1. Luke 16:1-12.

I. Narration of the Parable.

A. A wasteful steward (1-2).

1. A steward was commonly a manager of a household or estate. This included the idea of being a guardian.

2. The steward was accused of being wasteful with the goods over which he had been put in charge. He was wasting that which did not belong to him, but to his master.

3. There is no indication that the steward tried to deny the charge against him or justify what he had done.

B. A wise steward (3-7).

1. The steward reasoned within himself, "What shall I do?" He felt he was unable to be involve din manual labor and he was ashamed to beg (although he was not ashamed of his own dishonesty.)

2. He came to a decision. He called his master’s debtors in and reduced the first debtor’s debt by fifty percent (from one hundred measures of oil to fifty measures of oil.) He reduced the second debtor’s debt by twenty percent (from one hundred measures of wheat to eighty measures of wheat).

3. By reducing the debtors’ debt, the steward in effect made the debtors indebted to him, hoping they would later receive him into their houses.

C. The worthy steward (8-12).

1. The steward was worthy of his master’s commendation.

2. This does not mean the master approved of all of his steward’s actions. The master was not commending the steward for his dishonesty. If we focus on the steward’s dishonesty, we will miss the lesson Jesus is teaching through this parable.

3. The steward was commended because he took what he had and used it to his advantage. He was wise in that he planned for the future.

II. The application of the parable.

A. While on earth, we are stewards of those things that rightfully belong to God.

1. Our earthly possessions come from God.

a. James 1:16-17 – "Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

2. We have our earthly possessions for a short period of time

a. Matthew 6:19-21 – "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

3. Physical possessions are fleeting, while the true riches in life are eternal in nature.

a. II Corinthians 4:18 – "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

B. Jesus said we are to make ourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness. Why did Jesus refer to money as the mammon of unrighteousness?

1. The love of money is the root of all evil.

a. I Timothy 6:10 – "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." Note: The ASV as well as the NKJV more accurately renders this "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."

2. There is a temptation to place our trust in our money, rather than in God.

a. I Timothy 6:17 – "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."

3. Consider the example of Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to the Holy Spirit and perished for their love of money.

a. Acts 5:3 – "But peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"

C. Jesus used this parable to teach that we ought to use our possessions for those things that will reap eternal benefits, rather than satisfy our own worldly desires.

a. I Timothy 6:17-19 – "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

2. Our time.

a. Colossians 4:5 – "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."

b. Ephesians 5:16 – "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

3. Our talents.

a. Matthew 25:14-30 – Parable of the talents teaches we will be held responsible for what we have done according to our abilities.

b. James 4:17 – "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

4. Our money.

a. I Corinthians 16:2 – "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."

b. II Corinthians 9:7 – "Every man according a she purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

1. We ought to let our money be our servant, rather than our master.