Luke 16 – The Cool-But-Uncool Steward

JESUS: THE ICONOCLAST, PART 1

JESUS IS TOO COOL

Jesu

s-Fa

ns

THE UNCOOL-BUT-COOL STEWARD PARABLEJesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired!’”

“The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’

THE UNCOOL-BUT-COOL STEWARD PARABLE“So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’ “‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’

Embezzlement: very uncool$50,000 ?? = !!

THE UNCOOL-BUT-COOL STEWARD PARABLE

“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. Luke 16:8

The Coolness FactorA Shrewd Move

Jesus is NOT teaching…

Strategies for young & ambitious criminals.

Be careful when firing

your employees…

How to be a low-down, scumbag, lying thief

and still get respect

The Need for Shrewd Thinkers“...the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.” Luke 16:9

• “Practically wise, sensible”• Translated: shrewd, prudent,

sensible, wise

Greek: phronimos

• Characterized by keen awareness, sharp intelligence, and often a sense of the practical.

• Disposed to artful and cunning practices; tricky.

• Sharp; penetrating: a shrewd wind.

Shrewd

The Need for Shrewd Thinkers“...the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.” Luke 16:9 “Children of this

world”Understand how

“The System” Works

“Kill or be killed…”

“Children of Light”Can be naïve about

“The System”Trusting “The world

around them…”

How the Steward could have lost:

Fatalism, cowardice,

intimidation.Mindless

compliance.Misplaced loyalties

The Need for Shrewd Thinkers“...The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd.”

“Why didn’t I guard against this?”

“I would have done the same thing…”

Bad-guy “heroes”

The Shrewd “Child of Light”“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9 Drownin

g in dirty money

Convert it to

something

useful

The Shrewd “Child of Light”1. Your life is not temporary.2. Don’t get dominated by

temporary things.

“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.“…the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails…

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17

“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Naïve Christians:

Get “Good Fellowship” in the Kosmos.

Forget the “ways of the

world”

Complacent, spiritually-indifferent.

“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom."And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that…they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9

• Investing to WIN• Being a GOOD STEWARD

Means

The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. Psalm 24:1

“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom."And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that…they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9

• For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

People Matter,

Not THINGS

“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom."And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that…they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9

• For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

People Matter,

Not THINGS

OpportunitiesSignificant

RelationshipsGetting Equipped

Money to Help Others

“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom.3. Start Small, Graduate BIG!

"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.” Luke 16:10

“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom.3. Start Small, Graduate BIG!

“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, 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 your own?” Lk. 16:10

“very little thing”

“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom.3. Start Small, Graduate BIG!4. This is an Either/or Conflict.

"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Luke 16:13

“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom.3. Start Small, Graduate BIG!4. This is an Either/or Conflict.

"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Luke 16:13

God & His

Kingdom

Kingdom of

“THINGS”

• Knows he cannot trust the World System.

• Wins God’s way.• His is loyal primarily to

God and His Kingdom.• Invests in eternal life

reward & security.• There is no end to his

growth.

• Knows he cannot trust the World System.

• Wins at any price.• His loyalties change as

his needs change.• Invests in temporary

reward & security.• Sooner or later gets

dominated himself.

Who is Truly The Shrewd Steward?Children of this world Children of Light