Merely Stewards - April 8

Read Luke 16:10-13

“One who is faithful in a 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 that which is another’s, who will give that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Reflect

Do you remember that you are merely a steward of everything you have? How does that impact decisions you make using the resources God has given you? 

In Luke 16, Jesus told a parable about a dishonest steward. A rich man had put a steward, or a manager, in charge of his estate. Estate managers had full authority to make financial transactions on behalf of their master. So, you’d hope that your steward was a faithful one who made wise decisions on your behalf. 

Unfortunately, this master discovered that his steward had mismanaged his funds and wasted his money. So, he met with the steward, told him to give an account of his management dealings, and then fired him. Facing unemployment, the unfaithful steward made a conniving decision as he put his account records together. He went to each of the people who owed his master money and fraudulently reduced their debts on the record. Why? So that he could get in their good graces. That way, when he was kicked out on the street, they’d owe him a favor and would have to invite him into their homes. Interestingly, even though the steward committed fraud and cost him even more money, the master commended him for his criminal genius. He had been outwitted but he seemed to admire his steward for it which tells you that the master was just as corrupt as the steward.

In Luke 16:8-9, Jesus said: “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.”

It’s important to note that Jesus wasn’t commending the dishonest manager for his dishonesty. Jesus was commending the man for seeing an opportunity to prepare for his next stage in life and taking it. In his Enduring Word Commentary, David Guzik explained: “the businessmen of his day (sons of this world) were more wise, bold, and forward-thinking in the management of what they had (more shrewd) than the people of God were with managing what they had (the sons of light)...If we pursued the Kingdom of God with the same vigor and zeal that the children of this world pursue profits and pleasure, we would live in an entirely different world.”

As believers, we can learn from this wicked, dishonest manager. First, we are reminded that we are merely stewards ourselves. Everything we have is from God and He has given these resources to us to use for His purposes, not our own. Second, we are reminded that all of us will stand before our Master one day to give an account for how we managed everything He gave us. And finally, we should be bold and forward-thinking, using the resources that God has given us now to invest in eternity. If we can’t be faithful stewards of temporary, worldly wealth, why would we be entrusted with eternal, spiritual treasure? May we be found faithful in the little things, so that we can be trusted with the really big things.  

Respond

Lord, I confess that I am not always a faithful steward of the resources that You have given me. Help me to be an honest and responsible manager of everything You’ve entrusted me with—big or small. When I stand before You one day, I want my account to show that I managed resources with an eye to eternity, all for Your glory. Amen.  

Reveal

Having a reputation for being an honest and faithful manager of our worldly resources can serve as an opportunity to reveal our faith and commitment to God and our trust that He will provide for us in this world and in the next.