The Unrighteous and Shrewd Steward Luke 16:1-13

Different Economic Systems Different Economic Principles Socialism: If you have two cows, the government takes one and gives it to your neighbor…..or they just keep it. Communism: If you have two cows, you give them to the government, then the government gives you some milk. Bureaucracy: If you have two cows, you shoot one and milk the other, then you pour the milk down the drain. Capitalism: If you have two cows, sell one and buy a bull. Occupyism: Live like pigs, demand more milk from the cows, and blame the farmers for all of your problems. Economics is the study of people and money.

Another System..Another Paradigm Another Set of Principles 1)God created, therefore He owns. 2)We manage what God created and owns. 3)Since we are created by Him, redeemed by Him and called to His Kingdom and mission, then we are expected to manage people, opportunities, and resources the way God would manage them. It is referred to as stewardship.

What Is A Steward? Manager or a trustee; not the owner. He stands in for the owner during the owner’s absence. Responsible to grow, protect, and improve everything within the estate of the owner. (people…resources…opportunities) This room is full of them this morning. Yet a good one is very hard to find!

Common, Yet Wrong Views About Stewardship and Money Money is everything –Love of money –Prosperity Theology Money is nothing –Poverty Theology –“Money isn’t that important, but it does rank right up there with oxygen.” 90/10 ownership

Prayer of Ownership “Dear God, I really don’t believe that you own my business, my possessions, or my money. After all, I’ve worked hard to gain these things and I really believe that they are all mine. So God, in order to settle this issue of ownership once and for all, I challenge You to take away all of these things that are rightfully Yours and leave me with what is mine.”

The Scriptures and Money Scripture offers about 500 verses about prayer…about 500 verses about faith…and over 2000 about money. 1 out of every 10 verses in the NT deals with money 25% of what Jesus spoke referred to the topic of money or riches. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

People and Money and the Bible Righteous rich Unrighteous rich Righteous poor Unrighteous poor

What About This Steward? He was unrighteous He was shrewd –Intelligent, wise, skilled, an expert, has insight. Jesus has a pro-shrewd theology. What if he was righteous? What if his heart was different? What about us? What is the status of our hearts? What difference does Jesus make with my life and my money?

Be Generous And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

Be Faithful 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. If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon 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 our own?

Be Devoted No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Stewardship Stewardship is a deep, burning passion involving heart, soul, mind, and strength… to manage all of who we are… and all that He has given to us… according to His principles... for the advancement of His Kingdom. Sure beats the “I gave 10%!” routine. “Well done good and faithful servant!”