What's In It for Me? - Sagacity
Introducing new sermon series
We love to hear stories and we learn best from stories
Fairy Tales. Aesop's Fables. Mother Goose Rhymes. Prairie Home Companion - Garrison Keiler
Jesus was the best story teller of all. He told parables. Parables have been called "Heavenly Stories with Earthly messages"
In the next 5 weeks we will hear the stories Jesus. Each story tells us something about the cost and the value of following Jesus
Today: The Story of the Dishonest Manager!
Luke 16:1-8 (The New Living Translation)
16:1 Jesus told this story to his disciples: "A rich man hired a manager to handle his affairs, but soon a rumor went around that the manager was thoroughly dishonest.
16:2 So his employer called him in and said, 'What's this I hear about your stealing from me? Get your report in order, because you are going to be dismissed.'
16:3 "The manager thought to himself, 'Now what? I'm through here, and I don't have the strength to go out and dig ditches, and I'm too proud to beg.
16:4 I know just the thing! And then I'll have plenty of friends to take care of me when I leave!'
16:5 "So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe him?'
16:6 The man replied, 'I owe him eight hundred gallons of olive oil.' So the manager told him, 'Tear up that bill and write another one for four hundred gallons.
16:7 "'And how much do you owe my employer?' he asked the next man. 'A thousand bushels of wheat,' was the reply. 'Here,' the manager said, 'take your bill and replace it with one for only eight hundred bushels.
16:8 "The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the citizens of this world are more shrewd than the godly are.
The Dishonest Manager was a sage!
Sagacity
Sagacity is a practical wisdom that goes far beyond mere intellectual comprehension of truth. It is a gauging of life and living it with memories of the lessons learned in the past; an eye on the realties of the present; and a clear vision of the future.
A shrewd kind of wisdom The movie inspired by Dickens called "Oliver" has a character in it named Jack Dawkins (The Artful Dodger). Another character is the shrewd Fagan.
He sings: YOU'VE GOT TO PICK-A-POCKET OR TWO
FAGIN:
"You see, Oliver ...
IN THIS LIFE
ONE THING COUNTS -
IN THE BANK
LARGE AMOUNTS!
I'M AFRAID THESE
DON'T GROW ON TREES ...
YOU'VE GOT TO PICK A POCKET OR TWO
YOU'VE GOT TO PICK A POCKET OR TWO, BOYS
YOU'VE GOT TO PICK A POCKET OR TWO"
Calculating and capable, the dishonest manager in this story could see the writing on the wall! He understood that…
…He would give an account
Rumors had been started about him. May have been true – may not have been. Doesn’t matter – he has already been told the outcome.
…He was in trouble
He was going to lose his job. Real work was something he didn’t want to do. He didn’t want to be a begger The future looked grim indeed. He had gotten used to a standard of living. He didn't want to lose it! He obviously believed that money wasn't the only thing in life but that it was way ahead of whatever was second!
He Acted…
…To Prepare for his future
He invited in all the people who owed his master money and made them a deal. 800 gallons of oil became 400. A thousand bushels of wheat became 800. And down the list of accounts receivables he went – name after name – account after account was discounted, cut, and slashed.
He took what belonged to his master and benefited others to insure his own future.
What is truly amazing is that Jesus spoke well of him!
The guy is a crook but Jesus tells us that the rich man commended him for his shrewdness. Then he says that citizens of the world more shrewd than the Godly are.
It is not a negative against the citizens of the world. It is a negative against the Godly. So What is Jesus really saying???
You and I are taught by Jesus to be His followers in the manner of this shrewd steward!
Understand this…
…You will give an account
Whether rumors are started or not. Whether it is fair or foul treatment we receive from our peers, friends, family – it does not matter. We will give an account of how we have done with what our master has put into our care.
…You are in trouble
None of us can endure a careful examination –scrutinizing our every thought and deed. None of us has lived well according to the law; the 10 commandments or even the two great commandments
Love your neighbor as yourself. Love your God with all your heart.
…Your future is grim
You MUST Act! - But what to do! You say, "But… I don’t know anyone who owes God 800 gallons of oil or a 1000 bushels of wheat! What can I do to insure my future?"
You must act shrewdly!
Here is the critical question: Do you know anyone in debt to God? Do you know anyone not in debt to God?
Then this is what you must do to be wise – shrewd – a man or woman of sagacity! Use what belongs to your master to benefit others.
Use His life that He gave your to help others. You know the life! – The one with your name on the label
Certainly this is not right!! But most certainly - it is right! God wants you to understand and act. In doing so you will lose your life which is not really yours – and gain it in the process!
Mark 8:35-36
35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Meridian Christian Church exists today because of sage stewards! Men like Brian Kearns and women like Esther Hetrick. Many others too. Some who have moved. Others who have remained. Willing to give the life that is owned by God to benefit another and insure their futures!
See the evidence of their labor here and now. Review 3 critical decisions made by shrewd and sage followers.
(In the order the decisions were made)
Decision to seek souls for Jesus
MCC was begun with the idea of being a different kind of church. It started in a Theatre. This was not an accident. It was an appeal to the people of this community that need to know about Jesus. On that same foundational principle in this past year we began to pray and prepare to reach "For A Thousand Souls" at MCC
Campaign to give offerings (now over $15000) to help provide land and buildings Office, Operations HQ, Youth, etc.
This decision is not about building members-only club it is shrewd and sage determination to give our lives to benefit others and ensure our future!
MCC is about giving our selves to tell others about Jesus. And we have seen the results!
Decision to provide Excellent Leadership
In the Staff: Brian Kearns asked Paul Kissling who would be the best to lead worship - Esther Hetrick was challenged to come. When Brian left to begin a second new work in Knoxville, TN the elders and search committee went out on a limb to bring me and my family to MCC and bring almost 30 years of ministry experience to the work here.
We are investing literally thousands of dollars in one of the best young men available - only guy to ever get a straight 4.0 at GLCC
We are looking for a person with a passion and heart for children's ministry. Just as important as this the decision was made to develop the best Lay Leadership possible. Our Elders are men who are experienced at shepherding, Mike Freeman, Paul Kissling and myself are not elders because they were voted in but because they have shown themselves to be Godly men who practice the work of shepherding the people.
We are committed to Home Groups with men and women who lead in them. Ten today! Gathering twice a year with the whole church body. Meeting, inviting, ministering, praying, encouraging!
We are committed to Ministry Leaders who develop who minister to the needs of the church and the community.
Each has their own Funds. Each encouraged to own their ministry as it serves in harmony with the goals and objectives of the church as a whole.
This decision is not about leadership - it is shrewd and sage determination to give our lives to benefit others and ensure our future! Decision to be committed to the cause.
Tithers & Offering Givers
When I came the church was challenged to give $2400/weekly to meet the budgeted needs. Last year because people were committed tithers. A PT Childrens Minister position added last January. A FT Youth added in March - three months ahead of schedule!
This decision is not about money - it is shrewd and sage determination to give our lives to benefit others and ensure our future!
Three resolutions for 2000
I challenge you to resolve that our number one task is to win souls to Jesus Christ. Let us make 10:00 Sunday Celebration at the Chippewa Middle School in Okemos Michigan the most exciting place on Sunday morning anywhere near this place!
What’s in it for Me?
Sagacity! A shrewd and wise man who loses his life and gains it in the process!
Be a follower of God in the manner of this sage and shrewd steward!
Mark 8:35-36
35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
