THE KINGDOM

“Syncing-UP to the Better Story”
Pastor Doug Heisel – August 4, 2024

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

Luke 16:1-13

Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.  So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'

"The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'

"So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'  " 'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied.  "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.'

"Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?'  " 'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied.  "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'”

The Big Surprise

The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.  For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.  (vs 8)

Syncing Up To The Better Story

1. The better story is living in harmony with the SPIRITUAL identity, Jesus has given me, rather than only being known by worldly labels.    Jesus has called me to be a FAITHFUL MANAGER of God-given resources.

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.  So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?  (vs 10-12)

I cannot fulfill all the “WHAT” God has for me,

until I fully embrace the “WHO” He has made me to be.

No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and money.  (vs 13)

1. The better story is when I am LEVERAGING more earthly resources, for the ETERNAL benefit of more people.     

Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.

(vs 9)

An exhortation from the Apostle Paul…

Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.  2 Corinthians 8:7-8

A practical application:

Lord, I accept my spiritual identity of being

an excellent MANAGER of everything

you entrust me with.

I commit to EXCELLING in the grace of giving,

SOWING generously into the church

you have placed me in.