Luke 16:1-13 NIV Who’s the Boss: Can God Trust Me 1

Luke 16:1-13 NIV Can God Trust Me "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? Luke 16:1-13 NIV 2

Luke 16:1-13 NIV Can God Trust Me 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. Luke 16:1-13 NIV 3

Luke 16:1-13 NIV Can God Trust Me "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. Luke 16:1-13 NIV 4

Luke 16:1-13 NIV Can God Trust Me 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.  "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. Luke 16:1-13 NIV 5

Luke 16:1-13 NIV Can God Trust Me 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" Luke 16:1-13 NIV 6

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: FOUR OBSERVATIONS: 1. THE “OWNER” CALLS HIS “STEWARD TO ACCOUNT (VV. 1 & 2). Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 7

Genesis 24:1-2 NIV Can God Trust Me • A Stewardship Example: “Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. 2 He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh” Genesis 24:1-2 NIV 8

Genesis 24:12-14 NIV Can God Trust Me “Then he prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master” Genesis 24:12-14 NIV 9

James 1:17 NIV Can God Trust Me “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” James 1:17 NIV 10

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: • What Does the Lord Expect of Me? A. Myself Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1 NIV) Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 11

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: • What Does the Lord Expect of Me? B. My Possessions . . . any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33 NIV). Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 12

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: • What Does the Lord Expect of Me? C. My Time Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV). Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 13

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: • What Does the Lord Expect of Me? D. My Gifts Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms (I Peter 4:10 NIV) Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 14

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: • What Does the Lord Expect of Me? E. The Gospel . . . we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our heart (I Thessalonians 2:4 NIV). Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 15

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: FOUR OBSERVATIONS: 2. THE “UNWISE STEWARD” MADE AN HONEST ASSESSMENT OF HIS CONDTION (V.3). Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 16

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: FOUR OBSERVATIONS: 3. THE “UNWISE STEWARD” ACTED UPON HIS CONDITION (VV. 4-7) Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 17

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: FOUR OBSERVATIONS: FOUR LESSONS FROM JESUS (vv. 8-13). Use Your God-Given Opportunities Wisely (vv. 8-9) Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 18

Matthew 6:19-20 NIV Can God Trust Me “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” Matthew 6:19-20 NIV 19

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: B. Trust Is Earned (vv. 10-12). Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 20

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: C. Trust Can Be Portioned (vv. 10-12). Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 21

Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) Who’s The Boss: D. Be Fully Committed to God (v. 13). Why is Lordship a Must? (Part 2) 22

Luke 16:1-13 NIV Who’s the Boss: Can God Trust Me 23