Sermon Tone Analysis
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Perhaps some of you have heard about the dealer in oil and wheat commodities that faced a Crisis in his business some time ago.
He heard that the manager at one of his branch offices was not running a tight ship.
He called the man into his office to tell him what he had heard.
Then he told the man that his services would no longer be required and he gave the man 30 days notice.
The firing hit the man like a ton of bricks … he never say it coming.
He went home that night, went to bed but sleep evaded him.
He tossed and turned as he worried about his future.
He couldn't start over at his age … easy living had made him soft and flabby.
He thought about going to the golf club and asking some of the men there for a job.
But the thought of confessing that he had been canned was more than his pride could stand.
Some time in the middle of the night he had an idea … that developed into a plan.
The next morning he worked his plan.
He called some of the men his office had done business with and made appointments for the day.
The first man stopped by to see him.
This man had been contracted to deliver 3000 liters of oil at a certain price …there had been a downturn in the market.
The man was struggling to deliver.
The branch Manager told him “Look let’s renegotiate your contract, instead of 3000 liters of oil, make it 1500” The oil dealer was thrilled as they rewrote the contract.
He looked at the BM and said “I’m grateful.
I hope that one day I can return the favour.”
Later that day he met a wheat speculator for lunch who had been contracted to deliver a thousand bushels of wheat.
The harvest hadn't bene quit what he had expected and he had a shortfall.
Over lunch the BM said: “I know this years weather has affected the crop yield and it’s been hard on everyone.
Why dont we change the contract?
You owe us 1000 bushels … lets make it 800.”
They rewrote the contract right there … shook hands as they left the restaurant.
The wheat speculator looked at the BM and said “You’ve been really good to me.
I hope that one day I can return the favour.”
In a few weeks when the BM cleaned out his desk there were several companies who had already approached him with job opportunities.
(wheat and oil companies) They saw how he had worked for them.
They felt he could be a trusted and loyal employee.
When the owner found out what this BM had done he wasn't nearly as excited.
But there was nothing he could do.
He had broken no laws.
He simply used the position and possessions entrusted to him to make some good friendships.
Friends who looked him up after he was finished at his bosses company.
The owner took everything a bit philosophically: “He’s a shrewd one thats for sure.
When the chips were down, this guy knew how to make the best of it.”
Someone else had a good word about that Branch Manager … Jesus
This Story not from the Globe and Mail … But Rather from The Gospel of
Jesus was a ripping good storyteller
In this story Jesus isn't commending the man’s morals … He is commending his shrewdness.
The BM in this story knows his business … and cares about his business
This BM knows his consumers --- He knows them and looks after them
This Man is SHREWD = Thoughtful, Prudent, Sensible - Same word translated wise in
Wise as serpents … snakes aren't particularly cute … but Jesus is describing them as cunning, shrewd … wise
Jesus is teaching in this parable that Disciples (followers) of Jesus must be shrewd
This Manager demonstrated his shrewdness in one way … He understood the value of Friends
JUST AS this BM made friends for the day when he was fired.
Jesus’ point - WE are to Make Friends for Eternity
I remember as a new Christian being told to store up treasures in heaven
I thought that was a great idea … How do I do that?
HERE JESUS TELLS US HOW.
YOU READY?
The Best way to store up treasure in heaven is to invest your money in people going there
Look again at verse 9
L
Make friends for yourself BY MEANS OF Unrighteous Wealth (Money) So that when IT fails (Money/life) they (Those friends) may welcome you into eternal dwellings (Heaven)
Use your position Use Your Possessions to Make Eternal Friendships
The best investment you can make is not in RRSP’s or bank accounts or real estate or silver or gold!
But in Friends who will welcome you into eternal dwellings
Before we apply this story directly we need to draw out some principles taken directly from the text … about our stewardship … The believer’s mindset toward money
Let me give you a brief definition of Stewardship (In E Bulletin Friday)
Stewardship refers to the practice of holding something in trust for someone else; it is a process of serving others by managing their assets in their absence.
Stewardship is an expression of the fruit of Christ’s life, through the Holy Spirit in us.
Stewardship is managing God’s resources for him in His absence.
7 Governing Principles from
1.The Christian recognizes that what we have is ours to USE not ours to KEEP– vv:2, 3, 4, 9
1.The Christian realizes that all we have will eventually be TAKEN from us
2.The Christian realizes that all we have will eventually be TAKEN from us
2.The Christian uses his/her money for SPIRITUAL ENDS – v:9
3.The Christian uses his/her money for SPIRITUAL ENDS – v:9
3.The Christian knows that faithfulness in SMALL THINGS matters – v:10
4.The Christian knows that faithfulness in SMALL THINGS matters – v:10
4.The Christian knows that the use of money is a SPIRITUAL INDICATOR – v:11
5.The Christian knows that the use of money is a SPIRITUAL INDICATOR – v:11
5.The Christian knows that EVERYTHING he/she has comes from and belongs to GOD– v:12
6.The Christian knows that EVERYTHING he/she has comes from and belongs to GOD– v:12
6.The Christian DELIBERATELY chooses GOD over WEALTH – v:13
7.The Christian DELIBERATELY chooses GOD over WEALTH – v:13
Let me repeat Christ’s Point in this Text -
The Best way to store up treasure in heaven is to invest your money in people going there
How do we make that kind of Investment? - 2 ways
We can do this Indirectly
Remember the text I opened with?
Philippians 4:10-19
Paul thanks the Philippians
By their giving they had a share in His Ministry of Church Planting across the then known world
Notice the words - FRUIT that INCREASES TO YOUR CREDIT (Reward)
Their gifts also wafted to the throne of God as a fragrant offering … pleasing to God
One of the ways I can invest in Friends is to invest in the Ministry of Others
Let me share three principles: RE: Your Giving
Principle number 1 - Giving is the Duty of Every Christian – (Note in verse 2 – “Each one of you) - Your first responsibility is to your local church
Principle number 2 - Our Giving should be regular and systematic – &
2 Cor 9:
Principle number 3 - Giving is an Act of Worship – Giving is not God’s method of raising funds, but rather raising His children.
In Stewardship we recognize that God owns everything, we are managers of His resources.
Our use of them ought to express our love and devotion to His and His cause.
Let me challenge you to think of your regular offering to the LORD differently
The church offering isn't God’s way of raising Funds
But rather it is His way of making Friends
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