WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 You have your Bible able to stand, Luke chapter number 16. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:05.320 Luke chapter number 16. 00:00:05.860 --> 00:00:07.599 It's good to be here in the Lord's house today. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:09.679 Thankfully you chose to worship with us. 00:00:10.339 --> 00:00:12.660 And we're making our way through the gospel of Luke. 00:00:13.040 --> 00:00:14.480 Hopefully it's been a great help to you. 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:18.939 Good reminders of some truths, some things we need to apply to our life. 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:20.480 And that's really the message today. 00:00:20.539 --> 00:00:23.839 It's going to be more practical in the sense of kind of what we've come through. 00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:31.519 The last few chapters, Jesus has kind of been having these interactions with the Pharisees and reminding and showing us the heart of God. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:37.380 But today he kind of turns to his disciples and wants to give them some practical truth for their life that we can see. 00:00:37.619 --> 00:00:40.359 Now we're going to read this parable. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:43.219 And it's going to feel, it's kind of one of those parables. 00:00:43.379 --> 00:00:45.899 I read it and I'm like, what is going on here? 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:50.719 It doesn't seem, it kind of seems like Jesus is saying things that Jesus shouldn't say. 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:53.219 That he's going to commend somebody for doing the wrong thing. 00:00:53.260 --> 00:00:55.539 But there's some great truths that we're going to really pull out this morning. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:00:56.920 I think it will be a help to us. 00:00:56.939 --> 00:00:58.760 So you found your place there in Luke 16. 00:00:58.760 --> 00:01:01.260 Begin reading in the first verse where the Bible says this. 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:10.359 And he said also unto his disciples, there was a certain rich man which had a steward and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:14.740 And he called him and said unto him, how is it that I hear this of thee? 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:20.280 Give an account of thy stewardship that thou mayest no longer steward. 00:01:20.900 --> 00:01:23.960 Then the steward said within himself, what shall I do? 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:29.300 For my Lord taketh away from me the stewardship I cannot dig and to beg I am ashamed. 00:01:29.299 --> 00:01:35.500 I am resolved what to do that when I am put out of the stewardship they may receive me into their houses. 00:01:36.500 --> 00:01:42.099 So he called every one of his Lord's debtors unto him and said unto the first, how much owest thou unto my Lord? 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:44.159 And he said a hundred measures of oil. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:47.679 And he said unto him, take thy bill, sit down quickly and write fifty. 00:01:48.259 --> 00:01:50.439 Then he said to another, how much owest thou? 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:54.939 And he said a hundred measures of wheat. 00:01:55.039 --> 00:01:57.500 And he said unto him, take thy bill and write four score. 00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:02.640 And the Lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:08.079 For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:13.260 Jesus says, I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, 00:02:13.600 --> 00:02:17.840 that when you fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 00:02:18.640 --> 00:02:23.120 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. 00:02:23.700 --> 00:02:29.580 And he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 00:02:30.260 --> 00:02:33.400 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:37.159 who will commit to your trust the true riches? 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:41.439 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:47.020 who shall give you that which is your own? 00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:49.900 No servant can serve two masters. 00:02:50.659 --> 00:02:52.599 For either he will hate the one and love the other, 00:02:52.659 --> 00:02:55.659 or he will hold to the one and despise the other. 00:02:56.040 --> 00:02:58.900 Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:03.379 And the Pharisees also, they seem to always be around when Jesus is speaking. 00:03:03.819 --> 00:03:06.140 Jesus is speaking to the disciples, but here's the Pharisees. 00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:07.099 Their ears are perked up. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:08.879 They don't like how this story is going. 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:11.240 And Jesus tells us exactly what's wrong with them. 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:15.500 They were covetous, heard all these things, and they derided him. 00:03:16.640 --> 00:03:21.939 And he said unto them, ye are they which justify yourselves before men. 00:03:22.620 --> 00:03:23.879 But God knoweth your hearts. 00:03:24.540 --> 00:03:30.480 For that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 00:03:31.200 --> 00:03:32.920 I want to preach this message this morning entitled this, 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:34.439 Living for what lasts. 00:03:35.299 --> 00:03:39.079 I think we all have the tendency to sometimes live for the here and now. 00:03:39.739 --> 00:03:42.459 It's things that we're working for, and they're not all bad things. 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:47.779 But Jesus reminds us, this life is not just however long we live on this earth. 00:03:48.339 --> 00:03:49.139 It's for eternity. 00:03:49.799 --> 00:03:51.439 And are we investing here? 00:03:51.579 --> 00:03:52.659 Are we investing eternally? 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:54.879 And that's what he's going to show us here this morning. 00:03:55.079 --> 00:03:56.199 So let's ask him to bless our time. 00:03:56.199 --> 00:03:59.959 And Father, we've come to you multiple times, Lord, and we've asked you for help. 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:04.699 And Lord, we ask you once again as we open up your word that you would just help our minds to be calm 00:04:04.699 --> 00:04:08.259 and our ears and our hearts ready to listen to what you have for us. 00:04:08.759 --> 00:04:12.679 Lord, I pray as we do every Sunday, Lord, that we wouldn't just hear this message. 00:04:12.859 --> 00:04:15.099 Lord, that we would take it to heart. 00:04:15.179 --> 00:04:16.379 We would apply it to our lives. 00:04:16.539 --> 00:04:18.699 Lord, that you would convict where it needs to be. 00:04:18.779 --> 00:04:20.279 You would encourage and challenge us. 00:04:20.679 --> 00:04:22.679 Lord, I pray that you would just be with me. 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:23.699 You would empty me of self. 00:04:23.799 --> 00:04:24.699 You would cleanse me of sin. 00:04:25.159 --> 00:04:28.859 Lord, fill me with your spirit that it could be a help to these people here this morning. 00:04:28.939 --> 00:04:30.139 We ask it in Christ's name. 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:31.000 Amen. 00:04:31.159 --> 00:04:31.879 Thank you so much for standing. 00:04:31.939 --> 00:04:32.379 You may be seated. 00:04:35.619 --> 00:04:38.179 You ever borrowed something from somebody else? 00:04:39.239 --> 00:04:40.979 And you're like, maybe it was your dad's truck. 00:04:41.019 --> 00:04:42.799 He said, you better take good care of this. 00:04:43.299 --> 00:04:47.619 You know, I believed my dad when he told me those kind of things because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be here today 00:04:47.619 --> 00:04:49.639 if I didn't take care of his things. 00:04:49.979 --> 00:04:51.079 Maybe it was your dad's truck. 00:04:51.180 --> 00:04:52.680 Maybe it was your neighbor's ladder. 00:04:52.779 --> 00:04:55.300 I'm thankful for my neighbor that lives just to the right of me, Larry. 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:57.860 He has every tool in the world, and I have a hammer. 00:04:58.740 --> 00:05:00.919 So I'm like, hey, Larry, you got this tool. 00:05:00.939 --> 00:05:02.000 He's like, I got this tool. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:04.139 And so I always go to Larry and ask him to borrow a tool. 00:05:04.339 --> 00:05:06.199 And maybe you've had to borrow a friend's trailer. 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:09.259 We had to borrow Brother Justin's trailer, pick up some VBS stuff. 00:05:09.259 --> 00:05:11.759 And maybe you did borrow a tool. 00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:15.599 Have you ever borrowed a tool and then three months later found it in your garage? 00:05:16.479 --> 00:05:17.459 And you're like, oh, no. 00:05:17.459 --> 00:05:23.539 You're like, now you're that neighbor that has borrowed somebody's tool and it's just kind of been chilling in your house. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:31.699 But the idea is when we borrow something from somebody, you should take a little bit better care of it because it's not yours. 00:05:31.699 --> 00:05:36.439 Because the idea when you borrow it is you're going to have to give it back at some point. 00:05:36.659 --> 00:05:38.060 And you're a little more careful. 00:05:38.219 --> 00:05:40.300 You're a little more responsible. 00:05:41.219 --> 00:05:47.500 Really, when we borrow something in that sense, it has this idea that we see here in Luke chapter number 16 of stewardship. 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:51.560 See, a steward is not the owner of the property. 00:05:51.659 --> 00:05:53.259 It's not the owner of the tool. 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:58.060 A steward just simply manages something that belongs to somebody else. 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:00.180 So you take a little bit better care of it. 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:03.959 And whether we realize it or not, every single one of us is a steward. 00:06:04.939 --> 00:06:11.680 There's so many things in our life that we think are ours, but honestly, ultimately, none of it belongs to us. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:13.579 That we are just stewards. 00:06:13.699 --> 00:06:18.519 That everything we have has been entrusted to us by God for a season. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:20.259 I mean, it could be your job. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:21.019 It could be your home. 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:21.879 It could be your children. 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:25.040 All of these things, we are just stewards of it. 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:37.199 And what we're going to see here as we pull out this text this morning is that every steward will give an account to the owner, to God, for how we managed what was placed into our care. 00:06:37.860 --> 00:06:43.459 And so that's what Jesus is explaining and really bringing to the forefront of the disciples' mind. 00:06:43.459 --> 00:06:51.379 Now, when we kind of read this text and we've kind of come through Luke 14 and Luke 15, it seems like Jesus is changing subjects. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:53.339 But I don't think he really is. 00:06:53.379 --> 00:06:55.379 I think he's continuing the conversation. 00:06:56.339 --> 00:07:06.740 You remember in Luke chapter 15, he gave some parables of the lost sheep and of the lost coin and of the prodigal son and the older brother that were lost and for different reasons. 00:07:07.099 --> 00:07:10.419 And he told us about how a shepherd searches for a sheep. 00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:13.680 And he finds joy when he recovers him. 00:07:13.840 --> 00:07:21.439 And the woman, as she's searching for this coin that would have meant a lot to her financial stability, and she rejoices when she finds it. 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:33.100 And we saw the heart of the father last week as the prodigal comes home and he's searching and seeking even after the lost brother that was standing right in front of him. 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:39.180 And the parables, they just reveal the incredible grace of God towards sinners. 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:41.100 And I'm so thankful for that. 00:07:41.579 --> 00:07:43.879 I'm so thankful for the grace of God in my own life. 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:46.980 And I can see myself even in some of these stories. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:50.500 And I'm reminded that God came searching and seeking for me. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:59.680 But the thought here is now Jesus is turning to his disciples, those that know him, that love him, that believe in him, that have been saved by him. 00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:03.500 And he begins to teach them about stewardship. 00:08:04.780 --> 00:08:05.060 Why? 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:07.319 Why such kind of an abrupt change? 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:08.480 Where is Jesus heading? 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:15.279 Well, I think what he wants us to see is this, that grace doesn't simply change where we spend eternity. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:20.120 No, the grace of God should change how we live today. 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:25.000 How we invest, how we think, how we steward what God has given. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:33.980 See, people who have experienced this amazing, incredible grace of God should faithfully steward the things that he has given us. 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:35.919 That's the thought that Jesus has. 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:40.419 Here's the big idea of the text, that everything we have belongs to God. 00:08:40.940 --> 00:08:49.080 And if we're going to be faithful disciples, if we're going to be faithful stewards, we can use our temporary resources for eternal purposes. 00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:51.440 That's what God wants us to see here. 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:54.019 That's how he wants us to think. 00:08:54.019 --> 00:08:56.059 So the question we're going to answer is that. 00:08:56.179 --> 00:09:00.460 How should God's people handle what he's entrusted to us? 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:05.319 How should we handle what God has entrusted to us? 00:09:05.939 --> 00:09:10.980 And here in our text in Luke chapter 16, I think it gives us three characteristics of faithful stewards. 00:09:11.939 --> 00:09:19.600 See, before Jesus tells us what to do with our possessions, and don't get scared, this is not actually a sermon about money. 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:23.320 Everybody thinks preachers like to preach about money. 00:09:23.940 --> 00:09:24.920 This one doesn't. 00:09:25.899 --> 00:09:27.600 But here's what he wants us to understand. 00:09:27.920 --> 00:09:29.759 It's not just about money and possessions. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:33.560 It's about how we view them, how we think about them. 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:34.720 And that's what he wants us to do. 00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:37.700 He challenges us to think differently about them. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:43.440 So the first thing that we see in our text in verses 1 through 8 is that faithful stewards don't simply live for today. 00:09:43.940 --> 00:09:46.480 Faithful stewards think eternally. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:49.639 Faithful stewards think eternally. 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:56.580 Jesus begins this parable by introducing kind of the scene that there was a certain rich man. 00:09:57.060 --> 00:10:02.240 And when he would say that, they would have understood this would have been a man that had vast properties. 00:10:03.060 --> 00:10:05.500 I mean, he probably had so much stuff he didn't even know what he had. 00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:07.379 I mean, that was the steward's job. 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:13.440 The steward would have been there, and he would have been the one taking care of all of this man's wealth and his estate 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:16.400 and all of the things that would have been pertaining to that. 00:10:16.880 --> 00:10:18.340 And the audience would have understood that. 00:10:19.040 --> 00:10:23.240 We maybe not think like this in our culture and society, 00:10:23.420 --> 00:10:28.820 but every single person that would have been of this means would have had somebody that was the manager, 00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:32.040 the butler, however you want to look at it, of the estate. 00:10:32.039 --> 00:10:36.620 And he was just doing what the master would want him to do. 00:10:37.099 --> 00:10:38.539 He would have been given clear instructions. 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:40.480 He would have been told to take care of it. 00:10:40.699 --> 00:10:43.419 And everything he handled did not belong to him. 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:45.439 Now, he got to reap a lot of the benefits. 00:10:46.199 --> 00:10:47.480 You know, the master's got good food. 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:48.860 Then the steward's going to eat some of it. 00:10:49.419 --> 00:10:50.939 He probably had a nice place to stay. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:53.079 He was well taken care of. 00:10:54.079 --> 00:10:57.199 But the Bible tells us, and Jesus begins the story and reminds us, 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:59.179 that something has gone terribly wrong. 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:05.019 So there was a rich man and a steward, but the same was accused, the steward he's speaking of, 00:11:05.339 --> 00:11:08.639 unto him that he had wasted his goods. 00:11:09.599 --> 00:11:11.039 So this man had one job. 00:11:11.819 --> 00:11:17.500 This man's job was to make sure that the rich man, all of his things were taken care of. 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:19.739 And everything was moving in the right direction. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:21.699 And his investments were working well. 00:11:21.959 --> 00:11:26.120 And the operation and maybe the farm and all the things would have been, 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:27.639 everything would have been growing. 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:30.939 You don't put a steward in charge so everything can fall apart. 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:36.159 This man would have put him in place so everything would keep running like it should. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:40.340 But the Bible says that this steward was not a good one. 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:42.179 Maybe your Bible says this. 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:44.139 Mine says an unjust steward. 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:48.039 He kind of was just clocking in, clocking out, kind of, 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:51.199 hey, when the boss is away, the mice will play kind of thing. 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:54.400 If you work a job, you know what that means. 00:11:55.140 --> 00:11:57.379 Because you may, hopefully that's not you. 00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:58.259 It shouldn't be you. 00:11:58.460 --> 00:11:59.920 But there's some people when the boss is not there, 00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:01.920 hey, we don't have to do it because he can't see us. 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:03.220 He doesn't know what's going on. 00:12:03.420 --> 00:12:05.340 That's kind of this guy's mindset. 00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:07.580 He was just kind of coming in. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.800 Hey, the boss doesn't know. 00:12:08.900 --> 00:12:10.240 I mean, I'm in charge of everything. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:14.980 And the Bible uses the same word here in verse number one 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:16.539 that it used of the prodigal son. 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:18.860 When the prodigal son went into the far country 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:21.399 and wasted his father's inheritance. 00:12:21.820 --> 00:12:22.860 He scattered it. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:25.399 He just completely used it up. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:27.440 And that's not what he was placed to do. 00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:32.039 He was placed to control it and to help it grow and to maintain it. 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:35.200 And just as the prodigal wasted his father's inheritance, 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:38.659 this man has completely wasted his master's possessions. 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:43.139 He wasn't keeping up with it and really just simply put, 00:12:43.459 --> 00:12:45.000 he was not doing his job. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:48.199 Well, somebody found out about it and told the master. 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:50.379 He said, hey, I don't know if you know this, 00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:52.939 but that steward over there, he's not doing what he's supposed to. 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.100 And that's what we see in verse number two, 00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:57.419 that the day of accountability has come now. 00:12:58.699 --> 00:13:00.159 You know, don't you love when your boss says, 00:13:00.219 --> 00:13:01.459 hey, I'd like to talk to you in my office. 00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:05.379 You're trying to think, oh my goodness, I'm about to get fired. 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:07.439 I mean, you're on LinkedIn right now on the way in there 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:09.180 trying to just find a new job. 00:13:09.400 --> 00:13:10.540 That's kind of what this man does. 00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:12.200 He realizes this is not good. 00:13:12.880 --> 00:13:14.520 And the rich man calls him in and says, 00:13:14.800 --> 00:13:16.340 how is it that I hear this of thee? 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:18.180 Give an account for thy stewardship, 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:21.040 for thou mayest be no longer the steward. 00:13:21.900 --> 00:13:24.640 He said, you thought you could pull one over on me, man, 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:26.200 but I know what you're doing. 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:30.120 I've heard that you have wasted my goods. 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:35.480 And that's kind of where this parable begins to kind of intersect with our life. 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:42.180 See, just like this steward, we don't own what has been placed into our possession. 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:45.180 That's hard for us to kind of wrap our minds around. 00:13:45.660 --> 00:13:47.660 How many of you said, my paycheck this week? 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:50.220 You know, that's my paycheck. 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:51.580 It's definitely not Brother Garrett's. 00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:52.560 I'm not giving Brother Garrett mine. 00:13:52.780 --> 00:13:53.740 This is my paycheck. 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:55.139 We say my paycheck. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:58.860 We say my retirement, my abilities, my family, my opportunities. 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:00.440 And I understand what we're saying. 00:14:01.560 --> 00:14:05.759 But what Scripture reminds us is that everything belongs to God. 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:10.159 That all the things that are yours, all the things that are mine, 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:13.600 that we are just managing what he has entrusted to us. 00:14:14.180 --> 00:14:16.799 And just like this steward has been called to give an account, 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:20.180 there is coming a day that we will give an account to the owner. 00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:26.039 We will give account to the Father of all the ways that we manage what he entrusted to us. 00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:28.439 We're not going to have to give an account for our salvation. 00:14:28.739 --> 00:14:31.659 No, that was completely settled on the cross of Calvary. 00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:33.259 Jesus finished that. 00:14:33.339 --> 00:14:34.879 He said, it is finished. 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:39.039 But how we live our life, we will give an account for that. 00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:42.819 We're going to stand before the Lord one day if we know him as our Savior, 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:46.820 and he's going to ask us, how did we use the time he gave us? 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:50.460 Time is one of those things that just gets away from you, doesn't it? 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:52.879 How many of you wish you had more time? 00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:56.240 You know, we always think, man, if I have one more day in the week, you know what? 00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:58.540 That would just be 24 more hours I'd be tired. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:01.420 24 more hours I didn't get things done. 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:05.540 We're going to give an account for the gifts that he entrusted to us. 00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:09.379 Some of the gifts that God gives us, we use for ourselves. 00:15:10.339 --> 00:15:16.059 But that gift was given to us to use for his glory and for other people, to show his love. 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:19.439 We're going to even account for the opportunities that he opened before us, 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:24.579 the influence that he allows us to have in our life and in our family and our workplace. 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:27.719 And to be honest, that's a very sobering reality. 00:15:29.339 --> 00:15:31.379 Because sometimes we think, well, nobody knows. 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.419 Well, God knows everything. 00:15:33.419 --> 00:15:35.219 He sees everything. 00:15:35.319 --> 00:15:36.279 His eyes are to and fro. 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:41.360 And he knows everything we do and opportunities that have been presented in front of us. 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:43.719 And we kind of just passed them by. 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:49.799 You see, stewardship isn't simply about managing resources. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.500 I mean, that would have been this man's literal job. 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:56.019 But here's what biblical stewardship, here's what it looks like in our life. 00:15:56.139 --> 00:16:00.620 It's about living every day with the awareness that we will stand before the Father. 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:03.179 That it's not just about the here and now. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.759 That it is about eternity. 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:10.659 And the steward in this story realizes very quickly the seriousness of the situation. 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:12.399 That's what verse number three says. 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:14.799 He says, what shall I do? 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:16.279 He's like, oh, great. 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.879 What am I going to do? 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:19.519 I love this. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.560 He says, I'm not cut out for manual labor. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:25.500 Because this man would have kind of had a little bit of a posh job. 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:28.779 He'd have a nice little air conditioner, a nice little office. 00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:32.059 And all the people that would have been working for the rich man, they would have come into his office. 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:34.259 And, you know, he kind of just told people where to go. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:36.179 And he would test the food out. 00:16:36.319 --> 00:16:38.000 And, you know, he had all the things going. 00:16:38.239 --> 00:16:40.639 And now he realizes, I might actually have to work. 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.159 That's kind of what he says. 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:45.000 He said to dig, there's no way I'm doing that. 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:49.700 And he says to beg, I'm way too proud to beg. 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:57.340 So what he does in verses four through eight is he concocts this plan to save his bacon, so to speak. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:01.080 He wants to make sure that he knows he's about to get kicked out. 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:01.919 He's about to get fired. 00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:06.539 But he's going to make sure that he has a kind of a fail-proof plan. 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:10.259 So what he does is he begins to call his master's debtors in. 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:14.819 In verse number five, so he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him and said unto the verse, 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:17.019 How much owe us thou unto my lord? 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:21.639 So he kind of realizes, well, I've kind of wasted some things. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:25.240 So I'm going to at least maybe kind of save myself here. 00:17:25.899 --> 00:17:32.079 So he calls this man in and the man says, hey, well, I owe a hundred measures of oil, which had been an exorbitant amount. 00:17:32.899 --> 00:17:34.279 And he said, here's what I want you to do. 00:17:34.439 --> 00:17:35.119 Write 50. 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:38.139 You say, well, that doesn't seem any better. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.700 Here's what this man would have done. 00:17:39.939 --> 00:17:42.319 His master would have given him a certain amount that he was supposed to get. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:46.000 And much like the tax collectors, he would have put a giant commission on it. 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:50.500 So the master would have said, hey, I want this for 50 measures of it. 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:51.539 He said, okay, I'll do it. 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:54.059 But I'm going to charge that guy 100 and I'm going to pocket the 50. 00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:57.960 So what he's doing here is he's kind of cutting his commission off the top. 00:17:58.099 --> 00:18:00.159 And he does the same thing in the very next verse. 00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:01.859 You think, what's he doing here? 00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:06.119 Really, it's a shrewd business move and he's reducing all of their debts. 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:09.479 And he's making them feel like they get a deal. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:15.039 So when he gets kicked out, when he gets fired, he'll go to them and say, hey, you remember I hooked you up right there. 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.599 Why don't you hire me to be your steward? 00:18:16.639 --> 00:18:17.659 I'm a really good steward. 00:18:18.419 --> 00:18:19.879 He's looking out for number one. 00:18:20.399 --> 00:18:21.919 He's looking out for himself. 00:18:22.479 --> 00:18:27.099 He's looking to, he's really, here's what he's doing, creating his own job security. 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:31.419 He said, I'm about to get fired, but I'm not going to go down without a plan. 00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:33.699 And that's exactly what's taking place here. 00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:37.359 Now here's where it kind of gets a little weird. 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:42.959 And when you read it, because a lot of people misunderstand this parable right here. 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:46.459 Because notice what Jesus says in verse number eight. 00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:50.679 And the Lord commended the unjust steward. 00:18:51.939 --> 00:18:55.419 Why would Jesus say, man, that guy's a smart guy. 00:18:55.420 --> 00:19:03.240 He did a good thing when it was very obvious that he was dishonest, that he was unjust, that he wasn't doing his job. 00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:05.200 Here's what Jesus is really wanting us to see. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:08.080 He is praising this man's foresight. 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:14.640 He's saying, hey, I want you to see how he thinks about life and how he plans for the future. 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:19.560 See, the unjust steward understood something that a lot of people ignore. 00:19:19.820 --> 00:19:23.759 That today's decisions are going to shape tomorrow's reality. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.599 He understood that. 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:31.339 He's in a situation because he made bad decisions, and now the reality is he's going to lose his job. 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:36.140 But instead of just saying, well, that's the lot in life, he's going to try to do something. 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:40.119 He's going to try to make it better for himself as much as he can. 00:19:40.879 --> 00:19:43.180 And really what Jesus is saying in verse number eight, he says, 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:52.259 What does that mean? 00:19:52.259 --> 00:20:00.680 Jesus says often that the people of this world, the people that care nothing about the things of God, 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:10.099 are more carefully preparing for the temporary future than his own disciples are thinking about their eternal future 00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:13.240 and what they're investing and where they're moving forward. 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:15.960 And really, that's kind of an indictment on God's children. 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:24.880 That if somebody is so worried about just their job security, and yet we are supposed to be investing in heaven, 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.660 and we have no thought about it. 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.359 Jesus is saying, what are we doing? 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.759 We shouldn't be living that way. 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:34.640 I mean, we think about it in our own terms. 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:40.960 I mean, people spend years preparing for retirement and meeting with financial planners and saving and investing and building portfolios, 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.720 and there's nothing wrong with that. 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:46.480 In fact, Scripture commends wise planning. 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.000 I mean, read the book of Proverbs. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:51.319 He says, I mean, even the ants understand you've got to get ready for winter. 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:54.360 They're preparing, they're saving, they're doing all of these things. 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:57.460 But Jesus is really getting us to think about a much bigger question. 00:20:57.860 --> 00:21:00.900 How much thought are we giving to eternity? 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:07.960 Because sometimes if we're just going to be real honest, we realize we're a sinner, we need a Savior, 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:12.059 we accept Christ as our personal Savior, and we just kind of check out. 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:15.940 We're like, hey, I know eternity's coming, and my spot's secured. 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:19.620 But we're supposed to live every day with eternity in mind. 00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:21.759 So let me ask you this. 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:25.079 When's the last time you made a decision because of eternity? 00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:29.039 Not because it was financially beneficial. 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:32.039 Not because it was personally convenient. 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:37.039 Not because it advanced your career, but because it would matter forever. 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:39.019 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:41.420 He wants us to think that way. 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:43.740 That's how faithful stewards think. 00:21:44.399 --> 00:21:47.359 They understand that this life is temporary. 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:50.759 Because sometimes, I mean, if we're just being honest, we ask this question, 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.899 how's this going to help me today? 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:55.299 You know, we go and buy things at the store, and there's nothing wrong with that, 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:57.899 but we're buying it because we want it easy and right now. 00:21:57.900 --> 00:22:00.259 But sometimes that's not the best decision. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:04.060 A faithful steward says, is this going to matter 100 years from now? 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:07.240 Because we're not just living for us. 00:22:08.300 --> 00:22:11.019 Listen, I'm so thankful we celebrated 250 years of this great country. 00:22:12.300 --> 00:22:14.420 This church has been around 70 plus years. 00:22:15.060 --> 00:22:16.019 You know why that is? 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:20.100 It's because when they started our country, when this church was founded, 00:22:20.300 --> 00:22:21.900 it wasn't just like, hey, what do we need? 00:22:22.080 --> 00:22:24.280 How do we build for the next generation is the question. 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:30.220 How do we move forward so those coming behind us have something to stand on? 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:36.240 See, faithful stewards know that everything they've been entrusted with is temporary. 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:40.799 I mean, don't you love when you get something new and it smells new? 00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:43.200 And you tell your kids, don't touch it. 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:45.559 We're not eating french fries in this car ever. 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:49.259 You know, all those kind of things that we say, and we believe it. 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:51.000 We believe we're going to keep this car clean. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:55.519 We believe we're going to keep our shoes clean and we're going to have this forever and ever and ever. 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:59.799 I mean, we could go out here, we could have a whole meal in some of these cars out here right now. 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:02.660 You're like, eh, we tried. 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.480 So many things that we live for are just temporary. 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:12.440 But even the temporary things, what Jesus is saying, we're going to see in a minute, 00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:17.160 they can make an impact eternally if they're used the right way. 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:20.700 See, this dishonest steward understood this important truth. 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:23.680 That temporary resources could shape his future. 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:26.259 He said, write this down, write that down. 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:27.539 I'm setting this up. 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:30.980 I know I've been an unjust steward, but I've got to take care of myself now. 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:37.259 I need to use some of these resources, some of the ability that I have to make sure that when I get kicked out here, 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:38.660 they're going to bring me into their house. 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:41.319 They're going to hire me to be their steward. 00:23:41.580 --> 00:23:44.559 And what Jesus does is he's going to take that principle one step further. 00:23:45.600 --> 00:23:49.620 See, the question isn't just simply how we think about what God has entrusted us. 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:52.879 But the question really becomes, how do I use it? 00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:55.439 How do I invest it? 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:59.659 That's what Jesus shows us here in verses 9 through 12. 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:01.299 Verse 9 says this, 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:13.019 This is one of these verses that's kind of confusing. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.379 I mean, what is Jesus telling us? 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.879 Is he telling us to buy friends? 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:20.680 Is he telling us that money earns us a place in heaven? 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:22.139 That's not what he's saying at all. 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:24.839 That's the furthest thing from what Christ is saying. 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:30.339 We've already learned that Jesus isn't praising this man's dishonesty. 00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:32.019 He's praising his foresight. 00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:35.899 And now he's going to apply that principle right to his disciples. 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:43.659 He's saying, you need to use these temporary resources, this mammon of unrighteousness, 00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:46.720 you need to use it for eternal purposes. 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:49.319 It's not about money. 00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:50.839 It's about stewardship. 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:56.480 And that's what Jesus is calling us to because he reminds us all these things don't last. 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.599 That money doesn't last. 00:24:58.919 --> 00:25:00.220 It can't be taken with us. 00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:02.740 It's all eventually going to pass away. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:08.880 But it doesn't mean it's not profitable for God. 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:11.859 That God can't use it in your life. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:18.059 See, temporary things can accomplish wonderful things when they're placed in God's hands. 00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:19.859 You know what we want to do? 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:22.700 Our tendency is to hoard it for ourselves. 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:25.599 Well, this is my money and I'm going to hold on to it. 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.420 This is my job. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.180 This is my car. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.759 These are my things. 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:34.279 And that's not how God wants us to think about the things and to invest the things he's entrusted with us. 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:39.220 Because it's not just merely possessions that Jesus gives us. 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:39.779 Here's what he does. 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.920 It's opportunities. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:43.599 It's opportunities to invest. 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.279 I mean, think about it this way. 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:48.099 Here's what Jesus is really trying to get us to understand in verse number nine. 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:50.959 That every dollar becomes a tool. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.119 It's not just money. 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:56.899 It's tools that God gives us to reach other people. 00:25:57.419 --> 00:25:59.259 That every paycheck becomes an opportunity. 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:02.059 That every home is a place for ministry. 00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:05.299 That every vehicle can be a way to serve somebody else. 00:26:05.439 --> 00:26:07.379 That every talent can point others to Christ. 00:26:07.639 --> 00:26:12.039 That every conversation can be used to encourage someone spiritually. 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:15.919 That everything you have in your life, maybe God has given you that. 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:18.000 You can go pick that friend up and bring him to church. 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:19.840 You can open up your home and have a meal. 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:23.039 And gather around the table and talk about the things of God. 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:26.320 That those paychecks is not just to go buy a bunch of fun stuff. 00:26:26.580 --> 00:26:28.080 And God's not against fun stuff. 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:30.880 Listen, God's not against us possessing things. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.720 But he's against things possessing us. 00:26:34.060 --> 00:26:35.539 That's really what he's getting at. 00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:40.180 And sometimes those things we buy, are we using them just for ourself and just for pleasure? 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:42.980 Are we using them as an opportunity to share his love? 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.660 That's what he's showing us here. 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:50.340 That everything God has given you can become an investment in his kingdom. 00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:52.640 That he wants to use that. 00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:54.720 That he wants to use those opportunities. 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:56.820 That's what he's teaching here. 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:58.240 That we don't own anything. 00:26:58.440 --> 00:27:00.880 We just simply manage what belongs to him. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.480 Now are we using it for him? 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.420 Are we using it for his glory? 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:09.940 I mean, let's just bring it to where we live. 00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:16.180 When you think about your resources, what's the first thing that comes to mind? 00:27:17.320 --> 00:27:17.759 Security? 00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:19.519 Comfort? 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:24.779 You know, the ability to have an easy life? 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:26.140 None of those things are wrong. 00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:27.600 But here's what Jesus wants to do. 00:27:27.820 --> 00:27:30.920 He's trying to stretch our thinking beyond this life. 00:27:31.780 --> 00:27:34.160 He's trying to get us to think and invest eternally. 00:27:34.800 --> 00:27:39.020 That he reminds us that people, not possessions, are eternal. 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:42.259 But sometimes we invest in the wrong thing. 00:27:43.600 --> 00:27:46.600 We only have our children in our home for a certain amount of time. 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:50.959 Instead of just kind of going through the motions and doing a bunch of things, are we investing in them? 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.240 That's eternal. 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:56.740 Your job, yes, it pays the bills and it puts food on the table. 00:27:56.939 --> 00:28:01.379 But maybe God has placed you in that workplace because there's people there that need the Lord. 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.599 And that's the real investment. 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:06.119 Listen, money can build a bigger house. 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:08.319 Or it can help send the gospel around the world. 00:28:08.459 --> 00:28:09.819 And money can buy another toy. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:13.159 Or it can maybe help somebody hear the gospel for the first time ever. 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:16.079 The question is, how are we using it? 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:21.939 Listen, money itself is not good or evil. 00:28:22.679 --> 00:28:24.299 People misquote that verse all the time. 00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:26.839 Money is not the root of all evil. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:30.619 The love of money is the root of all evil. 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.879 How are we using it? 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.879 Money is just simply a tool. 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:37.299 Possessions are simply a tool. 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:41.459 And the question Jesus is asking, and he's trying to get his disciples to really hold on to, 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.959 what are you doing with it? 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.980 How are you investing? 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:50.119 That's why I love what Jesus says here. 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:56.639 He's just simply reminding us at the end of verse number nine that one day we're going to step into eternity. 00:28:56.640 --> 00:29:05.100 And when we do, we're not going to regret anything we invested into his kingdom. 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:07.520 Because it's going to be there with us. 00:29:08.060 --> 00:29:09.800 We're going to look around and we're going to see our family. 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.640 We're going to see our co-workers. 00:29:12.040 --> 00:29:12.980 We're going to see that friend. 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:16.200 And they're there because we said, hey, listen, Jesus loves you. 00:29:16.300 --> 00:29:18.060 And we shared the gospel with them. 00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:22.359 And we hear it all the time and you hear missionaries say it, but I believe it's 100% true. 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:24.460 That one day you're going to meet somebody in heaven. 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:28.039 And they're going to say, hey, I know you don't know me, but I'm so and so. 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.480 Thank you for giving. 00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:35.359 You know, we participate in faith promise missions here and we send missionaries all over the world. 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.960 And we're going to meet people in heaven. 00:29:37.159 --> 00:29:40.779 We read a letter on Wednesday night and these people got saved in Bostwana. 00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:42.159 And these people are saved in Slovenia. 00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:43.940 Listen, that goes to your account. 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:46.400 That is investing eternally. 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:53.279 And we're going to meet people one day and say, listen, I'm so thankful you were willing to give a little bit of your money so a missionary could come to my country. 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:55.259 And I could hear that Jesus loves me. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:57.440 But here's the sad reality. 00:29:57.620 --> 00:30:00.140 There's people in Gainesville, Texas that doesn't know Jesus loves them. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:04.480 We have opportunities to invest all around us all the time. 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:07.440 I mean, you talk about a good return on investment. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:13.380 These type of investments, when we invest eternally, it's something that never loses its value. 00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:16.299 I mean, what if that was your stocks? 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.600 I mean, the stock market can't promise that. 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.420 I mean, they can give you some percentages. 00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:22.400 Hey, the average is about a good 10% a year. 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.920 But there's going to be down years. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:27.860 There's never a down time to invest in eternal things. 00:30:29.120 --> 00:30:33.320 See, no retirement account can guarantee these type of returns, but Jesus does. 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:39.879 Every investment that we make for his kingdom carries eternal dividends. 00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:42.720 That's what he's teaching us here in this text. 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:49.179 And see, in verse 10 through 12, Jesus reminds us that it's not the amount that matters. 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:50.700 It's the attitude. 00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:56.539 Sometimes we think, well, if I just had more, I could be a little more generous. 00:30:57.480 --> 00:31:00.879 If I made more money, I mean, the Lord knows my heart, I'd give it. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:04.540 If I had more time, I'd serve. 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:06.280 If I had opportunities, I would do that. 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:08.700 But here's what Jesus does in verses 10 through 12. 00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:09.860 He says just the opposite. 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:14.960 Jesus says faithfulness isn't measured by how much you've been given. 00:31:16.860 --> 00:31:20.240 Faithfulness is just measured by what you're already doing with what you have. 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.220 That's what he wants us to see. 00:31:22.780 --> 00:31:26.500 That if you're not faithful in a little, what makes you think you're going to be faithful in much? 00:31:27.380 --> 00:31:29.220 I mean, some of us, there's a reason we're not going to be a millionaire. 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.880 Lord knows we can't handle it. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.940 You say, I'd like to try, though. 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.740 Lord knows what you need. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:42.600 See, God isn't asking in verses 10 through 12 when he's talking about faithful in much, faithful in at least. 00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:44.420 He's not saying how much do you have. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:50.500 What he wants us to think about is how well are we managing what's already been entrusted to us? 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:54.799 How well are we stewarding the life God has given us? 00:31:54.799 --> 00:32:00.079 How well are we stewarding the time in our children that have been given to us? 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:04.440 You see, what Jesus is showing us, this is not just about money. 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.940 It's about every area of life. 00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:10.399 Some people have been entrusted with great wealth. 00:32:11.639 --> 00:32:13.700 Others have been entrusted with modest means. 00:32:14.899 --> 00:32:17.940 Some people have been entrusted with tremendous influence. 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:20.619 And others quietly serve behind the scenes. 00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:24.179 Some people have a lot of abilities and some people have just a few. 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:27.099 It doesn't matter the size or how much. 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:33.299 No, what matters is that every one of us has received something of God and we all have the same opportunity to be faithful. 00:32:34.159 --> 00:32:35.559 That's what God calls us to do. 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:41.179 It's one thing required of a steward that he be found faithful. 00:32:42.179 --> 00:32:44.399 You say, well, I don't have enough so I don't have to be faithful. 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:46.239 And that's not what Jesus teaches right here. 00:32:46.719 --> 00:32:48.799 It's not what he's showing us about our lives. 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:51.680 I just want to encourage you with this. 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:55.940 Don't compare your stewardship with somebody else's stewardship. 00:32:57.139 --> 00:33:01.079 It's easy to look around and say, well, man, I could steward things a lot better if I had that. 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.319 No. 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:02.980 You know what? 00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:04.500 The enemy loves comparisons. 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:07.639 Paul tells us don't compare ourselves amongst ourselves. 00:33:07.919 --> 00:33:08.759 It's not wise. 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:11.819 God didn't call you to be so-and-so. 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:14.319 He didn't call you to steward what so-and-so has. 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:16.579 No, he called you to steward what you have. 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:21.659 See, Jesus isn't asking you to manage other people's resources. 00:33:21.919 --> 00:33:24.460 He's just asking you to be faithful to yours. 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:30.819 See, maybe your greatest resource isn't finances, but maybe it's your hospitality. 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:34.859 Some people are just naturally hospitable people. 00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:36.859 Extroverted people. 00:33:36.859 --> 00:33:43.839 Listen, that's a gift that God gives you to encourage others and to reach out and to maybe pull others closer to the word of God. 00:33:43.899 --> 00:33:44.879 Maybe it's encouragement. 00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:46.639 Maybe it's your teaching ability. 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:50.619 Maybe you're handy and you're a craftsman and you can do things. 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:53.379 Maybe your greatest resource is just your availability. 00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:56.019 But you don't give it to the Lord. 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:57.259 Maybe it's your time. 00:33:57.259 --> 00:34:03.599 See, Jesus is saying, whatever God has placed in your hands, place it back in his service. 00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:05.460 He wants to use it. 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:07.059 That's why he gave it to you. 00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:10.960 See, I hope by now you understand this passage. 00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:12.280 It really isn't about money. 00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:19.860 And in these closing verses, Jesus reminds us that faithful stewardship isn't ultimately about dollars. 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:21.320 It's about devotion. 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:23.260 It's about devotion. 00:34:23.260 --> 00:34:27.920 The Bible says in verse 13, 00:34:28.040 --> 00:34:30.500 No servant can serve two masters. 00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:33.560 For either he will hate the one and love the other, 00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:39.460 or he will love the one and else he will hold to the one and despise the other. 00:34:39.720 --> 00:34:42.780 Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:53.160 See, everything that he says about stewardship and about faithfulness and about eternity comes down to one simple truth. 00:34:53.260 --> 00:34:57.100 That you can only serve one master. 00:34:58.160 --> 00:35:01.980 That faithful stewards, they live for one master. 00:35:03.140 --> 00:35:03.380 Why? 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:06.500 Because masters demand complete allegiance. 00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:09.900 And God demands our whole heart. 00:35:10.540 --> 00:35:13.340 Paul says that we're to lay our life down on the altar. 00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:15.620 That we are a complete sacrifice. 00:35:16.040 --> 00:35:16.540 Because why? 00:35:17.020 --> 00:35:21.460 Any master will eventually take first place in your life. 00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:26.119 And in case Jesus, in case we were wondering, he says very simply at the end of verse 13, 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:27.380 You can't serve two. 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:29.159 It's not possible. 00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:31.679 You can't live that way. 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:34.260 See, money isn't the villain in this passage. 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.820 It's just simply the test. 00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:41.300 And the real issue that we find here with disciples and faithful stewards is, 00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:44.600 Who sits on the throne of your heart? 00:35:45.720 --> 00:35:46.700 That's the question. 00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:52.000 Because when we love the Lord and he's in the first place, we have no problem serving him. 00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:55.800 But sometimes God says, Hey, why don't you use that for my good? 00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:57.019 Why don't you give that? 00:35:57.240 --> 00:35:58.600 Why don't you spend some time with them? 00:35:58.780 --> 00:35:59.900 Why don't you invite them to lunch? 00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:01.800 You say, Lord, I don't want to do that. 00:36:03.140 --> 00:36:05.539 Listen, the things that he's given, they're not our things anyways. 00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:09.139 So anything he asks of us, we should be willing to give. 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:13.460 Because whatever controls your heart will eventually control your life. 00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:16.139 Jesus teaches this on the Sermon on the Mount. 00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:20.659 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 00:36:21.800 --> 00:36:24.500 Is our treasure our possessions or is our treasure God? 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:28.000 See, when he's in his rightful place, everything else falls there. 00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:30.940 And Luke gives us a glimpse into the Pharisees' heart. 00:36:31.179 --> 00:36:32.099 Here's their problem. 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:33.219 They were covetous. 00:36:33.219 --> 00:36:37.159 They loved their stuff. 00:36:37.879 --> 00:36:38.739 They loved their money. 00:36:38.839 --> 00:36:39.699 They loved their possessions. 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:41.799 The problem wasn't they possessed wealth. 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:44.299 The problem was that the wealth possessed them. 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:46.339 And they couldn't let that go. 00:36:46.959 --> 00:36:48.459 They wanted to be seen of men. 00:36:48.799 --> 00:36:52.579 And Jesus, what he did here is he exposed their true master. 00:36:52.899 --> 00:36:54.219 And the Bible says they derided him. 00:36:54.379 --> 00:36:55.319 They ridiculed him. 00:36:55.419 --> 00:36:57.399 You don't know what you're talking about. 00:36:58.559 --> 00:36:59.319 Oh, but he does. 00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:07.080 And before we give them a really hard time, how often is that our response when God exposes something in our life? 00:37:08.820 --> 00:37:09.480 I'll be honest. 00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:11.280 Sometimes my first response is not repentance. 00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:13.300 It's resistance. 00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:15.260 Like, Lord, you don't know. 00:37:15.580 --> 00:37:18.920 I mean, I know it looks that way, but it's not what it is. 00:37:18.920 --> 00:37:20.599 Sometimes it's excuses. 00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:24.320 Sometimes we try to justify ourselves, and that's exactly what they did. 00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:28.440 He said, Jesus said, you try to justify yourselves, but let me remind you, God knows your heart. 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:32.900 God knows what you're really thinking about, what you're really investing in. 00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:38.099 Jesus wasn't impressed by their appearances because that's not how God measures people. 00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:39.579 God measures us by our heart. 00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:42.299 He sees who we truly are. 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:44.880 And he says something very sobering at the very end. 00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:49.179 He says, for that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 00:37:49.340 --> 00:37:51.299 Listen, the world celebrates success. 00:37:51.699 --> 00:37:53.500 God examines faithfulness. 00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:55.360 The world's going to applaud accumulation. 00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.759 Look how much stuff they have. 00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:59.539 But God says, I just want you to be faithful in what I've given you. 00:38:00.699 --> 00:38:03.699 The world teaches us, get all that you can. 00:38:04.679 --> 00:38:07.159 And Jesus says, live for what lasts. 00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:09.340 Invest eternally. 00:38:09.579 --> 00:38:20.880 If someone looked at your calendar, looked at your checkbook, looked at your conversations, looked at your priorities, 00:38:21.779 --> 00:38:24.940 what would they conclude is most important to you? 00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:28.119 It says a lot about who we are, what we think about. 00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:32.699 What would they say your master is? 00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.739 Who do you love? 00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:36.420 Who are you serving? 00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:42.159 Because our heart, our lives reveal what's already in our hearts. 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:45.139 That's what Jesus is teaching here in this text. 00:38:46.079 --> 00:38:49.940 You see, Jesus isn't calling us to manage our money better. 00:38:50.740 --> 00:38:52.760 There is principles in the Bible for that. 00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:54.460 He's not saying just forget about that. 00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:55.800 That's not what Jesus is teaching. 00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:58.800 But here's what he's teaching in this text specifically. 00:39:00.220 --> 00:39:03.320 He's calling us to surrender our hearts more completely. 00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:07.220 That we're completely sold out to him. 00:39:07.680 --> 00:39:10.920 That everything we have, we look at it and say, I can use this for God's glory. 00:39:11.539 --> 00:39:12.940 I can use this to reach somebody. 00:39:13.260 --> 00:39:15.820 I can use this for the gospel's sake. 00:39:15.820 --> 00:39:22.019 Because when Jesus truly becomes our master, everything else falls into its proper place. 00:39:22.780 --> 00:39:28.780 Our money, our time, our gifts, our opportunities, our relationships, they all become tools in the master's hand. 00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:32.260 Opportunities to glorify our Father. 00:39:33.740 --> 00:39:38.360 See, faithful stewardship, it always begins with wholehearted surrender. 00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:40.600 That's where it starts. 00:39:41.320 --> 00:39:42.720 That's what Jesus teaches here. 00:39:42.719 --> 00:39:45.059 Any Monopoly players here? 00:39:46.039 --> 00:39:46.659 The board game? 00:39:47.619 --> 00:39:51.339 You've got to have a, you know, it's one of those games you've got to have a little bit of time to play. 00:39:51.959 --> 00:39:54.579 I read a story about Dr. James Dobson. 00:39:54.659 --> 00:39:58.000 He was telling a story about he introduced this game to his children. 00:39:58.279 --> 00:40:00.759 And as the game unfolded, he did what every dad did. 00:40:00.879 --> 00:40:02.579 Just buried his kids in debt. 00:40:03.379 --> 00:40:05.359 He bought Park Place and Boardwalk. 00:40:05.419 --> 00:40:06.219 And he had trains. 00:40:06.299 --> 00:40:07.259 And he was building hotels. 00:40:07.459 --> 00:40:11.279 And one by one, his children went bankrupt until he owned everything on the board. 00:40:11.439 --> 00:40:12.359 And he won. 00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:13.739 And he said, go to bed. 00:40:14.959 --> 00:40:16.480 And that's just how it goes right there. 00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:17.319 That's what I'm talking about. 00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:19.319 The game was over. 00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:21.899 And he began putting everything away. 00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:27.059 The money and the deeds to the property and the houses and the hotels and the little pieces. 00:40:27.359 --> 00:40:29.059 He had a thought that really stayed with him. 00:40:29.099 --> 00:40:30.279 And it kind of applies to this text. 00:40:30.619 --> 00:40:35.279 He thought, if it all, everything, we just play this game and it all just goes back into the box. 00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:37.300 And the game's over. 00:40:38.240 --> 00:40:39.700 He said, it's a lot like life. 00:40:41.260 --> 00:40:43.900 That if we're just living for the here and now, yeah, it may be fun for a little while. 00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:46.519 You may have some cool toys and have some fun stuff. 00:40:46.600 --> 00:40:50.300 But we spend years working and saving and buying and building and accumulating and planning. 00:40:50.560 --> 00:40:52.380 And as we mentioned, none of those things are wrong. 00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:53.280 But here's the thing. 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:54.640 One day the game ends. 00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:56.460 And the house stays. 00:40:56.940 --> 00:40:58.019 And the car stays. 00:40:58.300 --> 00:40:59.400 And the money stays. 00:40:59.700 --> 00:41:01.039 And the retirement account stays. 00:41:01.200 --> 00:41:03.519 It just all goes back into the box. 00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:07.059 That's not how Christians should live their lives. 00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:09.599 That's not how faithful stewards live their lives. 00:41:10.500 --> 00:41:14.400 Because everything we've been given has only been trusted to us for a little while. 00:41:15.320 --> 00:41:19.420 And the owner reminds us that one day we're going to give an account for how we managed it. 00:41:19.900 --> 00:41:21.219 We're not taking it with us. 00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:25.780 So the question when our life comes to an end is not how much have I accumulated. 00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:27.980 It's not he with the most toys wins. 00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:32.079 No, the question is what have I invested that will last forever? 00:41:32.079 --> 00:41:34.400 I want to leave you with this thought. 00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:37.559 You can't take what God has entrusted you into eternity. 00:41:38.279 --> 00:41:41.059 But you can use it to make an eternal difference. 00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:44.079 That's what Jesus is teaching right here in Luke 16. 00:41:44.539 --> 00:41:46.099 That's what he wants us to get a hold of. 00:41:46.840 --> 00:41:48.380 This week when you look at your calendar. 00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:49.519 When you look at your abilities. 00:41:49.659 --> 00:41:50.699 When you look at your opportunities. 00:41:51.039 --> 00:41:51.679 Remember this. 00:41:51.960 --> 00:41:52.799 None of them are yours. 00:41:54.099 --> 00:41:54.960 Use them for him. 00:41:55.659 --> 00:41:56.679 Use them for his glory. 00:41:57.119 --> 00:41:59.340 It all belongs to him. 00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:01.779 And would God help us to make eternal difference? 00:42:02.079 --> 00:42:02.880 In the lives of others. 00:42:02.940 --> 00:42:04.519 Would you stand with your heads bowed and with your eyes closed?