Caretakers Luke 16:1-13

Luke 16 1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’

3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’

7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 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.”

Luke 16 1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’” Jesus was speaking to his disciples (Pharisees were also listening in vs. 14). It may have been that Jesus was speaking to Judas Iscariat, who was also known as the one who was the treasurer for Jesus’ disciples. But this parable seems to go beyond money. What resources does God allow us to manage? Finances, Homes, material items Health Relationships Time We will be accountable one day. If I am accountable for how I manage those resources, is there evidence of my faithfulness and honesty? bank register, calendar, contacts - Is God part of them? Prayer journal - Real faithfulness and see God’s faithfulness. Is my attitude faithful - one where I give thanks in all circumstances? Like the parable of the talents, if God entrusts something to me, I need to be a wise steward if I want to expect to continue being able to use what God has given.

27 So God created man in his own image, Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.” Be fruitful and multiply. Gives us dominion over the whole earth. God expects that human beings will use the earth wisely and govern it with the same sense of responsibility and care that God has toward the whole of his creation. This is a foundation for wise scientific and technological development. Why does God allow us to manage his resources?

James 1 16 “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” He allows us to serve Him and manage his resources because He is a good, good Father. He blesses us beyond what we could ever imagine and wants us to experience the joy of being one with Him. He brings us forth by the word of truth. Truth will always grow us. Even if it is hard to hear. We need to be people of truth. People who don’t cover up the truth or shy away from the truth. People who study the truth and face the truth. People who tell the truth and live the truth. People who boldly proclaim the truth of the one true living God. Are you willing to accept the truth that you have a Father who cares about you, loves you, and has given you an eternal inheritance worth more than you can imagine?

Luke 16 3 “And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’” Or do you just see God as the boss, the taskmaster, the employer, the one who you clock in for and grudgingly mop the floor for? It seems like this was the heart of the manager as we see him complaining. Thinks highly of himself, doing what is best for himself rather than what is best for his master. 900 gallons to 450 gallons

7 “Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe 7 “Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” 100 measures = 1000 bushels Commended - gives approval, praises for Shrewdness - keenly aware; sharp intelligence; practicality; tricky, artful cunning practice Maybe he was cutting out his own commision or just trying to make himself look good. Master does not praise him for his evil The master still refers to him as a dishonest manager. He does give approval that it is important to think about the future, especially about eternity. When the manager’s source of income fails, that is when he begins to give thought to the future. Why is it we so often wait until our finances or health or relationships fail before we begin to ponder the eternal consequences of our actions? The ways of the world are not the ways of God. God does see and know what the manager is doing just as he sees what you and I are doing. The parables often have reversals of expectation, which result in us questioning the reliability of our whole mindset. New standards prevail in the kingdom of God. Here the crack in the realism teases us into seeing more than the literal level. “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light” seems to mean that those in the world often show more concern and skill in taking care of their earthly well-being than sons of light or believers do in taking care of eternal matters. Once again, where is our heart? What will last? Not wealth, but the kingdom of God. All that we have in this present life is God’s, not our own. We are to use the material things entrusted to us to advance the interests of our Father in heaven by applying them to the needs of our fellow men and to the advancement of the gospel.

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 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.” Who are you living for? He wants to entrust you with true riches of His kingdom. Jesus is calling for his disciples to be characterized by scrupulous integrity and honesty. Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Counting pennies as a kid. Danielle’s engagement ring (childhood penny bank, plasma) He doesn’t need our money or time or energy, but how we spend our money and time and energy is a symbol of where our heart is. What He wants is you. Once you are engaged with Him, or accept him as father, you caretake each other. He pours into you and you pour back into him. His kingdom is your kingdom. Your money is His money, and His money your money. His power is yours and your energy is used for him. You don’t hide things and waste things because you communicate regularly and know each other’s hearts. You trust each other. You know his plans. You trust him and are faithful to him because He is your all in all.

Anne Bradstreet In silent night when rest I took, Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our house, July 10th. 1666 In silent night when rest I took, For sorrow near I did not look, I wakened was with thund’ring noise And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice. That fearful sound of “fire” and “fire,” Let no man know is my Desire. I, starting up, the light did spy, And to my God my heart did cry To straighten me in my Distress And not to leave me succourless. Then, coming out, behold a space The flame consume my dwelling place. And when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave and took, That laid my goods now in the dust. Yea, so it was, and so ‘twas just. It was his own, it was not mine, Far be it that I should repine; He might of all justly bereft But yet sufficient for us left. When by the ruins oft I past My sorrowing eyes aside did cast And here and there the places spy Where oft I sate and long did lie.

Anne Bradstreet Here stood that trunk, and there that chest, Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our house, July 10th. 1666 Here stood that trunk, and there that chest, There lay that store I counted best. My pleasant things in ashes lie And them behold no more shall I. Under thy roof no guest shall sit, Nor at thy Table eat a bit. No pleasant talk shall ‘ere be told Nor things recounted done of old. No Candle e'er shall shine in Thee, Nor bridegroom‘s voice e'er heard shall be. ‘In silence ever shalt thou lie, Adieu, Adieu, all’s vanity. Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide, And did thy wealth on earth abide? Didst fix thy hope on mould'ring dust? The arm of flesh didst make thy trust? Raise up thy thoughts above the sky That dunghill mists away may fly.

Anne Bradstreet Thou hast a house on high erect Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our house, July 10th. 1666 Thou hast a house on high erect Frameed by that mighty Architect, With glory richly furnished, Stands permanent though this be fled. It‘s purchased and paid for too By Him who hath enough to do. A price so vast as is unknown, Yet by His gift is made thine own; There‘s wealth enough, I need no more, Farewell, my pelf, farewell, my store. The world no longer let me love, My hope and treasure lies above.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Jesus calls his disciples to live our lives with the assurance that God will provide for us. Do I give in such a way that it hurts, that it requires faith in a God bigger than me to get me through? Jesus call us his disciples to be faithful stewards--to live life knowing that God sees all, that we don’t have to see all, but that He is our all in all. Prayer - Father, You have entrusted us with an eternal inheritance. Forgive us for taking that lightly so often and for living dishonest, self-seeking lives. Change our hearts that we might know the depth of your love and respond to your grace. Teach us father to be faithful stewards and managers of Your kingdom, Father. We know we can be all you have called us to be because you take care of us perfectly and are a perfect father.