The Dishonest Manager
The Parables of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The Dishonest Manager
The Dishonest Manager
Recap
What is a parable?
greek word “parabole”
Literally means “cast alongside”, “putting things side by side”, with the purpose to compare.
Literally means “cast alongside”, “putting things side by side”, with the purpose to compare.
Jesus’ parables were stories “cast alongside” truth in order to illustrate that truth
Jesus’ parables were stories “cast alongside” truth in order to illustrate that truth
The truth was hidden mysteries
The truth was hidden mysteries
Why did Jesus speak in Parables?
The reason Jesus spoke in parables was not so that they could understand more, it was to hide the truth
The message of Jesus blinds, deafens, and hardens because the truth hurt
The message of Jesus blinds, deafens, and hardens because the truth hurt
Speaking in parables was a judgement on the people that were rejecting His teachings
Speaking in parables was a judgement on the people that were rejecting His teachings
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Last session
The Persistent Friend
The Dishonest Manager
Break into groups
Read
1 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—
4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
6 “ ‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’
7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
13 “No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.”
14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
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.
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.’
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.
I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’
So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’
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.’
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.
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.
“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?
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.”
Introduction
A parable about stewardship. Its about being wise with the resources we have
Specifically it’s about how Jesus calls us to use money for His kingdom
money and church has a negative view. Think ALL church’s are greedy
So many churches don’t speak about it
Interesting fact....Jesus spoke a lot about money.
It wasn’t so much giving of money as he spoke about the dangers of money. What do we value most?
Jesus spoke more about money than he spoke about sex, heaven or hell
11 out of the 40 parables are about money
So money maybe taboo in most churchs today
Because of how much Jesus spoke about it
you get the sense that MONEY IS A BIG DEAL
Why do you think the topic of money is so important?
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Very simply, it is harder for a person with a lot of money to enter into heaven. Why?
Because money can be dangerous
“Money is dangerous because If you have it and depend on it, it will kill you. If you don’t have it and crave it, it will kill you. Money can kill us, because it reveals our hearts.”
“Money is dangerous because If you have it and depend on it, it will kill you. If you don’t have it and crave it, it will kill you. Money can kill us, because it reveals our hearts.”
It shows what we truly love and surrender to
Money in it of itself is not bad
Warnings in the Bible regarding money
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Hebrews
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
The topic of money is important because money has the power to draw you away from the faith if not used wisely
So how do we use money and not allow money to use us? This parable answers that question
So how do we use money and not allow money to use us? This parable answers that question
The parable
Luke 16:1
Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—
I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
“ ‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’
“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
Luke 16:
Who was Jesus speaking to?
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
Lets keep reading
1 Now He was also saying to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and this manager was reported to him as squandering his possessions.
The word manager here in greek is “Oikonomos” - Ruler of the house - Steward -
He is a manager of someone else's money
He was WASTING HIS MASTERS MONEY
The same word “wasting” or “squandering” is the same word used in regards to the prodigal son (wasted it all in reckless living)
He is a manager of someone else's money
He was WASTING HIS MASTERS MONEY
The Prodigal manager
The same word “wasting” or “squandering” is the same word used in regards to the prodigal son (wasted it all in reckless living)
The Prodigal manager
Lets keep going
So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—
Luke 16:
So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
Give an account
The managers reckless ways catches up with him and the master finds out
The master immediately fires him
Whats strange is that the master knows what kind of dishonest man he is...
“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—
I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
So the manager knowing that his days are short. Thinks quick on his feet.
Comes up with a plan to secure his future
This was a white collar dude
I have to find a place to live
I have to find a source of income
I can’t become an embarrassment
I have to do something
Since he knows he could never find another job like this because he has no relationships or friends who could help him out
He comes up with a plan to make some friends
His plan
Luke 16:
“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
“ ‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’
“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
The manager calls a couple of people who are in debt with the master
800 gallons of olive oil = About 3 years wages in money
1000 Bushels of wheat = 8-10 years of labor
Significant amount of debt
50% discount for first guy
20% discount for second guy
Why is the manager doing this?
He’s doing all this in order to let them know don’t forget how I hooked you up
The master finds out and what does he say?
The masters response
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
Luke 16:8
What was the master praising him for?
His “Shrewdness” - His cleverness. His ability to think wisely and find a way out of a bad situation
Its not that shocking that the master would commend him
Thats how the world works. Thats life without God. People typically do what they can to survive and remain on top by any means necessary
And the world says....I could respect that....Thats slick good job.
So its not that shocking and its another reason why I don’t believe the master is a representation of God
But what is shocking is what jesus says next
Jesus’ point
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Is Jesus telling us to be like this Guy? What do you think Jesus means?
What Jesus is saying is....you see this guy in the world?
Do you see how this guy in the worlds framework is being with his money? How he used his resources, his possessions, how he used what he had for his temporary future
You should be like that! Even more so
unlike the dishonest manger who use his resources for things that waste away
You should use your money, your resources, your possessions for things that are eternal. Things that are truly valuable
But why should we use what we have for eternity? For Gods kingdom?
We also are managers of somebody else’s money
Because it doesn’t belong to us!
We are like this manager. We also are managing someone elses money
So when you are managing someone else’s money it means you cant do whatever you want with it
Why? BECAUSE ITS NOT YOUR MONEY!
When you are God stewards you are called to be radically generous. With everything
When we’re not radically generous its not just being stingy its robbery. You’re stealing
Like the dishonest manager, when you’re not using the masters money the way he wants.... its not just a lack of compassion or a lack of caring
Its robbery. You are stealing. Its a lack of integrity
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
Malac
Will a man rob God? When you don’t give what already belongs to God you are cheating God.
Or in this context, when you take more than whats agreed upon (the tithe) you are a thief the Bible says
Use your money wisely because it all belongs to him. We are only His stewards
And Jesus is saying don’t waste this privilege like the dishonest manager. Don’t use it for temporary things but for eternal benefits
Friends
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
What do you think Jesus means by “gain friends”?
The manager put off short term financial gain (he could've stolen)
For something long term. Something of more value (Relationships)
Jesus is saying worldly people know how to put their money in something that will increase. Something of more value
So as believers we need to have the same mindset
What can I use my money for? What will really last? Jesus said in v9 “So that when it is gone”
Theirs not a place in the world you could put your money and it will last
Jesus is saying ‘Put your money where it will last forever! Put your money in the kingdom of God
Make relationships, friends. Bring Ppl to Christ. Build the kingdom of God. Thats what He is saying
There are endless ways to invest your money in Gods work. We just need to stop thinking its our money and remember we are only His managers
What are ways we can use our money to build the kingdom of God?
Sponsor a child
There are endless ways to invest your money in Gods work. We just need to stop thinking its our money and remember we are only His managers
And so Jesus goes onto to say
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
luke 16
Jesus here gives us a small glimpse of heaven
We know heaven will be streets of gold, mansions, crowns, harps,)…And thats great but its hard to comprehend
Its hard to connect with that because we’ve never experienced that.
But Jesus says…thats not all heaven is. How does he describe heaven? FRIENDS!
Anyone who has ever had a lot of money knows you could have all the money in the world but be lonely. WHO WANTS THAT?
A lot of ppl look to money for significance only to find its a lie. Money doesn't make you significant. Love makes you significant
Relationships make you significant
The only thing you really need is love
You only truly feel wealthy when you’re loving people and surrounded by people who love you back
Thats wealth. This is what Jesus is pointing out. HEAVEN IS A WORLD OF LOVE
ITS A PLACE OF FRIENDS. Where all believers will be rejoicing in perfect love
Our love here is imperfect
we love people here for what we get back from them essentially. and vice versa we have experience people using us for what we do for them. We want mutual love
But in heaven everyone will love mutually and FULLY
We love here but allow our pride, coldness, pettiness to often get in the way and we mistreat those we love
But in heaven everyone will love without any hinderance or any of our bad attitudes
Here we love imperfect people and so imperfect people go through struggles and hardships. When the people we love are unhappy we’re unhappy
But in heaven everyone will be happy ALL THE TIME
Here unfortunately our loved ones will pass away. Its just life
But in heaven we will be together forever
Jesus is saying use your wealth for these relationships. This is what were meant for
Use your wealth for what really matters
Jesus finishes up
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
“No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.”
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?
“And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
Luke 16:1
Jesus’ closing is simple. v10 - Its not about how much you have. We all can give. It’s where does your priorities lie?
for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
v11 - If you’re not managing and using money well, which is temporary, how can God trust you with things that are spiritual and eternal? You will forfeit eternal and spiritual blessings
v 12 - When you waste the masters money you lose out on eternal blessings
Lastly
“No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.”
Luke 16:
Its either you are a slave of God. And you do all that he commands. Or you are a slave to money and you do all it demands
You cant serve both at the same time
You can only have one real pursuit. Let it be Jesus
Closing point
This made seem like a tall order. A tough task
But I want to show you how this is all possible. How you can do it
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
2 cor
So Paul was trying to encourage them to have their love become generous.
And he encouraged them by pointing to Christ
Jesus is the one friend who emptied himself of ALL HIS WEALTH to turn enemies into friends
Jesus is the true steward
So when we all use our money use it with this in mind
What can we learn from this parable? How can we apply this to our lives?
We have been entrusted with more than just money. (Our wives, children, business’s, jobs, time, money, talents, etc)
All of it should be used to build his kingdom
Money is a terrible master!