Wednesday Evening Bible Study

October 24, 2001

Introduction

We’ve been listening in on an evening Jesus spent at the house of one of the chief Pharisees (Luke 14:1).

At the dinner party, Jesus began to confront the Pharisees about some of their beliefs and behavior. He’s challenged their pride and their lack of love for others.

Then Jesus turned to the growing crowd and challenged them in making a real commitment to following Him. They needed to count the cost, to “take up their cross” and follow Him.

When the Pharisees began to complain about the “sinners” that were gathering around Jesus, Jesus clued them in to the Father’s heart by talking about the joy in heaven when someone who was lost is found.

Now Jesus turns and has something to say to His disciples, those who have made the choice to follow Him.

:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

rich – plousios – wealthy, abounding in material resources

a steward – oikonomos – the manager of household or of household affairs; esp. a steward, manager, superintendent (whether free-born or as was usually the case, a freed-man or a slave) to whom the head of the house or proprietor has intrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and even to the children not yet of age; the manager of a farm or landed estate, an overseer; the superintendent of the city’s finances, the treasurer of a city (or of treasurers or quaestors of kings)

was accused – diaballo – to throw over or across, to send over; to traduce, calumniate, slander, accuse, defame. The word carries the idea of malice, even if the accusation is true. This is the root word for “diabolos”, “slanderer”, the same word used to describe the “devil”.

he had wasted – diaskorpizo – to scatter abroad, disperse, to winnow; to throw the grain a considerable distance, or up into the air, that it may be separated from the chaff; to gather the wheat, freed from the chaff into the granary; to winnow grain

goods – huparchonta – possessions, goods, wealth, property

This is some of the same language used to describe the young prodigal son back in chapter 15 –

(Luke 15:13 KJV) And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Paul talked a little about being a “steward” when he wrote,

(1 Cor 4:1-2 KJV) Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. {2} Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

The most important thing when it comes to entrusting someone else with your “stuff” is whether or not they are “faithful”.

Can they be depended upon?

We are all stewards in some sense.

We are stewards over the money we have.

All that we have belongs to God.  It all comes from God.  God has entrusted us with what we have.  Some have been entrusted with more, others with less.

We are stewards over much in our lives – being parents over our children, the jobs we have, the relationships we have.

:2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

he called – phoneo – to sound, emit a sound, to speak; to call, to call one’s self, either by one’s own voice or though another; to send for, summon

give – apodidomi – to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell; to pay off, discharge what is due; a debt, wages, tribute, taxes, produce due; to render account

an account – logos – of speech; a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea; its use as respect to the MIND alone; account, i.e. regard, consideration; account, i.e. reckoning, score; account, i.e. answer or explanation in reference to judgment

stewardship – oikonomia – the management of a household or of household affairs; specifically, the management, oversight, administration, of other’s property; the office of a manager or overseer, stewardship; administration, dispensation

thou mayest – dunamai – to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom; to be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful

be … steward – oikonomeo – to be a steward; to manage the affairs of a household; to manage, dispense, order, regulate

The Master is asking the steward to turn in his books. His job is finished.

:3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

taketh away – aphaireo – to take from, take away, remove, carry off; to cut off

the stewardship – oikonomia – the management of a household or of household affairs; specifically, the management, oversight, administration, of other’s property; the office of a manager or overseer, stewardship; administration, dispensation

dig – skapto – to dig

I cannot – ischuo – to be strong; to be strong in body, to be robust, to be in sound health; to have power; to be able, can

I am not strong enough to dig (NAS)

to beg – epaiteo – to ask besides, ask for more; to ask again and again, importunately; to beg, to ask alms

I am ashamed – aischuno – to disfigure; to dishonour; to suffuse with shame, make ashamed, be ashamed

This guy was not strong enough to handle a physical job, and he was too proud to beg for a living.

:4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

I am resolved – ginosko – to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel; to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of; to understand

The Greek carries the idea that “suddenly” the idea hits the guy.

I am put out – methistemi – to transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another; of change of situation or place; to remove from the office of a steward; to depart from life, to die

they may receive – dechomai – to take with the hand; to take hold of, take up; to take up, receive; to receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship

:5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

he called – proskaleomai – to call to; to call to one’s self; to bid to come to one’s self

debtors – chreopheiletes (“to lend” + “a debt”) – a debtor

owest thou – opheilo – to owe; to owe money, be in debt for; that which is due, the debt

:6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

measures – batos – a bath, a Jewish measure of liquids of about 8 or 9 gallons (about 40 l.)

oil – elaion – olive oil

This debtor owed the master 800 gallons of olive oil.

take – dechomai – to take with the hand; to take hold of, take up; to take up, receive; used of a place receiving one; to receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship; to receive hospitality

bill – gramma – a letter; any writing, a document or record; a note of hand, bill, bond, account, written acknowledgement of a debt

write – grapho – to write, with reference to the form of the letters; to write, with reference to the contents of the writing; to draw up in writing, compose

:7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

measures – koros – a corus or cor, the largest Hebrew dry measure (i.e, for wheat, meal etc.) about 10 to 11 bushels

This particular debtor owed the master 1,000 bushels of wheat.

wheat – sitos – wheat, grain

fourscore – ogdoekonta – eighty

Apparently this steward had the ability to “forgive” his master’s debt. He had the ability to make a deal with a debtor and lower the amount that they owed.  Sometimes a bank or the IRS will negotiate with you to lower what you owe just so they get something out of you.

Yes, the steward is hurting his master, but I don’t think he’s doing anything illegal. He is using what was still at his disposal, using the position of his job to endear himself to these people who owed his master so they would help him out later.

:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely:

commended – epaineo – to approve, to praise

unjust – adikia – injustice, of a judge; unrighteousness of heart and life; a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness

Jesus calls this man “unjust” because he had earlier cheated his boss, and now had cheated his boss with these deals that he made, even though he was within his rights to do it.

wisely – phronimos – prudently, wisely; perhaps “shrewd” would be a good word.

The lord wasn’t happy that he had been further ripped off by this guy.  He was commending the guy for being a shrewd operator.

:8  for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

world – aion – for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity; the worlds, universe; period of time, age

sons of this age (NAS)

wiser – phronimos – intelligent, wise; prudent, i.e. mindful of one’s interests. The adjective is in the “comparative”, not just “wise”, but “wiser”, “shrewder”.

generation – genea – fathered, birth, nativity; the whole multitude of men living at the same time; an age (i.e. the time ordinarily occupied by each successive generation), a space of 30-33 years

Lesson

We could learn a few things from the world.

A.T. Robertson:

“We all know how stupid Christians can be in their co-operative work in the kingdom of God”

Look how wise the world is in selling their products.

What are our favorite commercials?  They’re all about worldly stuff.  It’s all geared to make you want more and more stuff of the world. They know how to put their product in the best light and make you think that you are missing out on life if you do not have it.

Compare this to how the gospel is so often presented to people.

:9-13 Lessons from the parable

:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

friends – philos – friend, to be friendly to one, wish him well; an associate; he who associates familiarly with one, a companion

I think this is talking about both being “friendly” with money, as well as making friends through your use of money.

mammon – mammonas – mammon; treasure; riches (where it is personified and opposed to God)

unrighteousness – adikia – injustice, of a judge; unrighteousness of heart and life; a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness

This is the same word used to describe the “unjust” steward.

ye fail – ekleipo – fail; to leave, quit; to fail; to leave off, cease, stop

We will all fail some day.  We will all die.

they may receive – dechomai – to take with the hand; to take hold of, take up; to take up, receive; used of a place receiving one; to receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship; to receive hospitality; to receive favourably, give ear to, embrace, make one’s own, approve, not to reject

everlasting – aionios – without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be; without beginning; without end, never to cease, everlasting

habitations – skene – tent, tabernacle, (made of green boughs, or skins or other materials); of that well known movable temple of God after the pattern of which the temple at Jerusalem was built

(NLT) I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven.

(PHIL) Now my advice to you is to use ‘money’, tainted as it is, to make yourselves friends, so that when it comes to an end, they may welcome you into the homes of eternity.

In other words, when you use your money wisely, there will be people in heaven who will thank you for your wise stewardship.

Lesson

Use your money for the kingdom

Money can be at times a cause of “unrighteousness”, the “mammon of unrighteousness”.

(1 Tim 6:9-10 KJV) But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. {10} For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It’s not money itself, but the “love of” money that leads to great problems.

Illustration

A husband and wife were attending a county fair where, for five dollars per person, a man was giving rides on an old biplane.  The couple wanted to go up but they thought the price was too steep. Consequently, they tried to negotiate a lower price.  “We’ll pay you five dollars for both of us,” they said to the pilot.  “After all, we’ll both have to squeeze into that tiny cockpit that was built for only one person.”  The pilot refused to lower his price, but he made a counter-offer.  He said to the couple, “Pay me the full price of ten dollars and I’ll take you up.  And if you don’t say one word during the flight, I’ll give you all your money back.”  The couple agreed and got into the plane.  Up they went and the pilot proceeded to perform every trick he knew, looping and whirling and flying upside down and lots more.  Finally, when the plane had landed, the pilot said to the husband, “Congratulations!  Here’s your ten dollars; you didn’t say a single word.”  To which the man replied, “Nope, but I almost did when my wife fell out.”

I think that at times we can get the idea that money itself is something that “spiritual” Christians don’t need to deal with.

But here, Jesus is telling us that we need to learn some wisdom over how we handle our money.

The idea is not that a person’s way into heaven can be “bought”. The idea is that money can be used wisely in a way that will work towards people coming into the kingdom.

This happens through your personal use of money.

It can happen as you help someone through your use of money.

This happens as you support the church and other organizations that are influencing people for the kingdom.

This is something the elders and myself struggle with continually, how to use the money wisely that comes in to the church through your gifts.

:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

faithful – pistos – trusty, faithful; of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties; one who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust; that can be relied on

least – elachistos – smallest least. This is a “superlative” adjective here. Not just “little”, not just “more little”, but the “very least”.

(NAS) a very little thing

much – polus – many, much, large

unjust – adikos – descriptive of one who violates or has violated justice; unjust; unrighteous, sinful; of one who deals fraudulently with others, deceitful

What’s the connection with this and the previous parable?

The “unjust” steward was still “unjust” in how he continued to deal with his master’s money.

Lesson

God’s promotion comes from faithfulness in small things

People who want to go places in their lives often have this idea that they can just start out at the top.

You can see it in guys who say they feel called to the ministry.

Sometimes what this really means is that they just want to be up front and behind the microphone.

This is one reason why Pastor Chuck used to tell guys like this that if they wanted to be in the ministry they should go teach a Sunday School class.

This is a primary principle in picking leadership.

Is a person someone you can count on in little things?

How do they do in the “little things” in their life?

If they don’t know the importance of being faithful in little things, they aren’t going to be faithful in the big things.

(Prov 22:29 KJV)  Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Don’t despise the “days of small things”.

(Zec 4:10 KJV)  For who hath despised the day of small things?

(Jer 45:5 KJV)  And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

Illustration

The saintly Horatius Bonar, reflecting on this subject, realized that the little things can either make or break the Christian.  He wrote, “A holy life is made up of a multitude of small things.  It is the little things of the hour and not the great things of the age that fill up a life like that of the apostles Paul or John, or David Brainard, or Henry Martyn. Little words, not eloquent speeches or sermons; little deeds, not miracles or battles, or one great heroic effort or martyrdom, make up the true Christian life.  It’s the little constant sunbeam, not the lightning, the waters of Siloam that go softly in their meek mission of refreshment, not ‘the waters of the rivers great and many’ rushing down in torrent, noise, and force, that are the true symbols of a holy life.”

:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

unrighteous – adikos – descriptive of one who violates or has violated justice; unjust; unrighteous, sinful; of one who deals fraudulently with others, deceitful

mammon – mammonas – mammon; treasure; riches (where it is personified and opposed to God)

faithful – pistos – trusty, faithful; of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties; one who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust; that can be relied on

the true – alethinos – that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine; opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended; true, veracious, sincere

commit to … trust – pisteuo – to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in; to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity; to be entrusted with a thing

Lesson

Faithfulness in money leads to God’s promotion

Part of God’s testing of us is how we handle our money.

For those of you who think that money has little or nothing to do with serving the Lord, pay attention.

God is looking at what you do with your money.

:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

that which is another man’s – allotrios – belonging to another; foreign, strange, not of one’s own family, alien, an enemy

faithful – pistos – trusty, faithful; of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties; one who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust; that can be relied on

that which is your own – humeteros – you, yours; to be possessed by you

Lesson

Faithfulness to your boss leads to God’s promotion

For years this was a key verse in my life.

When I was eighteen, I felt that God was calling me into the full time ministry, to be a pastor.  Yet for years, I was a helper or an assistant to another pastor.  For six years I was a Youth pastor at the Baptist church.  For eight years I was one of the assistant pastors at Calvary Chapel of Anaheim.

There were times when I wondered if I had heard God right.

And this was the verse that kept hitting me over and over again.  I needed to be the best assistant I could be.  I needed to be faithful in the vineyard that was my brother’s if I ever expected God to entrust me with my own vineyard.

I remember a particularly tough time at Anaheim when I thought that Pastor Mark had made a terrible mistake.  I had a group of friends in the church that didn’t like a particular decision that Mark had made, and frankly I couldn’t see why Mark was acting the way he did.  I was very, very close to quitting my job and leaving the church.  But I stuck it out.  Boy am I glad I did.  For me, the lesson wasn’t as much in learning to trust Mark’s leadership, which was a good lesson too.  The main lesson was in learning to be a faithful helper, someone Mark could count on, someone he could depend on.

Be faithful in the things that God has put before you.

Be faithful at work.  Be faithful in your ministry.

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

Lesson

Keep serving the Lord

As important as it is to the Lord that you use your money wisely, God wants you to serve Him, not your money.

Illustration

A missionary in Africa had been witnessing faithfully to a certain individual.  Following their conversation one day, the unconverted man placed a small statue and a silver coin on the table before him.  Then he took two slips of paper and wrote something on each.  Putting one beside the image and the other with the money, he turned to the Christian worker and said, “Please read this.”  On the note by the idol were written the words, “Heathen god.”  The sheet next to the coin bore the inscription, “Christian god.”  From what that needy soul had observed in the lives of the merchants from so-called “Christian” nations, he concluded that money was the object of their devotion!

It’s important that we use our money wisely, but be careful you don’t end up falling in love with it.

It’s not hard to get caught up in something you’re doing for the Lord and end up losing your whole motivation for why you’re serving the Lord.

We can end up serving the “thing”, the “ministry”, and not the Lord.

Illustration

For many years Hetty Green was called America’s greatest miser. When she died in 1916, she left an estate valued at $100 million, an especially vast fortune for that day.  But she was so miserly that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water. When her son had a severe leg injury, she took so long trying to find a free clinic to treat him that his leg had to be amputated because of advanced infection.  It has been said that she hastened her own death by bringing on a fit of apoplexy while arguing the merits of skim milk because it was cheaper than whole milk.

Be careful that as you grow in taking wise care of your money, you don’t end up becoming a miser who doesn’t use wisely what God has given.