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The Parable of the Dishonest Steward. Frank Talk on Money.

By Anita Mathias

Blue and Yellow Macaw Bird Flying-953871We grappled with The Parable of the Dishonest Steward (Luke 16 1-15) in my small group.

The Steward soon to be dismissed, too old to dig, and too proud to beg, leverages the last thing he has–his connections– to make friends knit to him by gratitude once his job is over.

He is commended for this intentionality and foresight, just as the man with five talents is commended for using them well.

* * *

And then Jesus goes on to tell us what we should do with worldly wealth, and how to handle a financial surplus.

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. (Luke 16:9)

Use a financial surplus “to gain friends for yourself!!”

Except when he was clearly using hyperbole (if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off), I believe Jesus meant the things he said quite literally. So when he told us to consider the ravens who do not gather into storehouses and barns, but who are looked after by their Heavenly Father, he meant that.

So, a good use of a surplus is to spend it on “friends,” both real life friends, and friends not seen whom we have helped with our money, who will welcome us into the eternal habitations. In Luke 14 12-14, Jesus speaks more on wealth and friends. If we use our wealth to invite our rich neighbours who will invite us back, we will have our reward. If, however, we use our wealth to be a blessing to those who cannot repay us, we will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

* * *

Jesus goes on to say 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. If you handle worldly wealth well, God will entrust you with more wealth (but without the stress which grabbing wealth can bring). To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. Ecc 2:26. Or, “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.” Proverbs 10:22.

Jesus continues–So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? How we handle worldly wealth determines whether we can or will be entrusted with “true riches:”–spiritual wisdom and insight and peace and joy.

Who would have thunk? How we handle money determines our spiritual life. If we can handle money as a steward, viewing ourselves as managing wealth entrusted to us, sharing with “friends” seen and unseen, we will not only be entrusted with more, but also with “true riches,” spiritual treasures.

If on the other hand, we allow ourselves to become obsessed with money, or allows ourselves to sin through greed, or dishonesty or ultra-selfishness in our pursuit of money, we will be cut off from acquiring spiritual  treasure—wisdom, insight, joy, peace, happiness.

* * *

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money,” Jesus goes on.

We cannot have two objects of utter devotion. One of them will captivate our hearts.

“Money” is, of course, important to us—and it should be. A large proportion of our adult lives is spent earning money, investing money, looking for deals and sales and ways to spend it wisely, looking after the houses and gardens and cars and furniture and clothes and stuff our money has bought.

Jesus says: The North Star of our lives, by whose light and direction we make decisions, becomes either Christ or money (and the things it buys, or the things we do to make it, such as careers). We cannot whole-heartedly both pursue wealth and Christ.

Luke 16: 14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. Of course, they loved money. The social respect they craved (they loved praise from men more than praise from God. John 12:43) would have been elusive in the absence of money.

* * *

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Filed Under: Blog Through The Bible Project, In which I play in the fields of Scripture Tagged With: Dishonest Steward, Luke, Parables

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Wandering Between Two Worlds: Essays on Faith and Art

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anita.mathias

Writer, Blogger, Reader, Mum. Christian. Instaing Oxford, travel, gardens and healthy meals. Oxford English alum. Writing memoir. Lives in Oxford, UK

Images from walks around Oxford. #beauty #oxford # Images from walks around Oxford. #beauty #oxford #walking #tranquility #naturephotography #nature
So we had a lovely holiday in the Southwest. And h So we had a lovely holiday in the Southwest. And here we are at one of the world’s most famous and easily recognisable sites.
#stonehenge #travel #england #prehistoric England #family #druids
And I’ve blogged https://anitamathias.com/2020/09/13/on-not-wasting-a-desert-experience/
So, after Paul the Apostle's lightning bolt encounter with the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus, he went into the desert, he tells us...
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England, where I live, like most of the world is going through a desert experience of continuing partial lockdowns. Covid-19 spreads through human contact and social life, and so we must refrain from those great pleasures. We are invited to the desert, a harsh place where pruning can occur, and spiritual fruitfulness.
A plague like this has not been known for a hundred years... John Piper, after his cancer diagnosis, exhorted people, “Don’t Waste Your Cancer”—since this was the experience God permitted you to have, and He can bring gold from it. Pandemics and plagues are permitted (though not willed or desired) by a Sovereign God, and he can bring life-change out of them. 
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Let's use the extra free time that many of us have long coveted and which has now been given us by Covid-19 restrictions to seek the face of God. To seek revelation. To pray. 
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So, we are about eight weeks into lockdown, and I So, we are about eight weeks into lockdown, and I have totally sunk into the rhythm of it, and have got quiet, very quiet, the quietest spell of time I have had as an adult.
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Here are some images from my walks.
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https://anitamathias.com/2020/05/04/a-mind-of-life-and-peace/  #walking #contemplating #beauty #oxford #pandemic
A few walks in Oxford in the time of quarantine. A few walks in Oxford in the time of quarantine.  We can maintain a mind of life and peace during this period of lockdown by being mindful of our minds, and regulating them through meditation; being mindful of our bodies and keeping them happy by exercise and yoga; and being mindful of our emotions in this uncertain time, and trusting God who remains in charge. A new blog on maintaining a mind of life and peace during lockdown https://anitamathias.com/2020/05/04/a-mind-of-life-and-peace/
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Images from some recent walks in Oxford. I am copi Images from some recent walks in Oxford.
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And God arranges for new stars, angelic song, wise visitors with needed finances for his sustenance in the swiftly-coming exile, shepherds to underline the anointing and reassure his parents. “Trust me in your dilemmas,” the baby still says, “I will make a way. I will show it to you.” Happy Christmas everyone.  https://anitamathias.com/2019/12/24/trust-a-message-of-christmas/ #christmas #gemalderieberlin #trust #godwillmakeaway
Look, I’ve designed a journal. It’s an omnibus Look, I’ve designed a journal. It’s an omnibus Gratitude journal, habit tracker, food and exercise journal, bullet journal, with time sheets, goal sheets and a Planner. Everything you’d like to track.  Here’s a post about it with ISBNs https://anitamathias.com/2019/12/23/life-changing-journalling/. Check it out. I hope you and your kids like it!
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