Luke 16
March Memory Verse: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10 NIV
Read: Luke 16
Who Owns Who?
In Luke 16, Jesus is teaching His disciples about one of the most important things in life – how we understand wealth. By all accounts, most of the disciples were not wealthy (with the possible exception of John). This reminds us of the fact that having wealth is not a necessary factor to struggling with it. The fact is – many people who don’t really have much money worship it. They look to their money for happiness and security, when these things are only found in Jesus.
Wealth (by itself) only produces emptiness and loneliness. If money made you happy – who would be the happiest people? The rich right? But are they? No! Jesus drives this home in our verses today…
LESSON 1: Investing Your Wealth [Wisely] (v.1-9)
Jesus told His disciples an interesting story in these first couple of verses. It’s the story of a shrewd – but arguably dishonest servant. What could possibly be Jesus’ point? It’s the importance of investing your wealth in others.
Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others… (v.9)
Caring for others is an act of worship and obedience to God. God’s people have always been instructed to do this. How do you and I do with this? Do we wisely invest in those with needs? How can we increase in this discipline?
LESSON 2: Faithfulness With Your Wealth (v.10-12)
Jesus reminds us that of a principle: How you manage your money is reflection of your heart. Being faithful in seemingly small matters proceeds obedience in bigger ones. How we manage our worldly resources determines what responsibilities God will trust us with in heaven. Do you realize the spiritual importance of how you manage your wealth? How have you been failing in this area? What changes do you need to make?
LESSON 3: Ownership of your Wealth (v.13)
Do you own your wealth or does your wealth own you? Who owns Who? We can all think of examples of both. You can’t have it both ways…
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other… (v.13a)
You have to decide which it’s going to be. Who’s on the throne of your heart. Why does Jesus mention money (material things) – because they OFTEN fight for a seat on the throne. Who or what is your god?
LESSON 4: Management of Your Wealth (v.14-18)
Jesus teaches us a valuable lesson – how you manage your money affects the way you live your life. It’s not a stand-alone decision. It affects so many things, because it flows from your heart. Every known a very spiritual person – who loves God and lives wholly for Him – and is greedy at the same time? Let me answer for you – no you haven’t. Why – because one thing affects another. One thing leads to another… Let me ask this a different way – ever known a selfish person who struggled with relationships, family, and in their job? Exactly – see what I mean (or what Jesus means?). How have you seen wealth effect people you know negatively? How have you allowed your wealth (or desire for it) to control you in ungodly ways? How did this lead to other things?
EXAMPLE… v.19-31
Then Jesus closes with an example of how riches can corrupt you and effect your destiny. He tells the story of a man whose god was his money – his possessions. He shows us where that gets him – and how his heart changes when it’s too late. Read this story again slowly… A-P-P-L-Y.
Which of these FOUR lessons is most impactful on you today? (share in the comments)
Why? What will you do to obey Jesus?
By: Tim Parsons
Read: Luke 16
Who Owns Who?
In Luke 16, Jesus is teaching His disciples about one of the most important things in life – how we understand wealth. By all accounts, most of the disciples were not wealthy (with the possible exception of John). This reminds us of the fact that having wealth is not a necessary factor to struggling with it. The fact is – many people who don’t really have much money worship it. They look to their money for happiness and security, when these things are only found in Jesus.
Wealth (by itself) only produces emptiness and loneliness. If money made you happy – who would be the happiest people? The rich right? But are they? No! Jesus drives this home in our verses today…
LESSON 1: Investing Your Wealth [Wisely] (v.1-9)
Jesus told His disciples an interesting story in these first couple of verses. It’s the story of a shrewd – but arguably dishonest servant. What could possibly be Jesus’ point? It’s the importance of investing your wealth in others.
Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others… (v.9)
Caring for others is an act of worship and obedience to God. God’s people have always been instructed to do this. How do you and I do with this? Do we wisely invest in those with needs? How can we increase in this discipline?
LESSON 2: Faithfulness With Your Wealth (v.10-12)
Jesus reminds us that of a principle: How you manage your money is reflection of your heart. Being faithful in seemingly small matters proceeds obedience in bigger ones. How we manage our worldly resources determines what responsibilities God will trust us with in heaven. Do you realize the spiritual importance of how you manage your wealth? How have you been failing in this area? What changes do you need to make?
LESSON 3: Ownership of your Wealth (v.13)
Do you own your wealth or does your wealth own you? Who owns Who? We can all think of examples of both. You can’t have it both ways…
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other… (v.13a)
You have to decide which it’s going to be. Who’s on the throne of your heart. Why does Jesus mention money (material things) – because they OFTEN fight for a seat on the throne. Who or what is your god?
LESSON 4: Management of Your Wealth (v.14-18)
Jesus teaches us a valuable lesson – how you manage your money affects the way you live your life. It’s not a stand-alone decision. It affects so many things, because it flows from your heart. Every known a very spiritual person – who loves God and lives wholly for Him – and is greedy at the same time? Let me answer for you – no you haven’t. Why – because one thing affects another. One thing leads to another… Let me ask this a different way – ever known a selfish person who struggled with relationships, family, and in their job? Exactly – see what I mean (or what Jesus means?). How have you seen wealth effect people you know negatively? How have you allowed your wealth (or desire for it) to control you in ungodly ways? How did this lead to other things?
EXAMPLE… v.19-31
Then Jesus closes with an example of how riches can corrupt you and effect your destiny. He tells the story of a man whose god was his money – his possessions. He shows us where that gets him – and how his heart changes when it’s too late. Read this story again slowly… A-P-P-L-Y.
Which of these FOUR lessons is most impactful on you today? (share in the comments)
Why? What will you do to obey Jesus?
By: Tim Parsons
11 Comments
Management of your wealth. We criticize government for free hand out programs etc. yet, many of us in the church and privately owned companies are also guilty of withholding monies that have an impact on taking the good news across the world for great change per the Gospel.
Right on Joey! I'm thankful for the generosity at CPC - praying that God gives us more of it. Grateful for you!
The question of ownership is a big one for me lately, because, let's be honest, the truth is that the EASIEST part of this whole thing is acknowledging God gave us what we have (as well as the opportunities that led to all of it), and he has ownership of it. We are merely his stewards for a moment.
The harder part is admitting that is not just true of our wealth, but also of our time, our families, our very persons. One leads directly to the other, yet we live under a great illusion that somehow it's not so. Lately I am thinking about this a lot and wondering what it means for the North American church and me personally.
So well said Susan! Thanks for being a reader and commenter!
Faithfulness in my wealth is what I have had to work on most over the years. Making sure that giving to God is first, and everything else falls after that. Being faithful to him with what he has given me is what has taught me to rely on him. It hasn't always been easy to have that mentality, but I know that God will provide, so I should be faithful to him and trust him. Seeing him provide over and over again shows that he is and will be faithful.
Thank you Scottie. Faithfulness is such a big part of the Christian journey. I prayed for you today.
I have two questions about today's reading. The shrewd manager was not reducing the debt of his master's debtors for their benefit, he was doing it for his own well being. Why is that laudable? And why, in v. 18 was that piece about marriage and divorce dropped into that spot? Can anyone illuminate?
Not sure about the manager who was praised, it could be that he (as a worldly person) made a shrewd or wise decision in relation to his worldly principles, and so his master praised him because that seemed good to him. Just because the master praises him doesnt mean it is good in the eyes of God (v.15). It also probably means that if this ungodly person did something that benefitted others with his finances, how much more should we as Christians? The teaching about divorce seems to fall into Lesson 4, that how we view wealth can affect all the other areas of our lives, and that being greedy can affect marriages. Just my thoughts, would love to hear from other people too!
I always wondered the same about the manager... But now I see it like this. Before the manager is totally dispossessed, he dishonestly reduces peoples debts to the owner. This only benefits him. So we see even the unrighteous understand that investing wealth in people has benefits. Jesus tells us what benefits it truly has, which is beyond a selfish benefit. Not sure about the divorce thing unless it is just further confrontation of the pharisees heart for self-righteousness, and not for the Lord.
Not sure about the manager who was praised, it could be that he (as a worldly person) made a shrewd or wise decision in relation to his worldly principles, and so his master praised him because that seemed good to him. Just because the master praises him doesnt mean it is good in the eyes of God (v.15). It also probably means that if this ungodly person did something that benefitted others with his finances, how much more should we as Christians? The teaching about divorce seems to fall into Lesson 4, that how we view wealth can affect all the other areas of our lives, and that being greedy can affect marriages. Just my thoughts, would love to hear from other people too!
The marriage statement just seems to be such a random insertion.
Thanks for all the feedback everyone!
Not sure about the manager who was praised, it could be that he (as a worldly person) made a shrewd or wise decision in relation to his worldly principles, and so his master praised him because that seemed good to him. Just because the master praises him doesnt mean it is good in the eyes of God (v.15). It also probably means that if this ungodly person did something that benefitted others with his finances, how much more should we as Christians? The teaching about divorce seems to fall into Lesson 4, that how we view wealth can affect all the other areas of our lives, and that being greedy can affect marriages. Just my thoughts, would love to hear from other people too!
I always wondered the same about the manager... But now I see it like this. Before the manager is totally dispossessed, he dishonestly reduces peoples debts to the owner. This only benefits him. So we see even the unrighteous understand that investing wealth in people has benefits. Jesus tells us what benefits it truly has, which is beyond a selfish benefit. Not sure about the divorce thing unless it is just further confrontation of the pharisees heart for self-righteousness, and not for the Lord.
Not sure about the manager who was praised, it could be that he (as a worldly person) made a shrewd or wise decision in relation to his worldly principles, and so his master praised him because that seemed good to him. Just because the master praises him doesnt mean it is good in the eyes of God (v.15). It also probably means that if this ungodly person did something that benefitted others with his finances, how much more should we as Christians? The teaching about divorce seems to fall into Lesson 4, that how we view wealth can affect all the other areas of our lives, and that being greedy can affect marriages. Just my thoughts, would love to hear from other people too!
Remember this was a story Jesus told with a point. He wasn't ok'ing the action - fact is He was showing it as crooked and sneaky - Jesus called Him a "dishonest rascal"- but His lesson was " Use your worldly resources to benefit others".
V18 - so many men including the Pharisees were leaving their wives for any or no reason. Jesus was speaking against it and defending women and marriage.
Not sure about the manager who was praised, it could be that he (as a worldly person) made a shrewd or wise decision in relation to his worldly principles, and so his master praised him because that seemed good to him. Just because the master praises him doesnt mean it is good in the eyes of God (v.15). It also probably means that if this ungodly person did something that benefitted others with his finances, how much more should we as Christians? The teaching about divorce seems to fall into Lesson 4, that how we view wealth can affect all the other areas of our lives, and that being greedy can affect marriages. Just my thoughts, would love to hear from other people too!
I always wondered the same about the manager... But now I see it like this. Before the manager is totally dispossessed, he dishonestly reduces peoples debts to the owner. This only benefits him. So we see even the unrighteous understand that investing wealth in people has benefits. Jesus tells us what benefits it truly has, which is beyond a selfish benefit. Not sure about the divorce thing unless it is just further confrontation of the pharisees heart for self-righteousness, and not for the Lord.
Not sure about the manager who was praised, it could be that he (as a worldly person) made a shrewd or wise decision in relation to his worldly principles, and so his master praised him because that seemed good to him. Just because the master praises him doesnt mean it is good in the eyes of God (v.15). It also probably means that if this ungodly person did something that benefitted others with his finances, how much more should we as Christians? The teaching about divorce seems to fall into Lesson 4, that how we view wealth can affect all the other areas of our lives, and that being greedy can affect marriages. Just my thoughts, would love to hear from other people too!
The marriage statement just seems to be such a random insertion.
Thanks for all the feedback everyone!
Not sure about the manager who was praised, it could be that he (as a worldly person) made a shrewd or wise decision in relation to his worldly principles, and so his master praised him because that seemed good to him. Just because the master praises him doesnt mean it is good in the eyes of God (v.15). It also probably means that if this ungodly person did something that benefitted others with his finances, how much more should we as Christians? The teaching about divorce seems to fall into Lesson 4, that how we view wealth can affect all the other areas of our lives, and that being greedy can affect marriages. Just my thoughts, would love to hear from other people too!
I always wondered the same about the manager... But now I see it like this. Before the manager is totally dispossessed, he dishonestly reduces peoples debts to the owner. This only benefits him. So we see even the unrighteous understand that investing wealth in people has benefits. Jesus tells us what benefits it truly has, which is beyond a selfish benefit. Not sure about the divorce thing unless it is just further confrontation of the pharisees heart for self-righteousness, and not for the Lord.
Not sure about the manager who was praised, it could be that he (as a worldly person) made a shrewd or wise decision in relation to his worldly principles, and so his master praised him because that seemed good to him. Just because the master praises him doesnt mean it is good in the eyes of God (v.15). It also probably means that if this ungodly person did something that benefitted others with his finances, how much more should we as Christians? The teaching about divorce seems to fall into Lesson 4, that how we view wealth can affect all the other areas of our lives, and that being greedy can affect marriages. Just my thoughts, would love to hear from other people too!