THE UNJUST STEWARD

Luke 16:1-13

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Read Luke 16:1-13
   B. The parables of our Lord provide many profitable lessons in    
      living the Christian life.
      1. The parable before us is called, "the parable of the unjust
         steward."
      2. Let's examine this parable so that we can benefit from it.

I. FIRST LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS IN THE PARABLE.
   A. The steward.
      1. A steward was a manager of the household, property or
         business of an owner.
   B. The steward's dismissal. (vs. 1b-2)
      1. He was dismissed because he was wasting or squandering his
         master's goods.
   C. The steward's perplexity. (vs. 3)
      1. Seeing the end of his position near, the question came,
         "What shall I do when discharged?"
      2. He was not strong enough for hard work; he was too proud
         to beg.
   D. The steward's wisdom. (vs. 4-7)
      1. He won a home with his tenants by reducing their bill.
      2. He possibly could become a steward to one of them later.
   E. The steward commended. (vs. 8a)
      1. He was commended, not for his misuse or dishonesty but for
         his wisdom in preparing for the future.
         a. He knew that the wealth which was entrusted to his
            possession would soon be taken away.
         b. He used that which was entrusted to him to prepare for
            the future.
            (1) Later, when he was without food and shelter, those
                he had befriended would take him into their homes.
      2. We admire the wisdom of Rahab the harlot because of her
         faith and works, not because she was a harlot, or because   
         she lied to her people about the spies.
         a. We may disagree with the doctrine of others, but see
            something to commend; ex., the zeal of Jehovah's
            Witnesses in their door-to-door work.

II. THE APPLICATION OF THE STORY.
   A. A contrast between the sons of this world and the sons of      
      light. (vs. 8b)
      1. The sons of this world use more wisdom and diligence in
         gaining their objectives than the sons of light in gaining
         heaven.
      2. People of the world often act with more forethought and
         diligence and are more prompt and alert in their pursuits   
         than Christians.
         a. For example, an avid golfer, fisherman, seamstress. The
            more they pursue these things, the better they are at
            them.
         b. Likewise, we need to be committed to our pursuit of
            serving God.
            (1) We need to be experts, pros, in living the Christian
                life.
   B. An admonition. (vs. 9)
      1. "Mammon" is "the Greek form of a Syriac or Aramaic word
         for 'money,' 'riches,' 'property,' 'worldly goods,' or      
         'profit.'" (Homan's Bible Dictionary)
         a. It is called "unrighteous," not that the material of     
            which it is made is corrupt, but because it is often     
            obtained and used for unrighteous purposes.
      2. Give to saints in need, win their friendship, those who     
         having gone on before will welcome you into heaven.
         a. It is merely another way of saying that if we use our
            money in the right way, we will be received at last into
            heaven.
         b. Jesus' words are merely in keeping with the words of the
            parable.
      3. Our use of money will determine where we will spend
         eternity.
         a. We should use what we have in this life in the service of
            God in order to assure an eternal reward.
         b. There are only four possible uses we may make of our
            money:
            (1) We can use it.  A certain portion must be used to
                sustain life.
            (2) We can waste it.
            (3) We can hoard it.
            (4) We can give it -- we can give it to gain the
                everlasting habitation.
         c. This epitaph was carved on a tombstone: What I spent, I
            used. What I saved, I lost. What I gave, I have.
      4. Ways we can use our money rightly:
         a. Do good to all, especially to Christians. Gal. 6:10
         b. Give to those who have need. Eph. 4:28
         c. Visit widows and orphans. James 1:27 "Visit" means "to
            go and see with the view of aiding" (Vine)
         d. Be compassionate toward a brother in need. 1 John
            3:17-18
         e. Have compassion on any in need. Luke 10:30-37
         f. Give liberally to the Lord's work. 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor.
            9:7
      5. Ways we can make abuse of money:
         a. By forgetting that we are merely stewards. Job 1:21;
            Psalm 50:10-12
         b. By loving money and desiring to be rich. 1 Tim. 6:9-10
         c. By being covetous, which is idolatry. Col. 3:5; 1 Cor.
            6:9-10
         d. By being greedy and selfish. Phil. 2:3-4; Acts 20:35
         e. By hoarding what we have. Luke 12:16-21
         f. By failing to give to the destitute. Luke 16:19-25
   C. Fidelity in service. (vs. 10-12)
         a. Faithful in least -- Faithful in much
         b. Unfaithful in least -- Unfaithful in much
         c. Unfaithful in mammon -- Unfaithful in true riches (Who
            would trust true riches?)
            (1) Ex. if unfaithful in material things, unfaithful in
                spiritual (teaching the gospel)
         d. Unfaithful in another's -- Unfaithful in one's own (Who
            will give you your own?)
            (1) What you obtain for your very own will depend
                much on how you use the things of another.
            (2) Unfaithfulness in managing another's goods proves
                one unworthy to be given much for himself. 
      1. God requires that Christians be faithful in small things as 
         well as in large.  Matt. 5:19; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 4:2
         a. Christians who are appointed various small tasks by the
            church, who are proven dependable, can be entrusted
            with greater things.
            (1) For example, the family who is always in services
                on time can be depended on when something very
                important has to be done.
         b. I know of a situation where a church was trying to
            encourage an older brother to do better in his
            faithfulness in attendance.
            (1) They thought if they gave him greater
                responsibility, he would do better, so they made
                him treasurer of the church.
            (2) The older man became the kind of treasurer that he
                was in attendance. He would not pay the bills on     
                time.
      2. Jesus said no servant can serve two masters. (vs. 13)
         a. God and mammon are uncompromising opposites:
            (1) Faithfulness to the one -- puts the other in a part-
                time capacity.
            (2) Mammon suggests a storing up -- God, a
                distributing abroad.
            (3) Mammon is measured by possessions -- God says it
                is more blessed to give than receive.
            (4) Fidelity to the one -- a separation from the other.
            (5) Love of the one -- causes despite toward the other.
         b. In spite of this, some want to prove the Lord wrong.
            They think they can indeed serve both God and
            mammon.
            (1) Jesus said it can't be done.
            (2) As one would "flee" fornication, he should "flee"
                the desire to be rich and the love of money. 1 Tim.
                6:9-11

Concl.
   A. There is coming a great final audit. Each will be called in to 
      the Master and He will say, "Give an account of your           
      stewardship."
      1. At that time, how we have handled our stewardship will be
         all that matters.
   B. Notice the reception of the worldly to the words of Jesus. Luke
      16:14-15
   C. Let us joyfully receive the word of the Lord and follow it.
      1. Let us use great wisdom and forethought in preparing for the
         life beyond.
      2. Let us strive to be faithful in what is least, as well as in
         much.
         a. Let us seek to be faithful in the unrighteous mammon as
            well as the true riches.
         b. Let us endeavor to be faithful in things of others as    
            well as our own.
      3. We know there's one last great final auditing awaiting
         everyone, and we want our Mater to say, "Well done good
         and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord."

Chart #1
THE FACTS OF THE PARABLE

I.   The Steward. (Vs. 1a)
II.  The Steward's Dismissal. (Vs. 1b-2)
III. The Steward's Perplexity. (Vs. 3)
IV.  The Steward's Wisdom. (Vs. 4-7)
V.   The Steward Commended. (Vs. 8a)

Chart #2
WAYS WE CAN USE OUR MONEY RIGHTLY:

1. Do good to all, especially to Christians. Gal. 6:10
2. Give to those who have need. Eph. 4:28
3. Visit widows and orphans. James 1:27
4. Be compassionate toward a brother in need. 1 John 3:17-18
5. Have compassion on any in need. Luke 10:30-37
6. Give liberally to the Lord's work. 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:7

Chart #3
WAYS WE CAN MAKE ABUSE OF MONEY:

1. By forgetting that we are merely stewards. Job 1:21; Psalm        
   50:10-12
2. By loving money and desiring to be rich. 1 Tim. 6:9-10
3. By being covetous, which is idolatry. Col. 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:9-10
4. By being greedy and selfish. Phil. 2:3-4; Acts 20:35
5. By hoarding what we have. Luke 12:16-21
6. By failing to give to the destitute. Luke 16:19-25

Chart #4
FIDELITY IN SERVICE

Faithful in least -- Faithful in much

Unfaithful in least -- Unfaithful in much

Unfaithful in mammon -- Unfaithful in true riches (Who would trust
true riches?)

Unfaithful in another's -- Unfaithful in one's own (Who will give you
your own?)

Chart #5
MAMMON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOD

Faithfulness to the one. . . . .Part-time capacity
Suggest a storing up . . . . A distributing abroad
Measured by possessions. . . .More blessed to give
Fidelity to the one. . A separation from the other
Love of one. . . . . . . .Despite toward the other