Welcome to this new episode of the Gospel for the Nations podcast. This podcast has been brought to you by Pastor Kareem. Our desire is to open the Word of God with you and to speak in a way that is clear, simple, and full of grace. Wherever you are listening from, we pray that the Holy Spirit will touch your heart through his word, strengthen your faith, and draw you closer to Jesus.
SPEAKER_01So the parable today is called the Unfaithful Manager. It's in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 16, verse 1 to 13. So as we continue with the parables about how to live as citizens of the kingdom of God on this earth, Jesus invites us to think about something that is important for us: His church, which is the integrity of our hearts in our faithfulness to serve the Lord. The faithfulness and integrity serving the Lord. So this parable of the unfaithful manager describes the relationship between a master and his servant through the example of a rich man who had material possessions and certainly also land and property and a manager. So today he will be called an asset or estate manager in our context today. So his role was to be a faithful intermediary, responsible for taking care of his master possessions, and also making them productive. The positions of the manager also involved managing resources and financial transactions. We will see that again, Jesus uses a concrete reality from everyday life to teach us a reality about the kingdom of God for his church. However, there is one idea that comes up repeatedly, and we will see it throughout this passage. So this reality, this idea is of serving a master and serving him with integrity and loyalty. Because of a wrong way of serving, can damage the reputation and the image of the master. So money is used as an example in this parable. But money is not the main problem, it is just used to understand Jesus' teaching. The real issue is the heart. The heart that is attached to it. And even when we are simply trying to survive in life or a difficult situation, as disciples and servants of the Most High God and of Christ, faithfulness must be demonstrated in the small things, in the things that are not visible, and despite the circumstances of life. For the Lord may at the right time and according to his will entrust us with greater responsibilities if we remain faithful, stay on the right path, and keep our hearts pure. He may give us greater things to accomplish so that his kingdom may be extended and he may be glorified. Amen. So let's read Luke chapter 16 from verse 1 to 13 first. He also said to his disciples, there was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, What is this that I hear about you? Turning the account of your management, for you can no longer be my manager. And the manager said to himself, What should I do? Since my master is taking the management away from me, I'm not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses. So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, How much do you owe my master? He said, A hundred measures of oil. He said to him, Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty. Then he said to another, And how much do you owe? He said, A hundred measures of wheat. He said to him, Take your bill and write eighty. The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much. And one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Amen. It's a long passage, but we will break it down. Stay with me. He also said to the disciples. So here Luke tells that Jesus is speaking directly to his disciples. So immediately after confronting the Pharisees and the scribes in the previous parables, so Jesus returns in his teaching. The master is speaking to his servants so that they will understand the level of devotion and integrity they must have in order to serve him. So this is a profound call. And it will certainly make them question themselves. Because Jesus loved them and knows that if someone desires to follow him and serve him, there is a way in which that person must do it. It must not be according to the standards and the values of the world that the world teaches or laws in order to achieve its goals. But instead, they must separate themselves from these ways and do the will of God, keeping themselves unstained and not stumbling on the narrow path that leads to life. So let us look at this parable step by step in order to understand its death, so that the Holy Spirit may speak to our hearts, transforming us from one degree of glory to one another, and enabling us to serve our Lord in a way that is worthy and faithful, according to his word and his will. Amen. Shall we? Let's continue. There is a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him, that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, What is this that I hear about you? Turning the account of your management, for you cannot longer be my manager. If we place this parable within the flow of the introduction and read it from a comparative perspective, the rich man could remind us the relationship between Jesus himself and his disciples. And then we can make a general application to all those who believe in him and serve him, which is us today. So the master was informed about the attitude of his manager by a third person that we don't know who. But he reported to him. So why the manager reported to his master? We don't know yet. But perhaps it was because of a poor management of his possessions, bad decisions, or financial losses. We do not know. However, his actions were certainly contrary to what the master must have expected from him. Or perhaps they had created as a testimony among the people around him a bad reputation for his master before the world. In other words, sinned against the master. So, yes, the master probably had a great amount of responsibility. Yes, he was managing a large number of possessions, and therefore he was supposed to make everything productive so that his master would be honored and glorified through his actions. But the relationship between the rich man and the manager ends in separation as a consequence of this attitude toward his master. We are not told exactly what kind of wrongdoing or losses again were involved, but it was certainly something serious. Enough to be reported and for the master to decide to end his position as manager. It was serious. But we are going to see that the manager is going to take a decision that does not reflect the heart of someone who is fundamentally upright. So while he was facing this situation, he begins to think about what he must do to secure his future. And no matter what, or how. So let's continue to read. And the manager said to himself, what should I do? Since my master is taking the management away from me, I am not strong enough to dig, I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do. So that I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses. So when Luke tells us that the manager says to himself, it means that his thoughts are beginning to appear. That his heart is beginning to produce these thoughts. Yes, this reminds us that God tells us in his word that the thoughts come from the heart and that actions flow from them. The heart, the thoughts, and the actions. As Jesus Himself tells us, far from within, out of the heart of men, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All evil things come from within, and they defile a person. Mark 7:21-23. But also in the book of Proverbs, keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23. So you can see either great things can come out from the heart from within, but also evil things. So whether the heart is according to God or against God, it will be reflected in our actions. So what kind of heart this manager have? From what we can read, actually, his heart produces thoughts that are quite far from what an honest and courageous man would have. He does not want to work the land, or at least he considers that he cannot, because this work seems too difficult or demanding to him. This also reminds us that the Lord asks us to work honestly so that we can provide for our needs and not live at the expenses of others. Paul says, Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may have something to share with another in need. Ephesians 4 28. And then there is this idea of begging. Yes, because begging is shameful for his image. The manager considers himself far too important to appear before the world as a miserable beggar. As the passage unfolds, we see that the easiest and the most twisted solution comes to him almost as an obvious answer. And this reveals something about the condition of his heart. Because being in an urgent situation doesn't mean that we should use questionable means to achieve our goals. So what is interesting to see also is that in the way the manager thinks, he does not intend to act suddenly. Instead, he will let his employment come to an end and before kind of carrying out his plan. Almost as if he really wants to keep some appearance of proper conduct toward his master. But once again, this reflects compromise and a corrupt attitude toward integrity. It reveals a heart and a conscience that are not pure before his master, but also those around him. So it's certain that this man does not want to do anything that will harm himself, but is willing to harm others in order to achieve his goals. He will go to people and try to win them over in order to gain an immediate benefit without effort, while still being involved in a questionable and dishonest transaction. So here we see the cunning character of the manager rather than the character of a man with an upright heart. His reasoning is completely focused on his own security and his own future. So now let us see how we will put his thoughts into practice and reveal them through his actions in the next passage. So, surmoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, How much you owe my master? He said, A hundred measures of oil. He said to him, Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty. Then he said to another, and how much do you owe? He said, A hundred measures of wheat. He said to him, Take your bill and write 80. Isn't strange. Once the manager has finally finished developing a plan, an urgent and effective strategy in response in his new situation takes action. Perhaps he's trying to find a way out, but nothing, nothing should justify manipulation or behavior contrary to integrity. Even when we are seeking financial gain. So integrity must be demonstrated in every kind of situation, both in good times but also in bad times. The manager does not go to people that he doesn't know, he goes to people whom the master knows. Certainly his clients who had dealt with the manager in a relationship of trust and familiarity. They were known by the manager. In fact, these people may not have known about his new situation as someone who had been dismissed. It is true that this may appear clever and cunning. It is clever. However, the end does not justify the means. Using questionable methods to achieve our goals can never be justified. That will mean that the money we obtain. All the actions we take are the fruit of sin. Who could or would ever boast about that? What kind of a consciousness we have. But the point is not necessary to know exactly what he went about trying to get himself out of this situation. The point is to see the way he acts in this situation. So this manager seems once again to use a scheme rather than a clean and a transparent negotiation, showing a divided and dishonest heart, arranging things according to the situation of his own advantage. So, yes, cleverness must remain under integrity. The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness, or his cleverness, his smartness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. So the master here is certainly aware that the manager was cunning and skillful in the way he acted and prepared for his future. Yes, he was aware. However, it is not his dishonesty that the master praises, but his shrewdness and his ability to act according to the situation that it was before him. Shrewdness is also presented as a positive point in this parable by Jesus. This means that the management of the finances graciously given to us by God should be done well and used for the right things. So he's praising the way he's acting, but not the dishonesty, which is separated. We can do actions looked well and clever, but what is in the shadow and behind it? He says that the people of this world are certainly shrewd and cunning. And that when we see this, the children of God should take note of it. That's what it means. Look, he's clever, but he's also dishonest, but without denying the strength that comes from this ability. Is it clever? Yes. Knowing how to manage and to use the possessions entrusted to us, yes, but always in faithfulness and integrity. So in our context, this kind of cleverness can also be expressed in several practical ways, such as investing in the expansion of the gospel throughout the world, supporting the local church, helping our brothers and sisters, providing training, biblical training, and doing everything that strengthens the kingdom of God. So that Christ may save those who the Heavenly Father will draw to Himself through His gospel of salvation. Yes, this is exactly what is important because wisdom in our service must never be separated from faithfulness and integrity. So the next passage will speak about how to use our earthly wealth for eternal purposes. Let's continue. Verse 9. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails, they may receive you in the eternal dwellings. This is a very difficult verse, but we will break it down. So when Jesus says to his disciples, make friends for yourself by means of unrighteous wealth. Jesus is obviously not asking them to seek the friendship of the unrighteous people and participate in their practices. This is not the meaning. Through this parable, rather, he's asking them to show through money that is used properly the values of the kingdom of God. This is what he's showing us. Because before that, he was speaking to the Pharisees and the scribes. And now he's teaching back to his disciples, showing them how to use God's provision. Through this parable, Jesus teaches us how to use the wealth of this world wisely, with a perspective. The word perspective is very important. Our perspective is the kingdom. The earth is not the end. That goes beyond this world. This is the perspective of the kingdom of God. Knowing that these things are temporary, while showing the unrighteous that hope is in the eternal dwellings. This is the meaning. Jesus also shows us that the people of this world know how to manage their possessions. Yes. Plan for the future and use their resources wisely. But what is their really purpose of all their actions? Is it for themselves? Is it for their own glory? Or for the glory of God? We can therefore be among these people. Do good to them, show them through the way we live what it means to follow Christ with an upright heart, without adopting their waves, which is close to the people from the world, but showing them how to behave as a citizen of the kingdom of God. We can use the wealth that is entrusted to us without ever allowing it to become our master. And when Jesus says, when it fails, he reminds us that everything material will eventually disappear from our lives. Because it will fail. This is certain. All the great powers in the world have failed. Egyptians, Romans, etc., etc. We may possess these things, use them, and even use them to do good around us, but we cannot take anything with us in heaven. This is a fact. Our faith and our hope, therefore, cannot be placed in what is perishable, but in the one who entrusts these things to us for a time, and who himself remains forever. Jesus reminds us in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verse 19 to 21. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be. Amen. Because whether our heart is, our thoughts will become attached to it. And our thoughts will give birth to our actions. So the question is not only what we possess, but what we do with what we possess and where our heart truly is. So Jesus therefore does not teach us to pursue wealth for itself, but to use it faithfully for the glory of God. For what? For eternal realities, our heavenly perspectives to give glory to God. Let's continue. The Lord says, one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much. And one who is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the righteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? So faithfulness is not measured by the amount of things we undertake, or by a result that are visible to the eyes of others, but rather by the quality and integrity with which they are accomplished. So often in this world, only the visible part of our action is taken into account and considered a kind of success or as the consequence of the faithfulness and integrity that God recognizes as a reward. But it is not true. But who can see the things done in secret or the hearts of each person? Only God. So here the comparison is easy to understand. The person who does small things, but does them with integrity and faithfulness, in his service, in his life, demonstrate a faithful heart and may, according to God's will, be entrusted with greater responsibilities. Yes, only by God's will. But on the other hand, the person who has been unfaithful and dishonest in the small things will do the same in the greater things. But all of this comes from the heart and from nothing else. Because once again, what is undertaken is simply a direct consequence of the condition of the human heart? The question: who will entrust to you the true riches? This question is very interesting. Because it means all the more, why would God entrust us with the true riches of his kingdom, which are spiritual and eternal? Why? If God sees our iniquity where no one else sees it, why would he entrust us with the true riches of his kingdom? So, this part of the passage once again reminds us of what Jesus tells us in the parable of the talents. The one who has been faithful will receive the reward. But the one who has not been faithful will have everything taken away and will be judged. So faithfulness in the small things, therefore, reveals something much deeper. It reveals that the heart of the servant and his attachment to his master. So the final verse now will give us the full meaning of the parable. No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Amen. Once again, serving is being dominated by something. Jesus comes back with a clear sentence that is summarizing the entire passage, telling his disciples that no one can serve two masters with two opposite affections in their hearts. If one is God and his kingdom and the other is maimun, which is translated to money in the ESV and other translation, when in Aramaic it says maimun, there is an inner conflict between our attachment to the world and its material and temporary values, and our attachment to the kingdom of heaven and its spiritual and eternal values. Both cannot get along. This is why the Apostle Paul reminds us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. 1 Timothy 6 10. Money corrupts. The problem is not money in itself, but the love of money, the attachment of our hearts to it, and the desire to find our security, our future, and our satisfaction in what belongs to this world because of fear or lack of faith in God or the desire to have it for our own survival or interest. We don't know. We are not God. But every one of us examine our hearts. Each person is free to examine his own conscience. But God wants us all of us fully. Our whole heart fully if we desire God to use us. As children of God, if we want to follow Jesus and be his disciples, we are called to detach ourselves from the world. Because we live in the world, but we no longer belong to the world. As Jesus says in John 17, 16, praying for his disciples to the Father, interceding for them, they are not of the world, just I am not from the world. Because their hearts were attached to the Master. They are called to walk by faith and not by sight, and to hold down to God through his promises. What God wants is for us to allow our hearts to be transformed by the power and work of the Holy Spirit, and for us to love him, for who he is, our master. Everything belongs to God. And we will enjoy whatever is pleased to give us according to his grace and his will, when our only desire is to follow him. So the author of the book of Hebrews says, and without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever will draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6. So we therefore cannot serve God while gaining wealth through dishonesty and unfaithfulness, while sinning against God. We can possess, manage things, and enjoy them with gratitude. But our hearts must belong entirely to God. And we must give Him thanks for all His blessings. Because at the heart of the matter, the real question in this parable is not how much do we possess, but whom do we serve? Amen. So to conclude my message, I will use scripture, which is our final authority, the word of God, for life in this world. Two passages. As Jesus reminds us in 1 John 2, 15 to 17, do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father, but it is from the world. And the world is passing away alone with its desires. But whoever does the will of God abides forever. But also the Apostle Paul says the same. Do not be confirmed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12, 2. Let us ask the Lord to work through his Holy Spirit in us, so that we may serve him as our master with faithfulness, integrity, being faithful in what he has entrusted to us financially, professionally, and personally, as his living church in this world, his living testimony. Amen. So let's pray. Heavenly Father, Almighty and Sovereign God. First of all, we just want to thank you for your holy word, for your grace, which enables us to know you, to worship you in spirit and truth. We thank you because you are merciful and compassionate. We ask you to deepen our faithfulness, integrity, and accountability, which are so precious in your sight. We want to be your disciples and servants in all your ways. We also desire to surrender everything in your hands, trusting you completely, and choosing to walk by faith. Keep us on the narrow path and continue to sanctify us, conforming us to the image of Christ, to the power of your Holy Spirit. We thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the good shepherd of our souls, and the head of this church. And we pray all these things in the mighty name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah.
SPEAKER_00Thank you for listening today. If the Lord used this message to bless you, feel free to share it so others can also be encouraged and strengthened for the coming days. Keep seeking Him, keep reading His Word, and keep trusting His grace every single day.