24:1).
God has made us stewards of everything that belongs to God. God allows us that privilege and opportunity of overseeing that which belongs to Him. But God holds us responsible as to what we do with it when it is under our care. So, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, everything we have is our Lord's. But we are responsible to Him. We will one day give an account to the Lord of our stewardship, how we managed the Lord's properties and the resources that He placed at our disposal and within our power (Church Smith Bible Commentary).
Matthew Henry quotes Dr Lightfoot,
who said, "This world is a house; heaven the roof; the stars the lights; the earth, with its fruits, a table spread; the Master of the house is holy and blessed God; man is the steward, into whose hands the goods of this house are delivered; if he behaves himself well, he shall find favour in the eyes of his Lord; if not, he shall be turned out of his stewardship."
Trustees are responsible for accountability. Accountable to God, accountable to the public who gives them money, accountable to the employer. The Problem with the Pharisees was they judged themselves. Some people audit their accounts. Self-certification of the stewardship without social auditing, without accountable auditing. They were the masters of God’s properties. Jesus warned and condemned their attitudes. Jesus told them that seeking the glory, valuation, appreciation, and praises of men is an abomination to the Lord.
Embezzlements, misappropriation, mistreat, misuse of the resources of God, and the employer is examples of dishonesty, carelessness of stewardship. Jesus told that the Proprietor has commended the dishonest manager for his shrewd act. His unfaithful acts were not appreciated by Jesus but he told the hearers to use the resources to make friends and well-wishers.
God has given all the resources for our use. Do we use them to earn more friends? We have to make the right use of the gifts, talents, resources of God. Right use such as for the advancement of the Gospel work, a joy to abound in the lives of the needy and dejected( Matthew Henry).
Jesus taught about the event of the rich man and Lazarus life on earth and life after. The Rich man sumptuously faring every day, attired in fine linen and purple, living a life appreciated by friends, and relatives, and with jealousy of the neighbours. But at his gates lies poor man suffering, loathsome, so abjectly in want, friendless, dogs did the service to him while men had no heart for. One was enjoying with riches another suffering from.
The scene changes suddenly. The beggar died, and angels carried him into Abraham's bosom. The rich man died and was buried, but found in hell he lifted his eyes, being tormented. There and then he saw the blessedness of Lazarus whom he had despised during earthly grandeur. (Kelly Commentary). This is exactly what will happen for people who hold everything without stewardship, and without earning friends.
Conclusion:
We are stewards of grace to serve one another(1 Peter 4:10). Stewards must be trustworthy (1 Corinthians 4:2). Are you blessed with much? You have to give an account for that. (Luke 12:48). Stewardship always leads to higher positions (Matthew 25:21). Even unfaithful stewards are entrusted with possessions, talents (1 Corinthians 9:17).
