Pastor Jeremiah Miller | Mar. 20, 2022

The Parables of Jesus, Pt. III: The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ 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?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.” - Luke 16:1-13 (ESV)

The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. - Luke 16:8 (ESV)

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. - Luke 16:9 (ESV)

An

manager looks for personal enjoyment and fulfillment , but Jesus instructs us to focus on rewards.

If we understand the principle that “everything we have is a

from God,” then we won’t have our hands when God tells us to give.

We are only

of what is and what has been God’s.

We are called to use the

’s resources to push the master’s and .

If God is our master, our wealth should be at his

.

The more we draw closer to God, his longing to meet the needs of others becomes our

.

We can’t expect

reward while only in earthly ones.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. - Galatians 6:7 (ESV)

Sow into

things, earthly treasure; into heavenly things, reap treasure.

Resources suggested and used:

• “Gospel of Luke” by Alabaster Co.
• “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper
• “Storing Up Treasures in Heaven” by Jim H. Hampton