Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been able to learn about the ways that God considers us and how He searches for us and welcomes us when we come home, when we truly repent. While life with God is one of peace and rest because of His great love for us and because of Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf, it’s also a life that is fraught with challenges as we are confronted daily with the question of “whom will we serve?” Will we serve God or ourselves? Will we serve God or money? Will we serve God or the world?
In response to Jesus’ parables about the lost sheep, coin, and son, Jesus turns aside to his disciples, with others clearly listening in, and begins to instruct them about the struggle of stewardship.
If you’ve not already done so, open your Bibles to Luke 16. Since Bryan just read that, I’ll not re-read it here. I’ll summarize some things and help us reconsider other things as we reflect on what Jesus is teaching here.
Jesus begins by telling the parable of the unjust steward. One commentator suggests that God is the “rich man” in that story and we are the “steward.”
Psalm 24:1–2 ESV
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
There is a sense in which all that we have and all that we are is God’s. He has numbered our days and equipped us to fill them. In many ways, our very lives are on loan to us from God. As Christians, we understand that our lives have been ransomed from the domain of darkness. As a result, we are His.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
So, if we are His, we belong to Him, then what we do with our lives is an act of stewardship to the Lord.
So as we think about this stewardship that God has for us, we’re going to think about it in relation to the things that Jesus seems to address in this chapter - namely our resources, righteousness, and relationships.
Let’s begin by thinking about how we can…
Serve God with our resources.
In the parable of the unjust steward, this man is accused of mishandling the master’s possessions. As a steward, he was charged with managing resources on behalf of the owner. Since he is now on the verge of being out of a job, he begins to get creative - as the saying goes - “Necessity is the mother of invention.” He notes that he’s unable to work and too proud to beg, so he devises a scheme in order to be welcomed into other places after his employment has ended. He is essentially using “shrewd” methods in order to save face.
So he calls several of the master’s debtors before him and in order to ensure that they are complicit in the matter, he asks them to share how much they owe. Jesus only provides two examples, but it can be assumed that this scheme may include many more. These debts are not insignificant either. The oil, which was given a 50% discount was the equivalent of a couple of years of wages. The wheat, which was given a 20% discount, would have been up to 10 years of wages. These are big write-offs.
A a couple of commentators have considered some of the potential motives behind why this scheme worked. Here are a few of their suggestions (McKinley):
“The reduction makes the master look generous.” The steward is clearly acting in his role as manager of the masters goods. These debtors would’ve been grateful for this discount.
“The master must pretend to have authorized the scheme, otherwise he will be shamed by his lack of control in his house.” Because the manager would have presumably been acting on behalf of the master, if the master changes course then he looks bad.
“The reduction of debt is really just a reduction of interest.” Interest in this way would have violated Deuteronomy 23:19 “You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest.”
“The amount by which each debt is reduced is really the manager’s personal commission, meaning that he is only giving away his own money.”
No matter what the underlying motive may have been, the manager is commended for his shrewdness.
Jesus comments on this parable by stating:
Luke 16:8–9 NLT
“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
I think part of the point that Jesus is getting at is that our wealth, or to use an older term, our mammon, is to be used as a tool or a resource, not as an end in and of itself. So often we can get caught up focusing on doing whatever we can to make, keep, or spend money rather than using money as an instrument in our hands for greater or even eternal rewards.
Jesus said:
Luke 16:13 ESV
No servant can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.”
So I guess the question becomes, is money our master or our servant?
Sometimes we can be tempted to think that it’s the wealthy who serve “the almighty dollar.” In reality, the poorest and the richest among us can misplace money as a master rather than keeping it as a servant.
Mike McKinley writes:
“The miser, the workaholic, the over-spender, and the person who spends a great portion of their time worrying about their finances each lives in service to unrighteous wealth.”
Money can be a really good tool:
it helps us put food on our tables and shelters over our heads and clothes on our bodies.
it funds the ministry of the local church
it helps to support missionaries overseas
it helps to send shoe boxes to kids all over the world.
it helps to bless people around us
for people who have been blessed with the ability and resources to employ others, then money can be a good resource in the lives of others as well!
Money can be a really bad master. When we think too much about it, or work too hard to get more of it, or wrap up our security in it, then money gets out of place.
I think serving God with our financial resources means living within our means, giving as an act of worship, saving, being a blessing for others.
We could go on and reflect on other resources that God has entrusted to us - time, talents or skills, physical resources. Jesus focuses on money here.
So again - is money our master or our servant? Are we serving God with our money?
Secondly, as Jesus addresses the ridicule of the Pharisees, He confronts their divided hearts and urges that they and we…
Serve God with our righteousness.
Luke notes that the Pharisees were “lovers of money” - literally - “silver lovers.” While they had a knowledge of God’s word and were tasked with leading, it seems like their motivation was financial. They justified certain actions or exceptions that they might make, all the while teaching others to adhere to strict standards.
But I wonder how often we may relate to that. We might not be motivated by money, but rather motivated by opinions. Do our acts of righteousness come from places of pure motives and a desire to honor God or are there places of hypocrisy.
Jesus says that God knows our heart. He knows when we’re hiding some things and revealing others. He knows when we are living with divided motives. He knows us - through and through, and yet, as we saw last week, he still loves us. He wants the best for us. He wants us to grow more and more like Him.
Some of these Pharisees seemed to act in ways that made them look good. Maybe it was fine clothing or ostentatious displays of wealth. Maybe it was a perceive piety - all the while they were fuming with disdain.
Jesus says that “what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
There is no distiction between the spiritual and the secular, the religious and the worldly - it’s all together. Where the Pharisees might have lived with that distinction and frankly we may as well, God sees all of life as an act of stewardship.
Like the elder son’s lostness that we saw last week, this kind of righteousness is only skin deep - it does not come from a heart of love or genuine devotion. In many ways, it is a pro-forma righteousness. This was not a new problem for them and or for us.
Isaiah 29:13–14 ESV
And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with this people,
with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”
Jesus goes on to make some statements that are quite confusing in some translations. Hear it again, but in the NLT.
Luke 16:16–17 NLT
“Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in. But that doesn’t mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God’s law to be overturned.
I almost wonder if the Pharisees, who were experts in the law, were scoffing at Jesus because his message of grace and forgiveness seemed to fly in the face of their traditions that were wrapped up in acts of righteousness.
Jesus seems to be saying that people of their day are flocking to the good news, to the gospel, but that doesn’t negate expectations of the OT.
McKinley notes:
Luke 12–24 for You Discontinuity and Continuity
The arrival of the Messiah represented the beginning of that new era, and so the old way of doing things became defunct. Now the good news of the kingdom is being preached and the promise of the Law and the Prophets has been fulfilled. We no longer relate to God as Old Testament believers did, through faith in an as-yet-unfulfilled promise, but we relate to him based on faith in what he did for us through the death and resurrection of his Son
I think Jesus wants us to live biblically moral and righteous lives, but he wants us to do so from a heart of love and devotion - not lip service and self-righteousness.
Jesus ultimately is our righteousness and justification. For those who have received Him as savior, you have been declared right by Him. It is finished. Nothing left to prove. Nothing left to perform. Now, in response, we get the joy of growing in righteousness. Demonstrating here and now what is fixed for eternity.
Friend, if you’ve not yet trusted in Jesus as your savior…
So this chapter seems to be urging us as stewards of God’s things to serve Him with our resources and righteousness. Finally, it seems like Jesus is urging us to…
Serve God in our relationships.
One of the areas of the law where the Pharisees seemed to be justifying themselves before others was in the realm of marriage. There were a few different traditions that battled with each other over when divorce was permissable. One of the most lenient traditions stated that a man could divorce his wife because she burned a meal. What a low view of marriage!
Jesus notes in verse 18:
Luke 16:18 ESV
“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
Marriage is a significant relationship and is highly valued in the eyes of God, in part because it mirrors or illustrates God’s covenant love for us. God’s people are frequently called His “bride.” Time and time again in the OT, God’s people are seen as a faithless and adulterous bride - and yet his love does not end. He does not, he will not divorce his bride.
Jesus’ love for us becomes the model by which husbands are called to show covenantal love for their wives.
Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Now, husbands, we will never be able to fully love our wives the way that Jesus loves us, but it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t strive for that. Consider what he did:
gave up his life for us - how are we doing husbands at giving up our selfish wants or preferences for our wives?
sanctified us - how are we doing setting our wives a part as holy? Not in a “locking her away” kind of sense, but helping her strive for holiness.
cleansed us by the washing of water with the word - how are we doing letting God’s word guide our households? I know I can do a much better job in that way (and in all of these ways).
Jesus presents us without spot or blemish - He ultimately is our holiness and righteousness. We should do what we can to love our wives in ways that help them progress toward holiness.
How are we all - men and women - doing at serving God in our marriages? For those who are single, how are you doing at preparing yourself for that kind of relationship?
Now, I know not all of us will be married. Some, by a variety of means, will be single until Jesus returns. And that’s okay. In fact, I think that in the final parable, Jesus urges us to serve God in our relationships with others.
This seems like the place where our resources and our righteousness come together in other relationships. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus presents several stark contrasts.
the rich man was, well, rich - Lazarus was poor
the rich man was clothed in “purple and fine linen” - Lazarus was clothed with sores
the rich man feasted daily - Lazarus longed to be fed with scraps - in fact his skin became the target for dogs tongues.
Interestingly - the rich man is unnamed, whereas Lazarus - the only character in a parable with a name - is named. In fact his name is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Eleazar - which means “God helps.”
Of course, in the parable, both the rich man and Lazarus die. The rich man goes to Hades in torment and Lazarus goes to Abraham’s side - or Heaven.
While there is a moralistic element to this parable - there is a sense in which Jesus is communicating that our relationships matter - how we treat each other matters. The rich man had every opportunity to be a blessing to Lazarus, but instead chose to ignore him and withhold good from him.
I guess the question becomes, how are we doing in our relationships with others? Are we showing grace and love? Are we living generously? Or are we showing judgment and contempt, living selfishly?
I think Jesus is calling us in this parable to live the way that he did with us!
There is one final thing that I think we should see in this chapter, that is that…
Stewardship will be rewarded
Now, I know you don’t have a blank for that, and that’s okay.
Jesus seems to be helping us see that there is more to life than just our time here on earth. There is an eternity which we are preparing for. Not only is the shrewd manager welcomed into relationships outside of his job and Lazarus welcomed into eternal rest, but so are we.
The writer of Ecclesiastes has said:
Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart…
God has given us an inkling that there is something beyond this life. The things that we do for him here and now get to reap eternal rewards (or consequences).
Resources
How are we doing using our financial and other resources for eternal ends? Are we being wise and investing for eternity?
tithing
Living openhanded
Righteousness
Have you trusted in Christ as your savior? Are you relying on His righteousness as your entrance into God’s eternal presence? And in response, are you seeking to live rightly in this life that Jesus has purchased for you?
Conversely, are you trying to earn God’s favor by good outward actions, but have a heart that is not transformed?
Relationships
How are we doing at preparing our closest relationships for eternity? Is Christ present in our homes?
How are we doing at making others aware of eternity?
There is a dialog that ensues between the rich man and Abraham. In it, the rich man makes 2 requests of Abraham for Lazarus - think about this - even in Hell he still thinks he’s better than Lazarus and can request his assistance. In any case, he asks for:
a drop of water - for a bit of relief from the torment: in our day and age, we don’t often want to think or talk about Hell or an eternity of torment. Jesus clearly has a view that there is an eternity after this life. One is with Him. We call that Heaven or here in this parable “Abraham’s side.” I don’t think it’s the harp playing, cloud sitting, wing wearing pictures that some in our culture have made it. Scripture seems to refer to this eternal place as a place of rest, refreshment and peace. Conversely, Hades (the place of the dead) or Hell is referred to as a place of torment and darkness, “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Decisions in this life make a difference in the next. This man is clearly in torment and is looking for some relief - but none will be had.
If you’re not yet a follower of Christ, know that this is a real place. This place where this rich man spends his eternity is the just and deserved destination for all who refuse Jesus and his way of living. Conversely, the rest and refreshment that Lazarus experiences is the destination for all who come to Jesus by faith! Come today!
That being said, this rich man seems to know his eternal fate and comes to grips with that. However, he does not want his family members to be where he is, so he requests…
a messenger to communicate to his family, namely Lazarus to come back from the dead. To this, Abraham states that there is Moses or the Law and the Prophets who have spoken and taught about eternity - who taught about Jesus. But the parable ends on a mic drop moment when Abraham says:
Luke 16:31 ESV
‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”
Jesus was wrongfully accused, beaten and then crucified. He died. He was all dead. When his body was laid in a tomb, his followers thought that was the end - until that glorious Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the grave. Jesus did come back to life.
Last week in Good News Club at Poolesville Elementary School, we talked about the fact that Jesus showed himself to Mary, and to the disciples and to over 500 people at one time after He rose from the dead. Today, there are roughly 2 billion people on earth who live in the hope of a future resurrection, because of what Jesus did. And yet, this was prophesied and talked about for hundreds of years before he came.
Just after the fall of Adam and Eve, God provided a hope, a promise for One who would come to defeat evil:
Genesis 3:15 ESV
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
Many many years later, Moses told the people of Israel:
Deuteronomy 18:15 ESV
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
Roughly 1500 years prior to Jesus coming, Moses stated those words, giving them a hope for a good, true, and noble prophet, namely Jesus.
Then, among many of the other prophets, Isaiah stated several hundred years before Jesus came:
Isaiah 52:13–53:12 ESV
Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
he shall be high and lifted up,
and shall be exalted.
As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
so shall he sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.
Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Friend, if you have not yet trusted in Jesus, then let me encourage you to come to Him today! He is the One who was prophesied about for hundreds of years. He is the One who took your sin and made a way for you to have eternal life and then invites you to learn how to walk in His ways, Come, repent, believe, be baptized, be born again!
Beloved, brothers and sisters in Christ, what we do here matters for eternity.
are we using our resources for eternal ends?
are we living rightly as best we can - knowing that Jesus has made us right?
are we serving him in our relationships - familial, friendly, and even foes? Have we communicated to them about the hope that Jesus has for us in eternity?
Let’s pray.
Benediction:
Revelation 11:15 ESV
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
Read: Luke 16
Our bank statement will reveal the things that we truly love.” What does yours reveal? To what extent are you kingdom-shrewd with your finances?
Do we recognize that all that we have belongs to God?
Western culture is a materialistic culture. What blindspots do you think this causes in your life and church when it comes to spending your money with kingdom priorities?
Do we use what we have in a way that pleases God or cheats God?
In what ways is Jesus a better God to serve than Money? Why is this easy to forget in day-to-day life?
Is there an area of our life where we think God must be pleased with us or something we’re doing simply because it pleases us? Have we considered that area or thing might be revolting in God’s sight?
Are we storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven, or are we trusting the world’s riches that will fail?
How has this section helped you to have the same view of God’s law that Jesus does?
If we do not have a clear view of the reality that real people go to a real hell, what difference does that make to us in the here and now?
What is one thing you need to think about, pray about, or get on with doing as a result of Jesus’ teaching here?
Very practically: What decisions about money and possessions do you need to make differently in order to demonstrate your devotion to God?
Is there any area of your life where you trick others into thinking you’re religious but the truth is something different? Have you considered that God knows your heart?
How do you feel about the doctrine and reality of hell? How does the rich man’s testimony from Hades affect your understanding of hell and what those there would desire for those still living?
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Garland, D. E. “Mammon.” In The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, edited by Geoffrey W Bromiley. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 12-24 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Powell, Mark Allan. “Mammon.” In The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated), edited by Mark Allan Powell. New York: HarperCollins, 2011.
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
