Sermon on Parable of Unjust Steward by Ps Dr Ng Swee Ming, 18 Nov 2012 @ SSMC

1. What would you do ?

3. Aseity
Graciousness
Immanence
Incomprehensibility
Infinity
Jealousy
Love
Omnibenevolence

4. Omnipotence
Omnipresence
Omniscience
Oneness
Providence
Sovereignty
Transcendence
Trinity

5. Wrath
IMMUTABILITY
HOLINESS
RIGHTEOUSNESS
VERACITY

6. Parable of the Unjust Steward
Luke 16:1-15
V1 He also said to His disciples:
"There was a certain rich man who
had a steward, and an accusation
was brought to him that this man
was wasting his goods.
Rich man : Owner
Steward : “A steward is someone
who manages something that
belongs to someone else. He does
not own it, but has the privilege /
responsibility of managing it for
the benefit / profit of his owner.”
Eg Eliezer & Joseph

7. Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15
V1 He also said to His disciples:
"There was a certain rich man
who had a steward, and an
accusation was brought to him
that this man was WASTING
his goods.
Accusation made : ‘Wasting’
Same Gk word as in Luke 15:13
Prodigal Son - “the younger
son .... ‘squandered his wealth’
in wild living.”

8. Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15
v2 So he called him and said to him, 'What is
this I hear about you? Give an account of
your stewardship, for you can no longer be
steward.'

9. Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15
v3 "Then the steward said within himself,
'What shall I do? For my master is taking
the stewardship away from me. I cannot
dig; I am ashamed to beg.
v4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am
put out of the stewardship, they may
receive me into their houses.'

10. V 5 "So he called every one of his
master's debtors to him,
and said to the first, 'How
much do you owe my
master?‘
V 6 And he said, 'A hundred
measures of oil.'
So he said to him, 'Take your
bill, and sit down quickly and
write fifty.‘

11.  'A hundred measures (‘bath’) of oil.'
 NIV: “800 gallons”
 Produced by an orchard of about
140-160 olive trees...
 Total worth : 1,000 Denarii
 50% reduction = 500 Denarii

12. V 7 Then he said to another, 'And how
much do you owe?'
So he said, 'A hundred measures of
wheat.'
And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and
write eighty.’

13. 'A hundred measures (‘cor’) of wheat.‘
NIV: “About 1000 bushels”
Produce from about 100 acres
Total Worth : 2,500 – 3,000 denarii
20 % reduction – about 500 denarii
Only two eg stated
Most likely there were
others ....

14. V 8 So the master commended the
unjust steward because he had
dealt shrewdly.
Clarification :
 It is the master (rich owner) who
commended – not Jesus.
 the master never said what the
steward did was right
 the master only praised him for
being “shrewd”
Parable of the Unjust Steward
Luke 16:1-15

15. http://thesaurus.com/browse/shrewd
Some of the Synonyms of shrewd :
brainy, discerning, farsighted,
ingenious, keen, knowing,
on the inside, on top of,
perceptive, probing, profound,
prudent, quick witted, savvy,
sensible, sharp, smart, wise...

17. V 8b For the sons of this world are more
shrewd in their generation than the sons of
light.
 ‘sons of this world’
Eph 2:2 “... when you followed the ways
of this world and of the ruler of the
kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now
at work in those who are disobedient....”
 ‘sons of light’
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but
now you are light in the Lord. Live as
children of light
1 Thess 5:5 You are all sons of the light
and sons of the day. We do not belong to
the night or to the darkness.

18. NKJV v9 "And I say to you, make friends for
yourselves by unrighteous mammon,
that when you fail, they may receive you into an
everlasting home.
JB Phillips : Now my advice to you is to use 'money',
tainted as it is, to make yourselves friends, so
that when it comes to an end, they may
welcome you into eternal habitations.
NLT Here's the lesson: Use your worldly resources to
benefit others and make friends. Then,
when your earthly possessions are gone, they
will welcome you to an eternal home.

19. Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15
v10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful
also in much; and he who is unjust in what
is least is unjust also in much.
 Matt 25:21 "His master replied, 'Well done,
good and faithful servant! You have been
faithful with a few things; I will put you in
charge of many things. Come and share
your master's happiness!'
 1 Cor 4:2 Now it is required that those who
have been given a trust must prove faithful.

22. there are no
small things
in God’s Kingdom.... sm

23. SPECIAL NOTICE:
CHRISTIAN PREACHERS STAY FOR
FREE. Just present your name-card.
The Management

24. Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15
v11 So if you have not been trustworthy in
handling worldly wealth, who will trust
you with true riches?
ie. worldly wealth ≠ true riches (Matt 6:19-21)
v12 And if you have not been trustworthy with
someone else's property, who will give you
property of your own?
Eg : Parable of the Talents (Matt 25)

25. v13 "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."
I used to think I could
not serve both God
and Money
and then I discovered
MULTI-TASKING ....

26. v14 The Pharisees, who loved
money, heard all this and
were sneering at Jesus.
v15 He (Jesus) said to them
(Pharisees), "You are the
ones who justify
yourselves in the eyes of
men, but God knows your
hearts. What is highly
valued among men is
detestable in God's sight.
Parable of the Unjust Steward
Luke 16:1-15

27. Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15
APPLICATION :
This Parable is about Stewardship
Stewardship of our finances dealings
Financial Dealings involve MONEY...

28. Teachings of Jesus
Jesus taught on Faith, Prayer,
Baptism, Lord’s Supper and Money.
Most time was spend on .... ?
• 38 parables – 19 on money
• > 2,350 verses on money
Vs about 500 verses on prayer,
& < 500 verses on faith
• 10% of Gospel verses on Money
16 X more verses than baptism
32 X more verses than Lord’s
Supper
That’s how impt MONEY was to Jesus

29. Defined money as :
"an article which
may be used as a
universal passport to
everywhere
EXCEPT HEAVEN, &
as a universal
provider for
everything
EXCEPT HAPPINESS."

30. Stewardship definitely involves MONEY ...
So what is our attitude towards MONEY ?
What is the “Tithe” ?
 10 % giving
So after we ‘tithe’ 10% ...
Remaining 90% ...
Q: Whose is it ?
Q: Is it ours to use as we wish ?
Ref Deut 8:18
“But remember the Lord your God,
for it is he who gives you the ability
to produce wealth, ...”

31. • Stewardship involves MONEY ...
• But STEWARDSHIP ≠ MONEY
• It includes ....

33. Conclusion :
This Parable is about STEWARDSHIP+
“Faithful & Trustworthy” Stewardship
“Whatever It Takes” Stewardship
(good & righteous way)
Eg Kerri Strug

35. Kerri STRUG 1996 OLYMPICS

37. "whatever it takes"

38. Conclusion :
This Parable is about STEWARDSHIP+
“Faithful & Trustworthy” Stewardship
“Whatever It Takes” Stewardship
(good & righteous way)
“End in mind” Stewardship

39. OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS
• The last Olympic gold medal that was actually
made from gold was awarded in 1912.
• Current standards for OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS
– 92.5% silver, plated with at least 6 gms of gold.
– at least 3 mm thick & at least 60 mm in
diameter.

40. What would you do ?

41. CONCLUSION :
We are all STEWARDS of God
In Luke 16 – steward – Gk ‘oikonomos’
1 Cor 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us, as of
the ministers of Christ, and STEWARDS of the
mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in
STEWARDS, that a man be found faithful.
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the
gift, even so minister the same one to
another, as good STEWARDS of the manifold
grace of God.
Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15

42. John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan
RULE 1 :
"Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can!“
GAIN ALL YOU CAN "we must never harm
others, We cannot scheme to undercut our
neighbors & We cannot sell anything that
tends to impair the health of others. Gain all
you can by honest industry."

43. John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan
RULE 1 :
"Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can!“
GAIN ALL YOU CAN "we must never harm
others, WeYOU CAN "Do not waste yourour
SAVE ALL cannot scheme to undercut
resources on trivial expenses, which is the
neighbors & We cannot sell anything that
tends to impair theyour money into the sea.
same as throwing health of others. Gain all
you cannone of your money merely to gratify
Spend by honest industry."
the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes,
and the pride of riches. Spend no money to
gratify the pride of life or to gain the
admiration and praise of others.“

44. John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan
RULE 1 :
"Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can!“
GAIN ALL YOU CAN "we must never harm
others, WeYOU CAN "Do not waste yourour
SAVE ALL cannot scheme to undercut
resources on trivial expenses, which is the
neighbors & We cannot sell anything that
tendsALLimpair theyournotof others.the sea.
GIVE to throwing "Do money into that you
same as YOU CAN health imagine Gain all
you cannone of yourmerely by gaining gratify
have done anything money merely to and
Spend by honest industry."
saving all you the flesh, the desire of Making
the desire of can. Do not stop here. the eyes,
and saving money is nothing if we money to
and the pride of riches. Spend no fail to go
forwardthethe final purpose. gain thecannot
gratify to pride of life or to People
rightly be said topraisemoney if they only
admiration and save of others.“
store it away....

45. John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan
RULE 2 :
If we are at a loss as to when and how and on
what we are to spend our money, ask
ourselves these 4 questions :
1. "In spending this money, am I acting
according to my character? Am I acting not as
an owner, but as a steward of my Lords goods?

46. John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan
RULE 2 :
If we are at a loss as to when and how and on
what we are to spend our money, ask
ourselves these 4 questions :
1. "In spending this money, am I acting
according to my character? Am I acting not as
an Am I giving this money inof my Lords to Gods
2. owner, but as a steward obedience goods?
Word? In what Scripture does God require me
to spend this money?

47. John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan
RULE 2 :
If we are at a loss as to when and how and on
what we are to spend our money, ask
ourselves these 4 questions :
1. "In spending this money, am I acting
according to my character? Am I acting not as
an Am I giving this money inof my Lords to Gods
2. owner, but as a steward obedience goods?
Word? IIn what Scripture does expenditure mea
3. Can offer up this action or God require as
to spendto God through Jesus Christ?
sacrifice this money?

48. John Wesley’s Stewardship Plan
RULE 2 :
If we are at a loss as to when and how and on
what we are to spend our money, ask
ourselves these 4 questions :
1. "In spending this money, am I acting
according to my character? Am I acting not as
an Am I giving this money inof my Lords to Gods
2. owner, but as a steward obedience goods?
Word? IIn what Scripture does expenditure mea
3. Can offer up this action or God require as
to Do I haveGod through Jesus that for this very
spend this money?
sacrifice to reason to believe Christ?
4.
work I will receive a reward at the resurrection
of the righteous?"

49. Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-15
CONCLUSION :
We are all STEWARDS of God
What kind of STEWARDS am
I / are you ?
“Faithful & Trustworthy”
1 Cor 3:10-15
Stewardship
“Whatever It Takes (good
& righteous way) ”
Stewardship
“End in mind” Stewardship
We are all ACCOUNTABLE for
our STEWARDSHIP
Song :“Thank You for Giving”

51. I OFFER MY LIFE
All that I am All that I have
I lay them down Before You O Lord
All my regrets All my acclaim
The joy and the pain I'm making them Yours
Lord I offer my life to You
Everything I've been through
Use it for Your glory
Lord I offer my days to You Lifting my praise to You
As a pleasing sacrifice Lord I offer You my life

52. Things in the past I OFFER MY LIFE
Things yet unseen Wishes and dreams
That are yet to come through
All of my hopes All of my plans
My heart and my hands Are lifted to You
Bridge:
What can we give That You have not given
What do we have That is not already Yours
All we possess Are these lives we're living
And that's what we give to You Lord