Lk16a Is Money My Master?

# Is Money My Master?
## Luke 16:9-15
[Steve Johnson](https://unsplash.com/photos/0sPFjdcRhko "caption")

>>>
+ **most** of us would say, "no, no"
  + it's a **necessity** of life
+ Bible never said having money is **evil**
  + of **course** I love God more
+ Today's passage sets **bar**: what truly means
  + to **love** God more than money
+ Christ has **saved** us by His mercy,
  + **disciples** us to be faithful in all things,
  + and has **called** us to love + obey Him
+ So let's open up **Scriptures** together
  + and **direct** our attention to Jesus
+ **behold** the Lamb of God
  + who **takes away** the sin of the world

______
**[ PRAYER ]**

---

1. **Mercy** in Business [(v1-9)](# "ref")
2. **Faithfulness** in the Small Things [(v10-12)](# "ref")
3. **Loving** God, Hating Money [(v13-15)](# "ref")

>>>
+ (1) **mercy**: use resources 
  + to seek opp to show mercy
+ (2) **faithfulness**: and money is the smallest!
+ (3) **love**: for God demands **exclusivity**
+ ch starts w/**parable**: 
  + somewhat **perplexing** one:

---
[1](# "ref")
There was a rich man who had a manager, 
and charges were brought to him 
that this man was wasting his possessions.

[2](# "ref")
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.’

[Luke 16:1-8 (ESV) (p.1/5)](# "ref")

---
[3](# "ref")
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.

[Luke 16:1-8 (ESV) (p.2/5)](# "ref")

---
[4](# "ref")
I have decided what to do, 
so that when I am removed from management, 
people may receive me into their houses.’

[5](# "ref")
So, summoning his master's debtors 
one by one, he said to the first, 
‘How much do you owe my master?’

[Luke 16:1-8 (ESV) (p.3/5)](# "ref")

---
[6](# "ref")
He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ 
He said to him, ‘Take your bill, 
and sit down quickly and write fifty.’

[7](# "ref")
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.’

[Luke 16:1-8 (ESV) (p.4/5)](# "ref")

---
[8](# "ref")
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 16:1-8 (ESV) (p.5/5)](# "ref")

>>>
+ So does the master represent **God**,
  + and **we're** to be like dishonest **manager**?
+ Jesus **repeatedly** emphasizes
  + mgr. was **dishonest** (unrighteous)
  + didn't he **waste** master's money?
+ Jesus is using wisdom of the **worldly**
  + to prompt us to be even **more** wise
+ akin to parable of **unrighteous** judge in ch18,
  + who **hears** widow's case bc **persistence**:

---

Hear what the **unrighteous judge** says.

[7](# "ref")
And will not **God** give justice to his **elect**, 
who **cry** to him day and night?

[Luke 18:6-7 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Wesley Tingey](https://unsplash.com/photos/9z9fxr_7Z-k "caption")

>>>
+ if even unrighteous **judge** brings justice,
  + how much more so **God** to His elect
+ if even unrighteous **manager** does thus,
  + how much more so should **we**
+ **what** did the dishonest manager do?

---

‘How much do you **owe** my master?’ 
[6](# "ref")
He said, ‘A **hundred** measures of oil.’

He said to him, ‘Take your bill, 
and sit down quickly and write **fifty**.’

[Luke 16:5-6 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Used his **master's** money
  + which was **entrusted** to him
+ to give a subst. **discount** to others
+ **Why?** bc he **knew** he would lose his job, so

---

I have decided what to do, 
so that when I am **removed** from management, 
people may **receive** me into their houses.’

[Luke 16:4 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Julian Böck](https://unsplash.com/photos/agS-BtrQZrs "caption")

>>>
+ he would curry **favour** with other houses
+ and so secure a **future** position for himself
+ what's **amazing** is the master's response:

---

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)](# "ref")
[Vancouver, BC.  Aditya Chinchure](https://unsplash.com/photos/ghbepAO7BCs "caption")

>>>
+ The master is also a **son** of this world
+ And **understands** the manager's **intent**:
  + "I **get** it -- you're looking out for **yourself**"
  + "You're still **fired** (oh so fired)"
  + "but I would have done the **same** in your shoes"
+ **Why** did the master **praise** him?
  + orig **reason** for firing was **wasting** money:

---

and **charges** were brought to him 
that this man was **wasting** his possessions.

[Luke 16:1 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Angelina Litvin](https://unsplash.com/photos/K3uOmmlQmOo "caption")

>>>
+ note: not **stealing** (embezzlement) but **scattering**
  + didn't really know **how**, they're just **gone**
+ **now**, mgr hefty **discounts** to **protect** career
+ **Why** does the master respect this?
  + this is the whole **point** of this parable:
+ **Relationships** are more important than money
+ Money: no **intrinsic** worth; proxy for **value**
  + Money sitting in bank has **no utility**
+ How much **save up** doesn't reflect how **noble**
  + it's how we **spend** that reveals **values**
+ Sons this **age** understand **better** than we:

---

## Pitfalls in How Christians Treat Money
1. **Compartmentalisation**
2. Negligence

>>>
+ **We** are ones who often refuse **think** abt money
  + feel it's **dirty**, wicked, worldly
+ So don't know how **use**, earn, save, invest, spend
+ We often succumb to 1 of 2 **lazy** ways of thinking:
  + compartmentalization or negligence
+ (1) **compartmentalized** thinking:
+ to **church** / charity we're generous, trusting
  + but **biz** finances are strict, transactional
+ **take** as much as you can get:
  + all's **fair** in love, war, and business

---

## Pitfalls in How Christians Treat Money
1. Compartmentalisation
2. **Negligence**

>>>
+ (2) **negligence** masq. as faith in God's protect
+ e.g., early 2000's **Foursquare** church denom
  + lost **~$15M USD** by pres **Paul Risser**
+ didn't **steal** the money for himself,
  + but **invested** into **pyramid** scheme
  + **fooled** by crooks who promised high **return**
+ realized **wrong** + asked forgiveness
  + but not **isolated** incident: many like it
+ in **trusting** env of church, we forget 
  + **shrewdness** praised by master in parable
+ We neglect to study **how** ought to **use** money
  + Here's where Jesus says sth super **confusing**:

---

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)](# "ref")
[Helsinki, Finland. Thomas Drouault](https://unsplash.com/photos/IBUcu_9vXJc "caption")

>>>
+ To yourselves make **friends**
  + out of the **mammon** of unrighteousness,
  + so that when it **fails**, 
  + you may be **received** into the eternal tents.
+ **Mammon**: Aramaic "that in which we **trust**"
  + not in OT, only here and parallel in Mt6:24
+ Money is not **amoral**, it can be **unrighteous**
  + but even **if** we have unrighteous money
  + it can be **used** for better purposes:
+ Money will certainly **fail** us (die, quit, end)
  + but we have a **home** that lasts to **eternity**
+ "Dwelling": not **house** but **tent**, as Isr. in wilder.
  + rather **corner** of tent God's eternal king.
  + than **mansion** on fleeting worldly riches

---

## Making Friends Using Wealth
1. Make Peace with **God**
2. Support the **Saints** in Their Need
3. Show Mercy to **Business Partners**

>>>
+ So **who** are these **friends** I am to make?
+ **friends** (kiss, love, alliance, tribe):
  + who would **welcome** me to eternal tents
+ just as the dishonest **mgr** prepared to jump ship
  + and was **welcomed** into other households
+ 3 levels of **application**: God, saints, and the world
+ (1) make peace w/ **God**:
  + **all** our resources come from God
  + we **tithe** + offer as part of our **worship**
+ (2) **saints** that go before: support in their need
+ (3) **biz partners**: that may recog. witness of mercy
  + and be **drawn** to Christ's mercy

---
(guan xi)
>>>
+ so Jesus wants us to **buy** friends?
  + mixing **biz** + **personal** sounds sketchy!
+ e.g., **bank** sends you **birthday** card + gifts
  + friends w/your **money**, not w/you!
+ cf **guanxi**: "hey we're **family**, give me a **discount**!"
  + bad if **abusing** rl to gain money: **selfish**
+ good if **expending** money to build rl 
  + and **testify** to God's mercy

---

# Do I seek to show **mercy** in business?

>>>
+ students: school, interactions w/**classmates**
  + practical **dealings** w/people of the world
+ not **demand** from others to fullest extent of law
  + but seeking **fair** + equitable dealings
+ not only as **consumers** but also **employees**/ers:
+ e.g., office **culture**, **conflict** resolution
  + **hiring** practises, who we choose to do **biz** with
  + how **insurance** rates are determined
  + legal framework **sentencing** small crimes
  + **mkt rsrch** / survey accurate **repr** real pop
+ act w/**justice**, desire show **mercy** as God has,
  + keep in **step** w/God in all humility

---

1. Mercy in Business [(v1-9)](# "ref")
2. **Faithfulness in** **the Small Things** [(v10-12)](# "ref")
3. Loving God, Hating Money [(v13-15)](# "ref")

>>>
+ but showing mercy != being **naive**
  + e.g., former Foursquare pastor
+ being **profligate** w/resources God entrusts to us
  + doesn't show **trust** in God's protection
  + it shows a lack of **faithfulness**:

---

[10](# "ref")
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**.

[Luke 16:10-12 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Benjamin Child](https://unsplash.com/photos/GWe0dlVD9e0 "caption")

---

[11](# "ref")
If then you have not been faithful 
in the **unrighteous wealth**, 
who will entrust to you the **true** riches?

[12](# "ref")
And if you have not been faithful 
in that which is **another's**, 
who will give you that which is **your own**?

[Luke 16:10-12 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 3 **contrasts**: the least vs **abundance**
  + unrighteous vs that which is **true**
  + another's vs your **own**
+ Money is **tiny**, not of great / lasting value
  + Money can be **unright.**: ill-got, tempt to sin
  + Money is not **our own**, it belongs to God
+ But money can be **useful**: train up **faithf.**
+ Financial **stewardship** is part of **discipleship**
  + Having enough **money** != good stewardship!
  + "I **earned** it, so it's **mine** to spend"
+ e.g., child's **allowance**: daily **needs** provided for
  + but allowance is opp. to learn **responsibility**
+ e.g., JJ's **piggy banks**, birthday money
  + doesn't want to just **keep** it in bank, no use
  + but what to **spend** it on?

---

Therefore I tell you,

do not be **anxious** about your **life**, 
what you will **eat** or what you will drink,

nor about your **body**, what you will **put on**.

Is not **life** more than food, 
and the **body** more than clothing?

[Matthew 6:25 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Pink dahlias. Irina Iriser](https://unsplash.com/photos/mNz9Pa3tz34 "caption")

>>>
+ Truth is: **all** our money is like a child's piggy bank
  + no **lack** / scarcity with the **Creator**
+ This breaks our system of **economics** 
  + that predicates on **scarcity** / zero sum
+ So we have no **fear** / anxiety 
  + about not having **enough**
  + and no **pride** over having an abundance
+ All our **worldly** wealth is the **tiniest** of things
  + compared to the **riches** of God's inheritance
  + reserved for us in **heaven**:

---

Do not lay up for yourselves **treasures on earth**, 
where **moth** and rust destroy 
and where **thieves** break in and steal,

[20](# "ref")
but lay up for yourselves 
treasures in **heaven**, [...]

[21](# "ref")
For where your **treasure** is, 
there your **heart** will be also.

[Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Ju On](https://unsplash.com/photos/e6XsI7qqvAA "caption")

>>>
+ Investment with **best** long-term returns
+ cultivate **faithfulness** 
  + in even the **littlest** things
  + we've been **entrusted** with
+ e.g. **care** for plant / fish / dog/cat / child
+ e.g., participate in **smgp** before lead
+ be a diligent **student**, employee, spouse, parent
  + **not** bc that role gives you **meaning**
+ but bc our **Creator** who defines our purpose
  + calls us to be **faithful** + trust in Him
  + w/promise of **greater**, lasting reward

---

Whatever you do, work **heartily**, 
as **for the Lord** and not for men,

[24](# "ref")
knowing that from the Lord you will receive 
the **inheritance** as your reward.

You are serving the **Lord Christ**.

[Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/y02jEX_B0O0 "caption")

>>>
+ whiteboard @TWU, need freq **reminder** to
  + work **heartily**: from the **psyche**, soul, life
+ Don't work heartily in things that **oppose** God,
  + but in our day-to-day **occupation**, see as
+ Our **training** grounds for future reward:
  + **abundant**, **true**, and will be **ours** to keep
+ Told **students** same: e.g., learning **calculus**
  + not **critical** to spiritual growth, but
  + **useful** abstraction, **diligence** in small things
+ cultivate **faithfulness**:

---

# In what "**unimportant**" or "**non-spiritual**" area have I been not so **faithful**?

>>>
+ esp for **guys**: tend to like focusing on **big** ideas
  + while ladies faithfully take care of **implementation** details
+ I might feel certain work / responsibility 
  + is **beneath** me
+ "I have **training**, expertise, 
  + I could be doing so much **more**"
+ If this is the **work** God's entrusted to me right now
  + will I **fulfill** it with full energy
  + serving **God**, not man?

---

1. Mercy in Business [(v1-9)](# "ref")
2. Faithfulness in the Small Things [(v10-12)](# "ref")
3. **Loving God, Hating Money** [(v13-15)](# "ref")

>>>
+ (1) Desire to show **mercy** to others 
  + as a testimony of **God's** mercy
+ (2) Cultivate **faithfulness** 
  + even in **small** things (like money)
+ (3) Examine our **hearts**:
  + what does it mean to **love** God?

---

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 16:13 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Savoie, France. Thomas Tixtaaz](https://unsplash.com/photos/rdwkamJlpiU "caption")

>>>
+ **heart**: love vs hate
+ **mind** (thinking, priorities):
  + **cling** / hold closely to vs. 
  + look **down** on, consider worthless,
  + hold in **contempt**
+ We must make a conscious **choice**
  + put God as **master** over **every** aspect of life
  + including how we **earn + spend** money
+ But the **Pharisees** scoffed at this exclusivity:

---

The Pharisees, who were **lovers of money**, 
heard all these things, and they **ridiculed** him.

And he said to them, 
“You are those who **justify yourselves** 
before men, but God knows your **hearts**.

[Luke 16:14 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Dozen](https://unsplash.com/photos/8wUVsR-w994 "caption")

>>>
+ not took **offense**, but looked **down** on:
  + "Jesus, you don't **understand**:
  + "we **do** love God, and enjoy **success** in life"
  + "What's wrong with loving **both**?"
+ Making lots of money means God is **blessing** you,
  + means you must be doing **something** right? 
+ cf. **prosperity** gospel: "God **wants** you to be rich"
+ cf. **MLM**: have ambition, achieve dreams
  + (so if **fail**, must be bc didn't **try** hard enough!)
+ success/dream **measured** by money (tier in MLM)

---

For what is **exalted** among men 
is an **abomination** in the sight of God.

[Luke 16:14 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Carolyn Christine](https://unsplash.com/photos/D7bmnvGJA2Q "caption")

>>>
+ **elevated** as noble // deemed **defiled**, abhorrent
+ Unconsciously **prioritize** making money / work
  + when work offers opp. for increased **responsib**
  + even if would take **time** away from family:
+ I don't think **twice**: "of **course** need to take it"
  + yes: build biz **rl**, show **mercy**
+ but if **honest** w/self: is **that** my motivation?
  + or do I simply **adopt** company's defn
  + of **success**, next **rung** on ladder?
+ I **justify** self: "it's for our **family**"
  + **scare** tactics: "do you want us to **starve**?"

---

# Am I trying to **love** both God and money?

>>>
+ **rethink** defn of **success** in life:
+ making money != I **earned** it, or **winning** in life
+ having job/career **struggles** != **failing** in life
  + or not **ambitious** enough
+ **Pursue** God w/all my **heart** + strength
  + **work** hard to show **mercy** to others
+ Cultivate **faithfulness** in what God's given me now
  + **Love** Him above all else

---

>>>
**[ PRAYER ]**

+ Use worldly **wealth** You've given to build **rl**
  + to show **mercy** + forgiveness even in **biz** rl
  + testify **Your** infinitely greater mercy to us
+ Rejoice even in **small** resp. like steward money
  + opport. to cultivate **faithfulness** 
  + and increase our **faith** in You
+ Fix our **eyes** + **hearts** firmly upon **You**
  + not worldly **poss.**, influence, security
+ Father provides **abundant**, reserved for us
  + **greater** reward, **true** + real, **own** inherit