Dynamite. The airplane. Television. The Internet. Those are just a few examples of things that mankind has invented that have been used for good and for evil. Dynamite has allowed people to accomplish great tasks in building, mining, and demolition. Sadly it has also been used as a tool for death and destruction. Certainly the Wright brothers had high hopes for their invention. Sadly, the airplane was almost immediately enlisted by armies around the world as a weapon of war. And the horrific scenes twenty years ago on September 11th gave us a modern reminder of the evil that can be done with their invention. Adolf Hitler was one of the first to seize the moving pictures of film and television for evil. But we also know that T.V. can be used for good. It can open minds to learning and bring entertainment into people’s lives. It has been said that one television broadcast can reach more people with the gospel than all the preaching of Jesus and the Apostles combined. In recent years we have seen how the Internet can be used for wonderful purposes as well as a means of peddling pornography and promoting hate.
This morning in our wallets, and purses, and pockets we have another human invention that can be used for both good and evil. The money we use, and really all the worldly wealth God has given us, can be used for selfish sinful purposes or for Godly and good purposes. In the parable of the dishonest manager, the Gospel Lesson for this Sunday, we are presented with a man who used money to serve himself. He was dishonest in how he used it but he was also creative and enterprising.
Perhaps to our surprise Jesus used such a man to teach some important lessons about how his followers are to use their worldly wealth. As we begin let’s recall the simple definition of a parable that we discussed in our Sunday morning Bible class back in September and October. They are stories about life on earth that contain a message about spiritual things. We also noted in our Bible class that we should generally look for one main point so that we don’t get sidetracked by some of the details that support the story. So when we hear about the dishonest manger working with an earthly purpose, an earthly perspective, and earthly priorities we should look for contrasting things in a heavenly or spiritual sense.
Instead of using this parable to teach his disciples to stay away from worldly wealth Jesus used it to encourage the proper use of something that is so often misused. The lesson Jesus had for them and that he wants to teach us from the example of the dishonest manger is:
“USE YOUR WORLDLY WEALTH WISELY”
I. For a heavenly purpose
II. With a heavenly perspective
III. With a heavenly priority
The parable of the dishonest manager leaves us with many unanswered questions. Why did Jesus use the “creative accounting” done by a cheater as the basis for a lesson on managing money and material wealth? Specific questions about what this manger did or did not do are perhaps better taken up in a Bible class. Suffice it to say that Jesus was not commending the dishonesty of the dishonest manager. He was pointing out the commitment and creativity, the innovation and the wisdom, that the man showed toward using worldly wealth.
Then drawing on good traits in a bad man Jesus showed his disciples good ways to use the things of the world. They were to use their worldly wealth wisely. From some of “the ways of the world” they could learn how to use it for a heavenly purpose—according to God’s will. And that we would also use our worldly wealth wisely with a heavenly perspective, and yet keep a heavenly priority.
I.
If the dishonest manager was anything he was focused. He had one purpose in mind all the time. That was self-preservation. He used worldly wealth to serve himself above everyone else. In the parable we see how shrewd and thrifty he was. When his boss fired him and told him to prepare a final accounting of his work he quickly considered his options. He realized he wasn’t strong enough for manual labor. Begging wasn’t his style either. Immediately his mind seized upon an idea. So he quickly brought in those businessmen who owed his master money. Then he “cooked the books” as the saying goes. He had each of the debtors reduce their debt to his master so they were indebted to him instead. Even though the master lost a lot of money in the process he admired the shrewd wisdom of his manager. This would only happen in a parable, right? This wouldn’t make good business sense! Although dishonest the manger used money for the single purpose of saving his own skin.
Now let’s take that earthly example and find a heavenly meaning. Although Jesus often spoke against greed and the love of money he didn’t do that with this parable. After acknowledging that men like this manger are shrewder than Christians when it comes to worldly wealth Jesus went on to say, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Our Savior points us to the heart of how we manage the money and material things that we have. Just as the dishonest manger clearly understood the earthly purpose of money we are to understand its heavenly purpose.
But how can worldly wealth have a heavenly purpose? It does when followers of Jesus use all their resources to do his work. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” We are challenged to look beyond our regular, proportionate, and joyful offerings. We are called upon to use all our worldly wealth for the heavenly purpose of spreading Christ’s kingdom.
For a moment let’s think about how this can be done. Consider how you can use the car you drive or the clothes you wear, the home or apartment in which you live, or the boat or a camper that you own to spread the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ. Is it really possible to use ALL your worldly wealth for a heavenly purpose? At first it might seem like a stretch. How can I use the things I have to gain friends for Christ? Giving a friend or coworker a ride in your car might lead to a conversation about Jesus. Your clothes can speak volumes about who you love above all others. Having a home that is known in your neighborhood as a place of peace can gain friends for the Prince of Peace. When you use your boat or camper do you look for ways and places to introduce others to your best friend--Jesus? It may take some rethinking on our part. But we can use ALL our worldly wealth wisely. With the kind of shrewdness and creativity that the manager showed we can use it all for a heavenly purpose.
It seems to me that followers of Jesus have traditionally taken one of two approaches to worldly wealth. They have either shunned money and worldly wealth as if it were evil. Or they have simply set aside one part of their worldly wealth for Jesus and then used the rest of it to live like everyone else in the world. This parable gives us a different perspective. The dishonest manager had a clear purpose in mind in everything he did. He used worldly wealth to serve only himself. With similar single-mindedness Jesus calls on his followers to use their worldly wealth wisely. Not for self but in selfless service to him and his kingdom.
II.
In order to use our worldly wealth for a heavenly purpose we also need a heavenly perspective. The dishonest manger saw money and things through earthly eyes. His way of thinking might best be summarized in the words of the bumper sticker, “He who dies with the most toys wins!” As Jesus applied this parable to his disciples he gave them a different perspective on worldly wealth. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” Yes, we are to use our worldly wealth. But we are to use it wisely with a heavenly perspective.
It isn’t difficult to see the earthly perspective of the dishonest manger. “Get what you can while you can.” “Look out for yourself because no one else will!” The manager in the parable looked at money and worldly wealth as the most important thing in life. He saw his future tied to money. He viewed his safety and security completely connected to money. From his perspective money was the answer to all of his problems.
Through this earthly story with a heavenly meaning Jesus directs us to a very different perspective than that of the dishonest manager. He reminds us that worldly wealth is only on loan to us. It is a “little thing” in God’s sight and not the “big deal” that most people make of it. Also Jesus reminds us that worldly wealth doesn’t last forever.
So how can we keep such a heavenly perspective on our use of worldly wealth? We must turn to God’s Word again and again for reminders of who owns everything. Beginning with the creation account in the book of Genesis we hear how God gave mankind management but not ownership of worldly wealth. Psalm 24:1 reminds us, “The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Moses reminded the Israelites of this in Deuteronomy 10:14, “To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.” James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” All that we see belongs to God. Everything that we have comes from him. That’s a great reminder as we count our blessings during the Thanksgiving Holiday this week.
To strengthen our heavenly perspective as we use our worldly wealth wisely God’s Word also reminds us that material things will not last forever. There is an expiration date on everything God has loaned to us. In 1 Corinthians 7 the Apostle Paul tells us that “those who buy something” should look at it, “as if it were not theirs to keep.” And he also declared that, “those who use the things of the world,” should do so, “as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” (1 Corinthians 7:29 31). 1 John 2:17 says a similar thing, “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” As we use our worldly wealth wisely may our Savior continue to give us a heavenly perspective.
The dishonest manager also showed his earthly perspective by entrusting his future to worldly wealth and what money can buy. Our heavenly perspective takes the opposite approach. We use our worldly wealth while we put our trust in the one who gave it. The Apostle Paul shared that message with a young pastor named Timothy. He wrote, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (1 Timothy 6:17) As citizens of one of the most prosperous countries in the world every one of us is rich. But our worldly wealth will not last. In it we dare not put our trust. Its future is as uncertain as the weather.
In the application of the parable of the dishonest manager Jesus told his disciples to use the things of the world. They were not to avoid material things as though they were evil. They could learn how to use them wisely from the example of the people of the world. Unbelievers use what they have with a narrow purpose and a narrow perspective. They are shrewd and creative. Taking the story from earthly things to heavenly things we are called upon to use our worldly wealth wisely for a heavenly purpose and with a heavenly perspective.
III.
In reality the crooked manager in the parable made money his God. He loved it. He served it. He put his faith in it. It was his highest priority. Turning to spiritual things Jesus called on his disciples to show the same devotion and love and faith not toward money but toward God. “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.” Yes, friends in Christ, use your worldly wealth wisely. But always use it with a heavenly priority. In other words, carefully keep your focus on the giver of all good gifts and not on the gifts that he gives.
The heart of the unjust steward’s unfaithfulness to his boss was the fact that he was trying to serve two masters. He was serving money and also attempting to meet his obligations to the rich man for whom he worked. Because of that split loyalty the manager mismanaged the money entrusted to him. If at any time he had wavered in his loyalty to himself and money in contrast to his loyalty to the rich man he would have lost that which he loved the most.
Once again we must jump from the earthly story to the heavenly application. Are we trying to serve two masters? Consider how you use your worldly wealth. Do your actions speak louder than your words? Who sits on the throne of your heart? It is somewhat ironic that the motto of our country “In God we trust,” is printed on our currency. From our pennies to our twenties money can be a tool for the kingdom or a snare from Satan. James 4:4 5 gives us a harsh warning, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?”
Using our worldly wealth is not wrong. It only becomes sin if it replaces God as the most important thing in our lives. May God give us the ability to use our worldly wealth wisely while always keeping a heavenly priority--loving him above the gifts he gives.
There are many things in life that can be used for good or evil. Dynamite can be used to accomplish great things. It can also be used to kill and destroy. The same can be said for airplanes. Television and the Internet have been the source of good things and they have also been channels for evil. In everything from telephones to kitchen knives we can see how the mind and the motive of the user can turn something from good to evil.
Money and material things could be added to the list of things that can be used for good or evil. Although we are followers of Jesus we have worldly wealth at our disposal. How do we handle it? This parable presents us with a plan. No we aren’t to run away from it thinking it is unspiritual or even sinful. Jesus tells us to use our worldly wealth wisely. We are to use it with a heavenly purpose, a heavenly perspective, and a heavenly priority. Amen.
