Thursday, September 29, 2011

What Jesus Said about Your Money, Part 10 of 31

GUEST: Jeff Manion

TEXT: "He also said to His disciples: 'There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward." Then the steward said within himself, "What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses." So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, "How much do you owe my master?" And he said, "A hundred measures of oil." So 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?" So he said, "A hundred measures of wheat." And he said to him, "Take your bill, and write eighty." So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light'” (Luke 16:1-8).

IDEA: When I act as owner rather than as steward of God’s gifts, it not only affects the way I relate to the gifts but how I relate to God and to others.

PURPOSE: To help listeners see what difference it makes to regard themselves as stewards of all that God has given them.

What do you learn from a business card?

It’s only three and one-half inches wide and two inches high, but it tells a great deal about the owner.

I. Listen to a story Jesus told about a business operation in the first century.

Suppose the steward in the story were printing up a business card. What would it say?

"There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’ So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So 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?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light." (Luke 16:1-8)

What would you learn from the manager’s business card?

Suppose the card listed the steward as “owner.” Would that be a significant change? Why?

What happens if we cross out the word “disciple” or “steward” and insert the title “owner”?

Why would you hand such a business card out?

Stewards serve their Master and they serve others:

I Peter 4:10 - “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

This passage talks about being stewards of God’s gifts. These special abilities are given for the benefit of others.

I Corinthians 4:1-2 - “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

Paul sees his ministry as a “steward.” What does he mean when he says “It is required in a steward to be found faithful”? Faithful to what?

Luke 12:42 - “And the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household to give them their portion of food in due season?’"

Jesus tells us about a “faithful and wise” steward. What does that steward do for his absent master?