THE UNJUST STEWARD
Luke 16:1-13
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Read Luke 16:1-13
B. The parables of our Lord provide many profitable lessons in
living the Christian life.
1. The parable before us is called, "the parable of the unjust
steward."
2. Let's examine this parable so that we can benefit from it.
I. FIRST LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS IN THE PARABLE.
A. The steward.
1. A steward was a manager of the household, property or
business of an owner.
B. The steward's dismissal. (vs. 1b-2)
1. He was dismissed because he was wasting or squandering his
master's goods.
C. The steward's perplexity. (vs. 3)
1. Seeing the end of his position near, the question came,
"What shall I do when discharged?"
2. He was not strong enough for hard work; he was too proud
to beg.
D. The steward's wisdom. (vs. 4-7)
1. He won a home with his tenants by reducing their bill.
2. He possibly could become a steward to one of them later.
E. The steward commended. (vs. 8a)
1. He was commended, not for his misuse or dishonesty but for
his wisdom in preparing for the future.
a. He knew that the wealth which was entrusted to his
possession would soon be taken away.
b. He used that which was entrusted to him to prepare for
the future.
(1) Later, when he was without food and shelter, those
he had befriended would take him into their homes.
2. We admire the wisdom of Rahab the harlot because of her
faith and works, not because she was a harlot, or because
she lied to her people about the spies.
a. We may disagree with the doctrine of others, but see
something to commend; ex., the zeal of Jehovah's
Witnesses in their door-to-door work.
II. THE APPLICATION OF THE STORY.
A. A contrast between the sons of this world and the sons of
light. (vs. 8b)
1. The sons of this world use more wisdom and diligence in
gaining their objectives than the sons of light in gaining
heaven.
2. People of the world often act with more forethought and
diligence and are more prompt and alert in their pursuits
than Christians.
a. For example, an avid golfer, fisherman, seamstress. The
more they pursue these things, the better they are at
them.
b. Likewise, we need to be committed to our pursuit of
serving God.
(1) We need to be experts, pros, in living the Christian
life.
B. An admonition. (vs. 9)
1. "Mammon" is "the Greek form of a Syriac or Aramaic word
for 'money,' 'riches,' 'property,' 'worldly goods,' or
'profit.'" (Homan's Bible Dictionary)
a. It is called "unrighteous," not that the material of
which it is made is corrupt, but because it is often
obtained and used for unrighteous purposes.
2. Give to saints in need, win their friendship, those who
having gone on before will welcome you into heaven.
a. It is merely another way of saying that if we use our
money in the right way, we will be received at last into
heaven.
b. Jesus' words are merely in keeping with the words of the
parable.
3. Our use of money will determine where we will spend
eternity.
a. We should use what we have in this life in the service of
God in order to assure an eternal reward.
b. There are only four possible uses we may make of our
money:
(1) We can use it. A certain portion must be used to
sustain life.
(2) We can waste it.
(3) We can hoard it.
(4) We can give it -- we can give it to gain the
everlasting habitation.
c. This epitaph was carved on a tombstone: What I spent, I
used. What I saved, I lost. What I gave, I have.
4. Ways we can use our money rightly:
a. Do good to all, especially to Christians. Gal. 6:10
b. Give to those who have need. Eph. 4:28
c. Visit widows and orphans. James 1:27 "Visit" means "to
go and see with the view of aiding" (Vine)
d. Be compassionate toward a brother in need. 1 John
3:17-18
e. Have compassion on any in need. Luke 10:30-37
f. Give liberally to the Lord's work. 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor.
9:7
5. Ways we can make abuse of money:
a. By forgetting that we are merely stewards. Job 1:21;
Psalm 50:10-12
b. By loving money and desiring to be rich. 1 Tim. 6:9-10
c. By being covetous, which is idolatry. Col. 3:5; 1 Cor.
6:9-10
d. By being greedy and selfish. Phil. 2:3-4; Acts 20:35
e. By hoarding what we have. Luke 12:16-21
f. By failing to give to the destitute. Luke 16:19-25
C. Fidelity in service. (vs. 10-12)
a. Faithful in least -- Faithful in much
b. Unfaithful in least -- Unfaithful in much
c. Unfaithful in mammon -- Unfaithful in true riches (Who
would trust true riches?)
(1) Ex. if unfaithful in material things, unfaithful in
spiritual (teaching the gospel)
d. Unfaithful in another's -- Unfaithful in one's own (Who
will give you your own?)
(1) What you obtain for your very own will depend
much on how you use the things of another.
(2) Unfaithfulness in managing another's goods proves
one unworthy to be given much for himself.
1. God requires that Christians be faithful in small things as
well as in large. Matt. 5:19; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 4:2
a. Christians who are appointed various small tasks by the
church, who are proven dependable, can be entrusted
with greater things.
(1) For example, the family who is always in services
on time can be depended on when something very
important has to be done.
b. I know of a situation where a church was trying to
encourage an older brother to do better in his
faithfulness in attendance.
(1) They thought if they gave him greater
responsibility, he would do better, so they made
him treasurer of the church.
(2) The older man became the kind of treasurer that he
was in attendance. He would not pay the bills on
time.
2. Jesus said no servant can serve two masters. (vs. 13)
a. God and mammon are uncompromising opposites:
(1) Faithfulness to the one -- puts the other in a part-
time capacity.
(2) Mammon suggests a storing up -- God, a
distributing abroad.
(3) Mammon is measured by possessions -- God says it
is more blessed to give than receive.
(4) Fidelity to the one -- a separation from the other.
(5) Love of the one -- causes despite toward the other.
b. In spite of this, some want to prove the Lord wrong.
They think they can indeed serve both God and
mammon.
(1) Jesus said it can't be done.
(2) As one would "flee" fornication, he should "flee"
the desire to be rich and the love of money. 1 Tim.
6:9-11
Concl.
A. There is coming a great final audit. Each will be called in to
the Master and He will say, "Give an account of your
stewardship."
1. At that time, how we have handled our stewardship will be
all that matters.
B. Notice the reception of the worldly to the words of Jesus. Luke
16:14-15
C. Let us joyfully receive the word of the Lord and follow it.
1. Let us use great wisdom and forethought in preparing for the
life beyond.
2. Let us strive to be faithful in what is least, as well as in
much.
a. Let us seek to be faithful in the unrighteous mammon as
well as the true riches.
b. Let us endeavor to be faithful in things of others as
well as our own.
3. We know there's one last great final auditing awaiting
everyone, and we want our Mater to say, "Well done good
and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord."
Chart #1
THE FACTS OF THE PARABLE
I. The Steward. (Vs. 1a)
II. The Steward's Dismissal. (Vs. 1b-2)
III. The Steward's Perplexity. (Vs. 3)
IV. The Steward's Wisdom. (Vs. 4-7)
V. The Steward Commended. (Vs. 8a)
Chart #2
WAYS WE CAN USE OUR MONEY RIGHTLY:
1. Do good to all, especially to Christians. Gal. 6:10
2. Give to those who have need. Eph. 4:28
3. Visit widows and orphans. James 1:27
4. Be compassionate toward a brother in need. 1 John 3:17-18
5. Have compassion on any in need. Luke 10:30-37
6. Give liberally to the Lord's work. 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:7
Chart #3
WAYS WE CAN MAKE ABUSE OF MONEY:
1. By forgetting that we are merely stewards. Job 1:21; Psalm
50:10-12
2. By loving money and desiring to be rich. 1 Tim. 6:9-10
3. By being covetous, which is idolatry. Col. 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:9-10
4. By being greedy and selfish. Phil. 2:3-4; Acts 20:35
5. By hoarding what we have. Luke 12:16-21
6. By failing to give to the destitute. Luke 16:19-25
Chart #4
FIDELITY IN SERVICE
Faithful in least -- Faithful in much
Unfaithful in least -- Unfaithful in much
Unfaithful in mammon -- Unfaithful in true riches (Who would trust
true riches?)
Unfaithful in another's -- Unfaithful in one's own (Who will give you
your own?)
Chart #5
MAMMON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOD
Faithfulness to the one. . . . .Part-time capacity
Suggest a storing up . . . . A distributing abroad
Measured by possessions. . . .More blessed to give
Fidelity to the one. . A separation from the other
Love of one. . . . . . . .Despite toward the other