2006-11-12 Communion Dedication – Baldwin Christian Church

Luke 16:1-14 

1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.  

He knows that he’s going to lose his job when the boss sees his ledger sheet; he’s unable to do manual labor, and he’s too proud to beg, so what does he do? 

4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

5 So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 

In his last act as an employee of the rich man, the steward forgave debts that weren’t actually his to forgive, and that’s when Jesus calls him “unjust”.  This last-minute unemployment insurance plan is reminiscent of the pardons and favors that presidents and governors dole-out right before they have to leave office.  The unjust steward hoped the debtors would remember this kindness, and open up their homes so he wouldn’t have to get a real job after he lost this one. The rich man had to commend the unjust steward for being shrewd.  Even though it wasn’t his idea to forgive the debts, the debtors were thankful to the rich man, so he would look like the bad guy if he reinstated the debt or fired the steward. 

10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall 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 else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 

Unless we are converted and become as little children (children of light), Jesus says we will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.  The “children of this world” place too much value on the treasures of this world, and it shows in their lives.  They may be the shrewd ones in money matters, but the “children of light” tend to struggle with these things.  If you ever want to see proof of that, just listen at a church business meeting where money matters are being discussed. 

Jesus says money and earthly treasures are “unrighteous mammon”.  When He says, “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness”, He’s saying earthly treasures are to be used for evangelism, to bring people to know Him.  That doesn’t necessarily mean that we take the offerings to hire a pro-wrestling stunt team to perform and preach at the church.  In this parable, the debtors were thankful to know the lord forgives debt.  Are people who see shows at church (and showy churches) more thankful to the Lord than people who receive a basket of food at Christmas?  It’s not really all that hard to be faithful in the small things, the earthly treasures we have. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

To be faithful in the small things, all we have to do is cling to what Jesus said in verse eleven.  True riches are not the things we see in this world, so that means the things we see are just fluff; stuff to get us through, to sustain us during this life.  The Lord entrusts these things to us, and He laid down His life that we might all receive the true riches.