jesus: the iconoclast, part 1
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Luke 16 – The Cool-But-Uncool Steward
JESUS: THE ICONOCLAST, PART 1
JESUS IS TOO COOL
Jesu
s-Fa
ns
THE UNCOOL-BUT-COOL STEWARD PARABLEJesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired!’”
“The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’
THE UNCOOL-BUT-COOL STEWARD PARABLE“So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’ “‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’
Embezzlement: very uncool$50,000 ?? = !!
THE UNCOOL-BUT-COOL STEWARD PARABLE
“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. Luke 16:8
The Coolness FactorA Shrewd Move
Jesus is NOT teaching…
Strategies for young & ambitious criminals.
Be careful when firing
your employees…
How to be a low-down, scumbag, lying thief
and still get respect
The Need for Shrewd Thinkers“...the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.” Luke 16:9
• “Practically wise, sensible”• Translated: shrewd, prudent,
sensible, wise
Greek: phronimos
• Characterized by keen awareness, sharp intelligence, and often a sense of the practical.
• Disposed to artful and cunning practices; tricky.
• Sharp; penetrating: a shrewd wind.
Shrewd
The Need for Shrewd Thinkers“...the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.” Luke 16:9 “Children of this
world”Understand how
“The System” Works
“Kill or be killed…”
“Children of Light”Can be naïve about
“The System”Trusting “The world
around them…”
How the Steward could have lost:
Fatalism, cowardice,
intimidation.Mindless
compliance.Misplaced loyalties
The Need for Shrewd Thinkers“...The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd.”
“Why didn’t I guard against this?”
“I would have done the same thing…”
Bad-guy “heroes”
The Shrewd “Child of Light”“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9 Drownin
g in dirty money
Convert it to
something
useful
The Shrewd “Child of Light”1. Your life is not temporary.2. Don’t get dominated by
temporary things.
“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.“…the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails…
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17
“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Naïve Christians:
Get “Good Fellowship” in the Kosmos.
Forget the “ways of the
world”
Complacent, spiritually-indifferent.
“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom."And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that…they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9
• Investing to WIN• Being a GOOD STEWARD
Means
The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. Psalm 24:1
“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom."And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that…they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9
• For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
People Matter,
Not THINGS
“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom."And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that…they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9
• For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
People Matter,
Not THINGS
OpportunitiesSignificant
RelationshipsGetting Equipped
Money to Help Others
“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom.3. Start Small, Graduate BIG!
"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” Luke 16:10
“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom.3. Start Small, Graduate BIG!
“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?” Lk. 16:10
“very little thing”
“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom.3. Start Small, Graduate BIG!4. This is an Either/or Conflict.
"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Luke 16:13
“Child of Light” Convictions1. You will be betrayed.2. Invest in God’s Kingdom.3. Start Small, Graduate BIG!4. This is an Either/or Conflict.
"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Luke 16:13
God & His
Kingdom
Kingdom of
“THINGS”
• Knows he cannot trust the World System.
• Wins God’s way.• His is loyal primarily to
God and His Kingdom.• Invests in eternal life
reward & security.• There is no end to his
growth.
• Knows he cannot trust the World System.
• Wins at any price.• His loyalties change as
his needs change.• Invests in temporary
reward & security.• Sooner or later gets
dominated himself.
Who is Truly The Shrewd Steward?Children of this world Children of Light
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