Luke 16 Part 1–Money and Masters

MONEY…Jesus tells His disciples that while money is not everything, it is one of the greatest competitors for the throne of our lives.  Jesus tells the story of a manager that has been fired and the manager’s shrewd plan to preserve his future by cheating his boss.  One would think the master would be angry, but, instead, the master is impressed by the manager’s shrewd dealings. 

Jesus then reminds the disciples that they live in a selfish world that gladly lies, cheats, and steals to preserve and better their own lives.  In one recounting, Jesus tells the disciples to be as shrewd as serpents and as gentle as doves. (Mathew 10:16).Jesus also reminds His chosen that no person can serve two masters.  You will love one and hate the other.  It is the struggle with being a believer.  Nothing in our world encourages selflessness.  Everything points to and worships fame, fortune, and everything that goes with it. 

As God’s people, we are called to live differently.  We are called to be good stewards with what he has blessed us with but, not to worship the stuff, worship the Provider.  It truly is a tough journey. 

If we can adopt Paul’s attitude of being content with whatever circumstance we find ourselves facing; then we can be as shrewd as serpents and as gentle as doves.  It is a matter of knowing that God created and owns it all.  He distributes what we need in His way and His time.  We must trust Him and allow the Lord to lead, guide, and direct us through the journey, and, like Israel in the desert, accept God’s daily provision for our lives and be OK with it.  

God Bless You

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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 “‘Nine hundred gallons^[a] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

⁷ “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels^[b] 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 one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”