COACHING FROM A CROOK
Luke 16:1-13, Selected
THERE ONCE WAS A MAN WHO WENT ON AN OCEAN VOYAGE CARRYING A LARGE BAG OF GOLD COINS. THE BAG REPRESENTED HIS ENTIRE NET WORTH. A TERRIBLE STORM BLEW UP, AND THE CALL CAME FOR ALL HANDS TO ABANDON SHIP.
THE MAN STRAPPED THE GOLD AROUND HIS WAIST, JUMPED OVERBOARD, AND SANK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.
HERE’S THE PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION…
“AS HE WAS SINKING, DID HE HAVE THE GOLD? OR DID THE GOLD HAVE HIM?”
I FIND IT SIGNIFICANT THAT ONE OUT OF EVERY SIX VERSES IN MATTHEW, MARK AND LUKE DEAL WITH EITHER MONEY OR MATERIAL POSSESSIONS. OVER HALF OF THE PARABLES JESUS TOLD ADDRESS THIS TOPIC. THERE ARE OVER 1000 REFERENCES IN THE BIBLE TO MONEY. THIS MAKES IT THE 2ND MOST POPULAR SUBJECT IN SCRIPTURE.
WHY SUCH A MAJOR FOCUS?
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCE THAT IF YOU DON’T MANAGE YOUR MONEY IT WILL MANAGE YOU.
FINANCES AFFECT EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES.
GALLUP POLL CONDUCTED A SURVEY DISCOVERING THAT 56% OF DIVORCES IN AMERICA OCCUR BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL TENSIONS.
THIS MORNING WE WILL FOCUS ON A PARABLE THAT TEACHES GOD’S PRINCIPLES FOR MANAGING MONEY.
OUR PASSAGE IS FOUND IN LUKE 16:1-13
IN THIS PARABLE, JESUS ARRESTS OUR ATTENTION BY RECOMMENDING THE FINANCIAL PRACTICES OF A CROOK.
(READ LUKE 16:1-8)
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD PARABLES IN THE BIBLE.
TO UNDERSTAND ANY PARABLE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO FIGURE OUT WHO JESUS IS SPEAKING TO. LUKE 16:14 IDENTIFIES THE AUDIENCE.
"THE PHARISEES WHO LOVED MONEY HEARD ALL THIS AND THEY WERE SNEERING AT JESUS."
I THINK THAT JESUS LOVED TO SHOCK SELF RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE! JESUS SAYS, "YOU PHARISEES, YOU’RE THE MOST RELIGIOUS PEOPLE AROUND. I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU A MODEL. AND YOUR MODEL IS A CROOK."
NOTICE IN PARTICULAR LUKE 16:8, “SO THE MASTER COMMENDED THE UNJUST STEWARD BECAUSE HE HAD DEALT SHREWDLY. FOR THE SONS OF THIS WORLD ARE MORE SHREWD IN THEIR GENERATION THAN THE SONS OF LIGHT.”
WHAT IS JESUS SAYING?
JUST THIS. MANY UNBELIEVERS ARE MORE WISE IN HOW THEY MANAGE THEIR MONEY THAN BELIEVERS ARE.
JESUS ISN’T PRAISING THIS MAN FOR BEING DISHONEST, BUT HE DOES SAY THERE ARE SOME THINGS HE DID THAT WE OUGHT TO LEARN FROM.
LET’S TAKE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PARABLE AS WE DIG DEEPER.
LUKE 16, V. 1-2
"JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES `THERE WAS A RICH MAN WHOSE MANAGER WAS ACCUSED OF WASTING HIS POSSESSIONS. SO HE CALLED HIM IN AND ASKED HIM, "WHAT’S THIS I HEAR ABOUT YOU? GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF YOUR MANAGEMENT BECAUSE YOU CANNOT BE A MANAGER ANY LONGER." CIRCLE THE WORD, "MANAGER".
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT GOD IS THE OWNER OF EVERYTHING.
NOTHING ON THIS EARTH IS TRULY OURS.
WE USE IT FOR 60, 70, 80, 90 YEARS-- BUT THEN IT WILL PASS ON TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
NO ONE PULLS A U-HAUL TRAILER BEHIND THE HEARSE.
ONE DAY, JUST AS THIS MAN HAD TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT, I WILL STAND BEFORE GOD AND HE WILL ASK ME TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT I DID WITH THE MONEY I HAD ON EARTH.
IN THIS PARABLE, THE MAN WAS A CROOK.
THIS CROOK KNEW HE’D LOSE HIS JOB BECAUSE OF HIS DISHONESTY, SO HE PLANS A CLEVER SCHEME.
THE NEXT FEW VERSES DESCRIBE HOW HE GOES OUT TO SOME CREDITORS WHO OWE THE MANAGER MONEY AND ASKS, "HOW MUCH DO YOU OWE?"
HE RESPONDS, "I OWE 800 GALLONS OF OIL."
"CUT THE BILL IN HALF. WE’LL CALL IT EVEN."
HE GOES TO THE NEXT GUY AND SAYS, "WHAT DO YOU OWE?"
"A THOUSAND BUSHELS OF WHEAT."
"CUT THAT DOWN TO 800."
AT THE CONCLUSION OF COLLECTING THE FUNDS, THE MASTER GAVE HIS EVALUATION.
LUKE 16:8
"THE MASTER COMMENDED THE DISHONEST MANAGER BECAUSE HE ACTED SHREWDLY."
HE DOESN’T COMMEND HIM FOR HIS DISHONESTY-- BUT HE DOES SAY HE WAS SMART.
WHAT DID THIS CROOK DO THAT WAS RIGHT?
THERE WERE THREE THINGS.
1. HE LOOKED AHEAD. V. 3 "THE MANAGER SAID TO HIMSELF, `WHAT SHALL I DO NOW? MY MASTER HAS TAKEN AWAY MY JOB. I’M NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DIG AND I’M ASHAMED TO BEG.’"
THE MANAGER SAW DANGER ON THE HORIZON. HE SAW THE STORM COMING.
MANY CHRISTIANS ONLY LIVE IN THE HERE AND NOW. THEY NEVER LOOK AHEAD.
IF WE SIMPLY LOOK AHEAD, WE CAN AVERT MUCH FINANCIAL STRESS IN OUR LIVES.
ONE MORNING YOU GO OUT TO YOUR CAR AND DISCOVER THAT THE TREAD IS JUST ABOUT GONE. IN FACT, THE FRONT TIRES ARE JUST ABOUT BALD. YOU’RE STARTLED!
YOU IMMEDIATELY WONDER WHERE YOU WILL FIND THE FUNDS FOR NEW TIRES. STRESS BEGINS TO SET IN.
QUESTION? DO TIRES EVENTUALLY WEAR OUT? UNLESS YOUR TIRES ARE LIKE THE SHOES AND CLOTHES OF THE ISRAELITES WHILE THEY WERE IN THE WILDERNESS…YOU ARE 100% GUARANTEED THAT THEY WILL WEAR OUT!
COULD A PERSON LOOK AHEAD AND SEE IT COMING? YES.
SHOULD IT BE A SURPRISE THAT CAUSES FINANCIAL STRESS? NO.
THAT TAKES US TO OUR SECOND POINT…
2. THE MANANGER PLANNED AHEAD. V. 4 "HE SAID, `I KNOW WHAT I’LL DO WHEN I LOSE MY JOB HERE SO PEOPLE WILL WELCOME ME INTO THEIR HOUSE.’"
THIS MAN KNEW THAT IF HE WAS KIND TO THESE DEBTORS, THEY WOULD WELCOME HIM WHEN HE WAS OUT OF A JOB.
HE HAD A PLAN IN MIND.
MANY CHRISTIANS ARE DOING ABSOLUTELY NO FINANCIAL PLANNING.
LET’S USE THE TIRE ILLUSTRATION AGAIN.
YOU’VE NOTED THAT EVERY TIRE WEARS OUT. YOU BECOME CONVINCED THAT YOUR TIRES WILL NOT BE THE 4 EXCEPTIONS. YOU’VE LOOKED AHEAD. YOU FIGURE THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF DRIVING YOU DO, YOU’LL NEED NEW TIRES IN 3 YEARS. SO, YOU MAKE A PLAN. YOU SET ASIDE $10/MONTH IN YOUR BUDGET FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. WHEN NEW TIRES ARE NEEDED, THE MONEY IS THERE.
THE PRACTICE OF LOOKING AHEAD AND MAKING PROVISION IN YOUR BUDGET CAN BE APPLIED TO ANY REGULARLY OCCURING EXPENSE.
EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD HAVE A BUDGET AND A FINANCIAL PLAN. MOST DON’T!
3. THE MANAGER ACTED QUICKLY.
HE CALLED IN EACH ONE OF HIS MASTER’S DEBTORS AND SAID,
NOTICE HIS RESPONSE TO THE FIRST DEBTOR,
"TAKE YOUR BILL, SIT DOWN QUICKLY."
NOTICE THE WORD, "QUICKLY".
THIS MANAGER ACTED WHILE HE HAD TIME.
IF YOU ARE ON THE EDGE FINANCIALLY…
IF YOU ARE HEADED FOR A MARRIAGE CRISES OVER FINANCIAL TENSIONS…YOU NEED TO ACT QUICKLY!
CREDITORS WILL OFTEN WORK WITH YOU…BUT YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM BEFORE YOUR ACCOUNT BECOME DELIQUENT.
WHAT DOES JESUS TEACH US FROM THIS STORY?
YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AHEAD,
YOU OUGHT TO PLAN AHEAD AND
DO IT WHILE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY."
IN VERSES 9-13 OF THIS PARABLE, JESUS GIVES MAKES THREE SPIRITUAL APPLICATIONS :
1. V. 9 JESUS REVEALS THE GREATEST USE OF MONEY.
2. V. 10-12, JESUS EXPLAINS HIS INTEREST IN MY CHECKBOOK.
3. V. 13, JESUS ASKS FOR FIRST PLACE.
1. V. 9 THE GREATEST USE OF MONEY.
V. 9 "I TELL YOU, USE WORLDLY WEALTH TO GAIN FRIENDS FOR YOURSELVES, SO THAT WHEN IT IS GONE, YOU WILL BE WELCOMED INTO ETERNAL DWELLINGS."
DOES THAT VERSE SURPRISE YOU? USE WORLDLY WEALTH TO GAIN FRIENDS SO THAT WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN THEY’LL WELCOME YOU IN. WHAT IS JESUS TALKING ABOUT?
USING THE CLEAR PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS VERSE, WE KNOW A FEW THINGS JESUS ISN’T SAYING.
HE’S NOT SAYING, BUY YOUR WAY INTO HEAVEN.
HE’S NOT SAYING, PAY FOR YOUR SALVATION.
HE’S NOT SAYING, BRIBE GOD.
SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT. YOU JUST ACCEPT IT.
WHAT’S HIS POINT THEN?
THE GREATEST USE OF MONEY IS TO INVEST IT IN GETTING PEOPLE INTO HEAVEN. THAT IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF IT.
WE ARE TO USE OUR TEMPORARY RESOURCES FOR PERMANENT GOOD.
AS I TRAVEL TO CHURCHES AND SPEAK ON STEWARDSHIP, I’VE DISCOVERED THAT MANY HAVE LOST FOCUS OF THEIR MISSION. THE CHURCH EXISTS TO REACH LOST PEOPLE. BUT, HOW DO WE ALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES. ALMOST ALL ON OURSELVES!
WE HAVE BECOME KEEPERS OF THE AQUARIUM, RATHER THAN FISHERS OF MEN.
I BELIEVE A CHURCH SHOULD SET ASIDE 25% OF THEIR BUDGET FOR EVANGELISM.
WHEN OUR RESOURCES ARE FOCUSED ON THE HARVEST…THE GREATEST USE OF MONEY…GOD WILL POUR OUT A TREMENDOUS BLESSING ON US!
MATTHEW 6:20-21 PUTS IT THIS WAY, "STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE MOTHS AND RUST DO NOT DESTROY AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK IN AND STEAL. FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO."
2. V. 10-12 JESUS REVEALS HIS INTEREST IN MY CHECKBOOK.
V. 10 "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."
IF I AM FAITHFUL WITH WHAT I HAVE THEN GOD CAN TRUST ME WITH MORE OF IT.
CONTINUING WITH VERSES 11-12,
"SO IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TRUSTWORTHY IN HANDLING WORLDLY WEALTH, WHO WILL TRUST YOU WITH TRUE RICHES?"
AND IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FAITHFUL IN WHAT IS ANOTHER MAN’S, WHO WILL GIVE YOU WHAT IS YOUR OWN?”
GOD USES MONEY TO TEST US!
THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT. IF YOU WERE TO LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR CHECKBOOK, DO YOU THINK I WOULD UNDERSTAND A LOT ABOUT YOU.
SURE.
NO MATTER WHAT I SAY IS IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE, YOU CAN TELL WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BY LOOKING AT TWO THINGS:
MY CHECKBOOK REGISTER AND MY DAY PLANNER.
THE WAY I SPEND MY TIME AND THE WAY I SPEND MY MONEY TELLS WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME REGARDLESS OF WHAT I SAY.
MONEY AFFECTS EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES. THIS PASSAGE TEACHES THAT THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHAT I DO WITH MY MONEY AND THE SPIRITUAL DEPTH IN MY LIFE. IF I AM FAITHFUL WITH MONEY, GOD CAN TRUST ME WITH SPIRITUAL RICHES.
3. V. 13 JESUS ASKS FOR FIRST PLACE.
JESUS SUMMARIZES IT ALL IN V. 13 "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."
JESUS LAYS IT OUT IN BLACK AND WHITE. HE IS DEFINITELY NOT VAGUE IN THIS VERSE.
I MUST CHOOSE WHAT I WILL LOVE MOST IN LIFE.
JESUS SAYS, REALLY WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO IT, THE CHOICE IS VERY SIMPLE BECAUSE IT COMES DOWN TO TWO THINGS-- GOD OR MONEY.
THE LAST DAY CHURCH, THE LUKEWARM CHURCH OF LAODICEA…WILL STRUGGLE ON THIS VERY POINT. NOTE REVELATION 3:17,
“YOU SAY, “I AM RICH, HAVE BECOME WEALTHY, AND HAVE NEED OF NOTHING—AND DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE WRETCHED, MISERABLE, POOR, BLIND, AND NAKED.”
IT IS AN OVERWHELMING CONDITION OF CHURCH PEOPLE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS TO BECOME ENRAPTURED BY MATERIALISM--AND AS A RESULT BE SPIRITUALLY BANKRUPT.
THIS CASE ISN’T HOPELESS HOWEVER, REVELATION 3:19 URGES, “THEREFORE, BE ZEALOUS AND REPENT.”
IN LUKE 16, JESUS CHALLENGES US TO MAKE A CHOICE.
HE ASKS FOR SOLE POSSESSION OF FIRST PLACE.
IF I TRY TO LIVE FOR GOD AND MONEY AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE MASS CONFUSION IN MY LIFE. GOD INSISTS ON FIRST PLACE IN MY LIFE. GOD INSISTS ON FIRST PLACE IN YOUR LIFE.
BUT, HOW DOES A PERSON KNOW IF GOD REALLY HAS FIRST PLACE?
IS THERE ANY SCRIPTURE IN THE BIBLE THAT TEACHES US HOW YOU CAN KNOW THAT GOD HAS FIRST PLACE?
THIS PASSAGE MAY SURPRISE YOU…
DEUTERONOMY 14:23 (LIVING BIBLE) "THE PURPOSE OF TITHING IS TO TEACH YOU TO ALWAYS PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIVES."
TITHING IS GOD’S WAY TO HELP US KEEP OUR FOCUS ON TRACK…
THE WORD TITHING MEANS TEN IN HEBREW -- TEN PERCENT.
THE PRINCIPLE OF TITHING SAYS I GIVE THE FIRST TEN PERCENT OF EVERYTHING I MAKE BACK TO GOD. WHY? IT’S A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT "GOD, YOU’RE NUMBER ONE.
I WOULDN’T HAVE ANY OF THIS IF IT WEREN’T FOR YOU.
I WOULDN’T EVEN BE ALIVE IF IT WEREN’T FOR YOU."
HERE’S THE BOTTOM LINE.
IF I’M NOT TITHING, HOW CAN I SAY GOD’S FIRST PLACE IN MY LIFE?
OUR FINANCES ARE A TOP INDICATOR OF OUR SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT.
IF TITHING HAS NOT BEEN PART OF YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN, I’D LIKE TO CHALLENGE YOU TO START TODAY. I ANTICIPATE HEARING STORIES OF GOD’S BLESSING AS A RESULT.
COACHING FROM A CROOK. SOMETIMES JESUS USED UNUSUAL STORIES TO ARREST OUR ATTENTION.
WE SHOULDN’T BE SHOWN UP BY THE WORLD IN HOW WE MANAGE OUR RESOURCES.
IN FACT, THE SPIRITUAL BLESSING OF TITHING SHOULD MAKE US THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL!!!
IT’S TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO LIVE BY THE PRINCIPLES IN GOD’S WORD. WE, OF ALL PEOPLE, SHOULD HAVE A PROPER PERSPECTIVE ON MONEY.
TODAY, LET’S LEARN FROM THE CROOK IN JESUS PARABLE.
LET’S MAKE A FINANCIAL PLAN THAT INVESTS IN ETERNITY!
