Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.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.And he said also unto the disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods.
3 sermons cite this verse
I want to preach a message today, write down the title. It's called Stewardship, a Samaritan, and Self-Righteousness. Stewardship, a Samaritan, and Self-Righteousness. Come on, let's pray over the word of God today. Lord, we thank you that your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We pray that today you'd open up our eyes so we can see marvelous things from your word. We thank you that you'd open up our ears so we can hear and understand what you're about. And we thank you that as we're praying today, the Dodgers will win another World Series. The Lakers will rise to glory. The Sparks will win the WNBA championship and the Seattle Seahawks will go back to back. In Jesus' name, and everybody said together. Come on, clap everybody. Clap, just clap. Thank God. I love this story because it's an owner addressing a manager. And the owner has caught word of the manager. And he says, I hear that you've been a bad steward over my stuff. …
… What sort of friends do you think Jesus has in mind? there's one other parable in Luke 16 one other story very close to this one it's the story of Lazarus and the rich man you may remember Lazarus he's an impoverished sore covered guy who sits at a rich man's front door begging for crumbs and the rich man ignores Lazarus as he comes and goes from his mansion. Then, in the parable, both Lazarus and the rich man die. Lazarus ascends to heaven to be with Abraham. The rich man descends into torment. Curiously, though, the rich man can see Lazarus from his spot in hell. And he shouts across the great chasm, begging Lazarus for comfort. In effect, the rich man asks to be welcomed into the eternal home of the poor man. In the good book, Jesus is clear. If you're going to make friends for the kingdom, make the right sort of friends. When working with unrighteous mammon, remember that you serve not the mammon, but a merciful God who calls us to love and care for the outcast, the homeless, the forgotten poor. …
“I say unto you, Make unto yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into the everlasting habitations.” 1. Our Lord, having finished the beautiful parable of the Prodigal Son, which he had particularly addressed to those who murmured at his receiving publicans and sinners, adds another relation of a different kind, addressed rather to the children of God. “He said unto his disciples,” not so much to the scribes and Pharisees to whom he had been speaking before, — “There was a certain rich man, who had a steward, and he was accused to him of wasting his goods. And calling him, he said, Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou canst be no longer steward.” (Luke 16:1, 2.) After reciting the method which the bad steward used to provide against the day of necessity, our Saviour adds, “His lord commended the unjust steward” namely, in this respect, that he used timely precaution; and subjoins this weighty reflection, “The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light:” (Luke 16:8:) Those who seek no other portion than this world “are wiser” (not absolutely; for they are one and all the veriest fools, the most egregious madmen under heaven; but, “in their generation,” in their own way; they are more consistent with themselves; they are truer to their acknowledged principles; they more steadily pursue their end) “than the children of light;” — than they who see “the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Then follow the words above recited: “And I,” — the only-begotten Son of God, the Creator, Lord, and Possessor of heaven and earth and all that is therein; the Judge of all, to whom ye are to “give an account of your stewardship,” when ye “can be no longer stewards;” “I say unto you,” — learn in this respect, even of the unjust steward, — “make yourselves friends,” by wise, timely precaution, “of the mammon of unrighteousness.” “Mammon” means riches or money. It is termed “the mammon of unrighteousness,” because of the unrighteous manner wherein it frequently procured, and wherein even that which was honestly procured is generally employed. “Make yourselves friends” of this, by doing all possible good, particularly to the children of God; “that, when ye fail,” — when ye return to dust, when ye have no more place under the sun, — those of them who are gone before “may receive you,” may welcome you, into the “everlasting habitations.” …