Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No.12 - December 1974

The Steward of Unrighteousness... Preparing For The Future

Sermon by Rev. Dirk J. van Garderen on Luke 16:1-9

Scripture Readings: Psalm 49, Luke 16:1-12

Psalter Hymnal: 298; 66:1,3,7,9 (Hymn of penitence a.m. service only);
                         412:1,2 (children’s hymn); 462; 211:1,3,23.

Dear Congregation,

The parable of the unrighteous steward is very confusing.  It leaves you wondering what Jesus is telling us by this story.  The message doesn't come through too clearly.

Reading this passage leaves us with some unanswered questions: What is the lesson of this parable?  How are we to understand the cheating of the steward?

Since when does Jesus praise a dishonest businessman?

Unfortunately very few people seem to be able to agree on the interpretation of this parable and one gets the impression that there are as many interpretations as there are interpreters.  Why is this?  It is because there are two major problems in understanding it:

1.  The words "the master commended the dishonest steward for his prudence."  Does this mean that Jesus is saying that dishonesty, cheating and shrewdness, if it benefits the needy at the expense of the rich, is justified?  If so, this would flatly contradict all the other teachings of Jesus and it makes the Bible, even Jesus, a contradiction.

2.  The words "make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon so that when it fails you, they may receive you into the eternal habitations.”  Does this mean that it is acceptable to buy friendship with money and that such money-purchased friendships, can lead to eternal life?  Can you buy your way into heaven?

Issues such as these cloud the meaning of the parable and its lesson for believers!  However, in spite of this be assured that it is indeed a parable of Jesus and that He taught it for the wellbeing and up-building of his disciples.

Let us seek to find the message.

I.  CONTENT OF THE PARABLE.

It must be noted that Jesus addresses this parable to his DISCIPLES.  Although there may have been others who also heard these words, the message was first and foremost directed to disciples.  In other words, the true meaning and interpretation of this parable must be sought within the framework of Christian living and behaviour.  Non-Christians or unbelievers cannot hope to find a true, meaningful message in it.  Perhaps there may have been Pharisees listening, but one wonders just how confused the parable must have left them.

In the parable Jesus introduces us to a man who must have been immensely wealthy.  He owned at least one, and probably more, large estates or properties which were completely managed by a steward.  The only evidence the rich man had of his estate would have been the profit he received at the end of each financial year.

One such manager, or steward, did not fulfil his task properly or honestly.  In acting on his master's orders he had been entrusted with a great privilege and much responsibility.  In every way he acted as substitute for his master, had his master's authority and was treated just like his master would have been.  A very important and influential position.  Incidentally, as was well known and commonly accepted.  it also afforded a good chance to make a lot of money.  You see, it was the steward's privilege to ask a certain percentage over and above all that the master required for his own pocket.  However, the steward was unreliable, inclined to laziness and generally abused his job.

He was wasting the master's goods, either through sheer laziness and inefficiency, or to line his own pockets.  The former is the more probable.  The steward is summoned before the master and accused.  Furthermore, he is ordered to "close the books”, turn in his account because he has been dismissed.  The steward is disgraced.

Once alone, the steward considers the future and how he himself will fare.  The future is penniless.  His laziness, inefficiency and inability to save have seen to that.  There is no chance for re-employment anywhere, his days as steward are over.  He is too delicate to take on the heavy manual work of a labourer, and too proud to beg.  Wherever he turns, his future is effectively cut off!

However, we underestimate the cleverness of the man.  There is one way of providing a roof over his head and food to eat.  If he does a few favours for some people they will feel obliged to return them.  He still has the books in his possession recording all the debts, arrears, etc. of the people with whom he traded and did business on behalf of his master.

These could be changed in favour of the debtors!

All the debtors are gathered and one by one they appear before the steward and his books.  Two examples of the steward's work are mentioned.  Two of many.  One person owing 100 measures of olive oil, (about 900 gallons) is given a new bill to fill in.  Make it 50 measures, advises the steward.  Imagine how that debtor must have felt.  Another owes the master 100 measures of wheat (1,000 bushels).  Make it 80!  What a way to feather his own nest!  What a way to earn gratitude and thanks.  Truly this unrighteous steward has looked after himself in a most clever way.  He is not going to lack friends and their friendship in future.

This cleverness or shrewdness is even acknowledged by the master himself who, when he hears of the actions of his former steward, commends him for prudence or his sharp business practice.  A very shrewd and well thought out way of saving your own skin.  How well and efficiently he provided for his future.  Method aside, his efficiency, determination and guile in providing for the future, in feathering his own nest so to speak, is to be admired.

II.  INTERPRETATION OF THE PARABLE

Again we ask, how are we to understand this parable, and what is the lesson it seeks to convey to Christ's disciples?  What Jesus is doing is pointing our attention to the FORESIGHT, to the PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE of the steward.  We find the steward to be a man who suddenly has no future, whose life is completely and utterly ruined.  However, in spite of the odds against him, in spite of everything, he still creates a secure future for himself.

What Jesus is saying in this parable is this: LEARN A LESSON FROM THE STEWARD'S FORESIGHT IN PROVIDING FOR HIS FUTURE.... IN SPITE OF THE ODDS.

See how determined the steward was to look after his future, see how he didn't give up or lose hope.  So likewise, you disciples of mine, also take on this same determination, this same resolve, to make your future secure.  Just as the steward provided for his future and was commended for doing so, likewise you also provide and make ready for your future, your eternal future, as a believer.  Show the same determination as the steward, show the same prudence or shrewd ability with all the means available to you as you sojourn on this earth.

Unfortunately the sorrowful comment of the master in vs.8 bears out a sad truth.  "The sons of this world are wiser in their own generation than the sons of light".  By it he means to say this:- "the sons of this world; unbelievers, whose wisdom and sense of security revolves around the dollar bill and what it can buy, often show more wisdom in providing for their earthly future, more determination or prudence, than the sons of light, or Christians do!

Non-Christians working for an earthly "future" which will certainly come to an end one day, can teach Christians a lesson.  And, as Christians, our future is supposedly eternal, and indestructible.  What about working as hard for your heavenly future as non-believers work for their earthly, and therefore worthless, future?  The master does not applaud his dishonesty – but his prudence, the way he secured his future.  What a challenge this parable presents to Christ's disciples, to go and do likewise.

But now comes the practical question for us, Jesus' disciples: Do we see our Christian future as clearly as the steward saw his?  How do you shrewdly, with prudence, work for your future as children of light?  What are we supposed to be doing according to this parable?  How do we work so that our master, our Lord God will commend us for our foresight?  Vs.9 TELLS US HOW: – says Jesus to his disciples:
            "And I tell you, make friends for yourselves
             by means of unrighteous mammon,
             so when it fails they may receive you
             into the eternal habitations.”

a)  "MAKE FRIENDS FOR YOURSELVES BY MEANS OF UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON".

"Unrighteous mammon" or "mammon of unrighteousness".  This "mammon" is a word referring to all material possessions.  It refers to money, but equally to property, personal possessions, produce, stock, in short, whatever we may attach value to.  All the things of the earth.  All of this is called "mammon of unrighteousness", partly because of the way most people would have gotten hold of it, but mainly because it deceives us.  Wealth, material blessings, becoming "rich" or at least respectably well-to-do as most of us are, tends to trap us into a false sense of security.  We begin to trust and to take our chances with "Mammon" rather than with God.  O foolish man, the mammon of unrighteousness has led you to serve it as your master, and just like the unjust steward of our parable, one day you will be called to make account before the master and you will discover that you have absolutely no righteousness and nothing to support you.

So do NOT use mammon for the securing of a material future, for death takes such a future away, and just like the rich man of another parable you will find that you cannot take your wealth to heaven.  Rather, use this mammon to "make friends for yourselves".  Use it as a true disciple of Christ would: – to help those who are in need, to help those in affliction, to actively serve the Lord.  Why has God given us "mammon"?  It has been given to us as a means by which we may serve God and not ourselves.  Our problem is that rather than a means to an end, *mammon becomes an end in itself.  Is mammon the servant of your faith in Christ Jesus, or are you the servant of mammon?

It must certainly be true that mammon is a false god, an unrighteous thing, unless with it we serve God, or with it "we make friends", we help those in need.  Doing this has a two-fold result:

(a) First, it puts mammon to its God-ordained use.  Rather than a source of hate, corruption, stealing and destruction, it becomes a source of good works and up-building.

(b) Secondly, "when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations."  Or, to put it in simpler language, "when you die” and leave all mammon behind, and leave earth and earthly possessions, these very things, mammon, may be a means by which you enter the kingdom of Heaven.  The way you use your earthly possessions affects what you will receive in the "heavenly tabernacles" – eternal habitations.  Use your mammon to glorify God and so "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Of course the money itself, the gifts as gifts will not save you or purchase you one of the heavenly rooms which has been prepared for us.  However, the way we use it will reveal what future we are preparing ourselves for as Christians.  Is the master, the Lord, looking at the way you use mammon, the dealings you enter into, and is he able to say of you; "I commend you, my steward."?

When "mammon fails you", as it has failed every single person that has ever lived in this world, you will have the "heavenly, eternal habitations"?  Are you working as prudently, as diligently and with as much enthusiasm as the unrighteous steward was?  Are you as certain of your future as he was?  Have you, are you preparing for it?

Who do you serve, God or Mammon?

Amen.