LUKE 16 CONTRASTS AND CONSEQUENCES. What we do now affects our eternity. v.1-12. UNJUST OR FAITHFUL: emphasis – the steward thought of his future. A steward was the manager of another person’s possessions. Present opportunities can be used for future blessings. Most are concerned for shrewd interests of this world. We should be as concerned for the things of God. All of us, no matter who we are, are only stewards of what God gives. What we have is not our own. Our stewardship has an end. There is reckoning for all we do. Others may be blessed by what we do with what God gives us. Use what we have to bring the best to our Lord. God expects faithfulness in His stewards.
- Opportunities and benefits (goods): a steward of a rich man. Use what I have because it belongs to God.
- Responsibilities and choices (wasted): I have to live with the consequences of my choices. Money can be used for good or bad. Much of what we have is the same: time, talents, gifts, possessions – use what we have carefully because it has the ability to greatly impact others.
- What others see and what I do (accused): I cannot ignore what others see and say. What I have, must promote what is right and good.
- Cause and effect (he called every one): something is better than nothing. Act quickly when it is necessary. Don’t wait to make necessary changes. The steward got half of what he should have but more than what was in hand. In a way, he helped both his employer and his own chances of being hired by those he had reduced the debt for.
- Wisdom and understanding (sit down quickly and write): learn to grasp the situation and do what is needed. The steward was clever enough to grasp an opportunity. We as believers should be alert to what is happening so we can benefit others in getting to heaven. Earthly investment can bring eternal blessings.
- Yours and another’s (faithful): take advantage of what you have been trusted with. The time will come for you to act on your own. Use the wealth of the world for heaven riches.
v.13-18. GOD OR MAMMON: emphasis – the scriptures are the guide to bring us to God. Our character (integrity) will be challenged in money matters. Sometimes this is the hardest area of all. This is one area where God tests our fitness for service. The worldly person serves money as his one master, The Christian has to choose which one he is going to serve. Mammon – riches gotten in an unrighteous way. Use what God gives in a beneficial way for God. Be trustworthy in what you have and God can trust you with more. What we have is not our own. These two are opposites. The Pharisees were covetous; and resentful when reproved. Serving God or mammon…
- Servants and the authority of the Master: What do you think about most?
- Servants and attitude (love or hate): Would you quit what you are doing to make more money?
- Servants and actions (hold or despise): What takes up your time?
- Covetousness and spite: Is it hard to give money away?
- Selfishness and sight: Are you in debt?
- Lawlessness and slight: What is my idol? Money is deceptive: it controls; makes promises; can be made or lost quickly; cannot provide happiness, health, eternal life, peace of mind, permanent security. The Pharisees loved money: we measure worth in money or how much a person makes. The Pharisees derided Him: “turned up their nose” at Him. What is an “abomination unto God” is what people value.
The law didn’t become invalid, but was fulfilled in the preaching of the kingdom. Every item of it is fulfilled in Christ. Divorce is an example of how the law works. Because a thing is legal, doesn’t make it right. In the Old Testament there has to be a certificate. Here is what the law really means.
v.19-22. RICH OR POOR: emphasis – Pharisees taught that what looks good is not necessarily right. The contrasts…
- Clothes and food.
- House and street.
- Healthy and sick.
- Life and death. The consequences…
- The beggar rewarded – the rich man punished: self-centered, hard-hearted, covetous.
- Abraham’s bosom, a place of honor—Hades, a place of torment.
- Great gulf fixed: righteous and wicked separated forever.
- Remember: characteristics of personhood remain.
- Messenger from the dead: even though Jesus rose from the dead, many do not believe.
- Moses and the prophets: The Word of God must be accepted as truth. The light which a person has determines their responsibility.
v.23-31. HEAVEN OR HELL: The Word of God in the hand is good, but if it is not in the heart, you are lost. The contrasts…
- Near or far.
- Carried or buried.
- Comfort or torment.
- Name or flame.
- Good things or evil things.
- Here or there.
- Together or alone.
- Alive or dead. The consequences… (lessons)
- The soul does not die with the body.
- The soul is conscious after death, not asleep.
- The righteous go immediately to a place of happiness; the wicked to misery.
- Wealth does not secure one from death.
- We should not envy the condition of the rich.
- We should go in for what is better, rather than what we can possess in life.
- The suffering of the wicked in hell is very great.
- There is a place of suffering beyond the grave.
- There will never be an escape for the lost.
- It is foolish to think there will be an end, and that it will be okay to go to hell for awhile.
- God gives plenty of warning to prepare for death.
- God is not going to give us further warnings than what we already have.