Luke 16:1-13[1]
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, Oct 9th, 2011
Many confusing messages about money have made their way into the church; I want to high-light the two extreme ideas concerning money this morning to get us started…
1) Asceticism. To be right with God, you must be poor. Money is evil, so righteous people couldn't have much of it. Problem here is – if we're all poor, who gives to the poor? The world? And who in the church would James admonish to be generous – there would be no one 'rich in this world's goods'. Mother Theresa once took over a moderately appointed facility donated to her work of helping the poor. She instructed the workers to remove the carpets and disconnect the hot water line to the building. She didn't sell the carpet or in any way benefit the poor from this 'doing without'[2]. Sadly, her doctrine about money wasn't biblical. She could have helped the poor better with hot water. If you work wisely and hard, you can prosper with this world's goods and still glorify God. Admittedly, it is hard to.
2) Materialism. It is God's will to prosper His children. If you aren't wealthy, it's because you don't believe God. This mindset makes God your willing slave to give you stuff, feed your greed, and encourage you to love money. God never encourages idolatry and greed; He hates both! Too many TV preachers have espoused this godless theology, and will answer for it.
Instead of holding to these unbiblical extremes that bring unbelief and condemnation, let's look at what Jesus tells us about money: Be Smart With Your Money. Luke 16:1-13.
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?' 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."
Prayer. The parable itself has been confusing to many. It brings up questions like…
Did Jesus commend deception or dishonesty? Or teach us to buy our way into heaven?
No. Two reasons I say this:
The audience. This was taught to disciples includes the curious, hungry sinners and tax collectors. People who were misusing money in ways that only built temporary alliances and pleasures. Money is an amoral tool that simplifies trade. These folks needed to learn to think differently about its use.
The main message of the parable. Details of a parable aren't always to be made much over, especially when our Lord clearly tells us what He was teaching!
Here is what Jesus said to His disciples: Be Smart With Your Money. According to this parable, there are three ways to do this:
16:8-9 Invest money eternally: give to the poor, needy, and the church. This is how you "make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings." Here we have the command to give generously to meet needs we're aware of. How do you make friends with money who will receive us into eternal dwellings? I think we bless those we will see in heaven – Jesus, and the body of Christ. Only those who live eternally can welcome us to eternal dwellings.
Matt 25:40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
Matt 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Luke 12:33-34 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. What is more fun than giving? Not receiving! So when you give to the body of Christ and to the poor and needy, you are laying up treasures in heaven. No chance of idolatry, greed, or false holiness when it's in that bank. Spiritual pride is always a danger, but you come back to 'where did I get the money' to fight that. Consider this admonition from our Lord; if you can't give, sell your stuff, then give.
16:10-12 Faithfully manage God's money. "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. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?" What do you have that you didn't receive? This is implied throughout the gospels with parables about those who manage another's money, and will be called to give an account, clearly here. When we consider that we will stand before Holy God who provided us with all that we need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3), He is right to exact an accounting for our stewardship. Using interest for and not against Him, living within our means, fostering generosity, gratitude, and contentment in our souls by our use of money. Investing instead of only spending and wasting.
16:13 Make it serve God and yourself; never serve it. "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." A wise man once told me love people and use money and things; never get that backwards. Christ teaches us to use money; never serve money. Why not serve it? That is to be greedy, and to be greedy is a form of idolatry, and it will make you hate God. Can money make one hate God? He just said it – you serve money and you will become devoted to it (worship) and you will despise God. He also taught the disciples that it is harder (camel, eye of a needle) to believe God when you are rich! Look around you – wealth doesn't always equate to happiness! Most men who are wired to become very, very rich are the kind of men who are not wired to enjoy it! It is right to work hard to provide for your family, give to the church to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ, to help those believers in need, and give to the poor and needy.
Be smart with your money.
Invest it eternally by giving to the poor, needy, and to the church. Sell stuff if you have to.
Faithfully manage God's money. All we have is from Him.
Make money serve God and others; never serve it.
As we pray, consider with me these questions:
Am I joyfully generous with my money?
Do I consider God's wishes and pleasures with my money?
Do I serve God and not serve money?
Am I open to instruction, wisdom, and change about how I manage my money?
I end with the prayer of the wise man from Proverbs 30:8-9 …give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
[2] From Money, Possessions, and Eternity, by Randy Alcorn. Copyright © 1989, 2003 by Eternal Perspectives Ministries. Published by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, IL. All rights reserved.
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